Tunisia’s Muslim Brotherhood and the Recruited Fighters Case: Verdicts Close a Dark Chapter

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Just days after verdicts were issued in the case of conspiracy against state security involving Brotherhood leaders, the organization suffered a significant blow, shaking its foundation and extinguishing hopes of a political comeback.

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On Friday evening, a Tunisian court issued harsh sentences against members of the Muslim Brotherhood in the high-profile case known as the “recruitment of terrorists to conflict zones,” effectively closing – at least preliminarily – one of the most publicized cases in Tunisia over the past decade.

The terrorism court handed prison terms ranging from 18 to 36 years to eight key defendants, out of 800 suspects whose trials are still pending. These verdicts exposed the Brotherhood’s crimes during its decade-long rule since 2011, and how it lured young people into warzones under religious pretexts.

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Crushed Hopes for the Brotherhood

Tunisian activist and political analyst Monji Essararfi said that this is a complex case, and holding those accountable for recruitment was a popular demand that the judiciary responded to.

He noted that the Ennahdha movement never expected its rule to be short-lived, which led it to commit widespread corruption, appointing one of its most dangerous figures, Ali Larayedh, as Minister of Interior and later Prime Minister, to carry out its extremist agenda.

Ali Larayedh (70), previously sentenced twice to death in absentia in 1987 for a coup attempt, was later pardoned. He served as Ennahdha’s secretary-general and was arrested in 1990 for terrorism, receiving a 15-year sentence, 10 of which he served in solitary confinement.

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Now history repeats itself: he was sentenced to 33 years in the recruitment case.

MP Fatma Mseddi, who filed the case in 2021, wrote on Facebook: “This verdict is not a personal victory but a triumph for truth and the blood of our youth dragged into war under the guise of religion and betrayal.”

She added: “Since 2016, I’ve carried this heavy file despite threats and smear campaigns. I refused to remain silent when silence was betrayal. Today, truth has prevailed.”

Security officials confirmed that the Brotherhood facilitated terrorist travel through Tunis-Carthage airport, trained youth in weapon use at Interior Ministry centers, and smuggled money.

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Sentenced Individuals:

• Ali Larayedh (VP of Ennahdha): 34 years
• Noureddine Khedher: 36 years
• Abdelkarim Laabidi and Fathi El-Beldi: 26 years
• Ansar al-Sharia Leaders:
  • Hichem Saadi: 36 years
  • Lotfi El-Hamami: 28 years
  • Saifeddine Raies: 24 years
  • Sami Shaar: 18 years

The trial concluded at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday after more than 18 hours of deliberation.

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Charges Filed:

According to Deputy Public Prosecutor Aymen Chetiba:

• Forming a terrorist group
• Providing skills to a terrorist group
• Deliberate membership in a terrorist organization
• Using Tunisian territory to commit crimes abroad
• Recruiting for terrorism outside Tunisia
• Facilitating legal or illegal departures for terrorist purposes
• Incitement to travel for terrorism
• Funding travel for terrorism

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Background

In late 2016, Tunisia’s parliament formed a committee to investigate youth recruitment networks to war zones. By 2018, over 3,000 Tunisians had joined terrorist groups in Syria, Libya, and Iraq. About 1,000 returned.

Who Are the Accused?

• Ali Larayedh: Ennahdha VP, Minister of Interior (2011–2013), PM (2013–2014).
• Fathi El-Beldi: Head of parallel security units loyal to Ennahdha.
• Abdelkarim Laabidi: Linked to multiple terror cases and assassinations, facilitated terrorist travel.
• Noureddine Khedher: Former Ennahdha leader, liaison with Ansar al-Sharia.

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Ansar al-Sharia:

• Lotfi El-Hamami: Senior member overseeing recruitment in Tunis.
• Hichem Saadi (Abu Jihad): Extremist recruiter linked to political assassinations.
• Sami Shaar: Led cells in Nabeul, financed extremist networks.
• Saifeddine Raies: Spokesman of the banned group.

Ansar al-Sharia sought to impose Islamic law and was designated a terrorist group by both Tunisian and U.S. governments in 2013.

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