In the early hours of 19 April, a Tunisian court concluded a mass trial involving 40 lawyers, opposition figures, and critics of President Kais Saied. In a deeply troubling development, 37 of the defendants were handed severe prison sentences—some extending up to 66 years—after a mere three court sessions. During these proceedings, the accused were denied the opportunity to adequately present their defence or be meaningfully heard.
The charges—conspiracy against state security and terrorism—were primarily linked to political activities, including meetings with European diplomats such as the French and Italian ambassadors.
Now widely referred to as the "Conspiracy Case," the trial underscores Tunisia's alarming regression from its role as the birthplace of the Arab Spring to a nation once again defined by political repression and the imprisonment of dissenters.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights strongly condemned the convictions and urged Tunisian authorities to halt the ongoing pattern of politically motivated prosecutions. In stark contrast, the European Union issued only a tepid response. A spokesperson for the Commission merely noted the severity of the verdicts and reiterated the EU’s general stance on the importance of freedom of expression, fair trial standards, and due process in its dialogues with Tunisian officials.
However, these statements ring hollow in light of the facts. The trial lacked even the most basic guarantees of fairness. It is widely perceived as a tool for silencing what little remains of political opposition within Tunisia. Many of the accused have fled the country, while those who remain face lengthy incarceration.