Feb 27 β€’ 14:04 UTC 🌍 Africa Africanews

Former Tunisian PM jailed for 24 years for aiding jihadists to travel to Syria

Former Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Larayedh has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for facilitating the travel of jihadists to Syria during the Syrian conflict.

Ali Larayedh, the former Prime Minister of Tunisia, has received a 24-year prison sentence, a reduction from an initial 34 years, for his role in aiding Tunisian jihadists in traveling to Syria amid the ongoing Syrian conflict. This ruling was delivered by the Appeals Court of Tunis, which noted a decrease in the sentence of ten years following an appeal hearing. The case, known locally as 'Tasfir', has been controversial due to debates surrounding the solidity of the evidence presented against Larayedh in prior proceedings.

The implications of Larayedh's sentencing resonate deeply within Tunisia's political landscape, particularly as his party, the Islamist opposition group Ennahda, labeled the court's ruling as "politically motivated." This reaction underscores the ongoing tensions between the current government and Islamist factions, reflecting a broader struggle for power and influence in Tunisia's evolving democracy since the Arab Spring.

Furthermore, the case has broader repercussions for the Tunisian judicial system and its treatment of political figures. The sentencing of Larayedh and seven other co-defendants, whose sentences ranged from three to 28 years, suggests a significant government effort to address issues of terrorism and radicalism. However, critics argue that the judicial process may be utilized to stifle dissent among opposition figures and silence political rivals, warranting close scrutiny of future legal actions and their motivations in Tunisia's rapidly changing political landscape.

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