Marzouki sentenced to 22 years in prison for charges related to state security
A Tunisian court on Friday sentenced former president Moncef Marzouki, his former advisor Imed Daïmi, and former Bar Association head Abderrazak Kilani to 22 years in prison in absentia on charges related to undermining state security.
In a separate case, another court handed a 15-year prison sentence to Ennahdha leader Sahbi Atig for money laundering.
Marzouki, who served as Tunisia’s president from 2011 to 2014, is one of the fiercest critics of President Kaïs Saied. He accuses Saied of dismantling the country’s democratic institutions since the 2021 dissolution of Parliament and the imposition of rule by decree, effectively centralizing power.
President Saied has defended his actions as necessary to restore stability in Tunisia, a country grappling with years of political and economic crises.
This is Marzouki’s third sentence in absentia, following earlier verdicts of four and eight years in separate cases.
Reacting to the latest judgment, Marzouki stated: “To those judges I say: your rulings are void and you yourselves are illegitimate… You will be judged in time.” He added on his official Facebook page: “Democracy will return.”
Earlier on Friday, Sahbi Atig was sentenced to 15 years in prison for money laundering, according to his lawyer.
Yassine Marzouk, spokesperson for the Ariana Court of First Instance, said that “four other defendants” were also sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to fifteen years, along with fines between 3,000 and 60,000 Tunisian dinars (approximately $1,000 to $20,000).
The charges included forming a network to launder money, illegally possessing foreign currency, inciting false testimony, and participating in concealing evidence before it was seized by authorities.
The case dates back to 2016, when large sums of local and foreign currency were discovered in a rented house linked to a senior Ennahdha official, referring to Atig.
In response, Atig’s wife, Zineb Maraihi, denied the charges on Facebook, calling the case “fabricated and based on lies.” She stated that “the accusation stems from a false theft claim filed in 2016, but investigations proved her husband had no connection to the stolen money or the house.” She added that “all investigations and testimonies, including those from police officers, confirmed his innocence.”
These sentences are part of a series of legal actions targeting opposition figures. In April, a Tunisian court sentenced several opposition leaders, lawyers, and businessmen to up to 66 years in prison on charges of conspiracy against state security.
Most opposition party leaders are currently in prison, including Abir Moussi, head of the Free Destourian Party, and Rached Ghannouchi, historic leader of Ennahdha—both prominent critics of President Saied.
