Tunisian court upholds two-year prison sentence for politician Abir Moussi

The Court of Appeal in Tunis has upheld the initial ruling sentencing Abir Moussi, head of the Free Destourian Party, to two years in prison.

On Tuesday, the criminal chamber of the Court of Appeal approved the first-instance verdict sentencing her to two years’ imprisonment on charges of spreading false information with the aim of harming public security.

Earlier, the criminal chamber of the primary court in Tunis had sentenced Moussi following a lawsuit filed by the Independent High Authority for Elections, due to a media statement she made about the authority during a past electoral event. She was accused of defamation and disseminating false news.

Abir Moussi has been held in prison since October 3, 2023, on several charges, including “spreading false information with the aim of harming public security,” according to the Tunisian news agency.

She was arrested that year at the entrance to the presidential palace while heading to file an appeal against decisions taken by President Kaïs Saïed, according to her party.