Sonia Dahmani: Tunisian lawyer sentenced to two years in prison

Sonia Dahmani, a well-known Tunisian lawyer and vocal critic of President Kais Saied, was sentenced to two years in prison on the 24th October, according to Reuters.

The charges stem from public comments Dahmani made insulting her country, reported her lawyer Sami Ben Ghazi.

During a local radio interview earlier this year, she referred to Tunisia as a “racist country” after violent clashes broke out between migrants and residents.

Dahmani has been incarcerated since May and was previously sentenced in September to eight months in prison for stating that Tunisia was not a good place to live.

The ruling comes after Ayachi Zammel, the jailed Tunisian politician who challenged the incumbent president in recent elections, was sentenced to over 30 years in prison.

READ: Ayachi Zammel: Tunisian politician faces 30 years in prison

According to the Maghrebi.org, his lawyer said on 22nd October that recent rulings now mean the liberal party leader has cumulative sentences amounting to greater than three decades.

Zammel is one of only two candidates that were allowed to run against President Kais Saied in the Tunisian elections this month.

As leader of liberal party Azimoun, he received seven percent of the presidential vote in the election, whereas Saied won more than 90 percent, according to the election board, ISIE.

According to Reuters, critics of the election have described it as a sham.

Zammel remained in jail throughout the vote after he was arrested in early September, the same day the electoral authorities approved his candidacy.

Prominent opposition figure Noureddine Bhiri was also sentenced to ten years in prison for inciting disobedience, according to Reuters.

READ: Tunisia: Four arrested over Turkish flag on public building

The incumbent president Kais Saied was democratically elected in 2019 but two years later dissolved parliament and held a successful referendum to change country’s constitution.

According to the Maghrebi.org, this move was a sweeping power grab which cemented Saied’s position as head of state.

While opponents of Saied have urged the government to release political prisoners and journalists, the president said he will continue to combat “corrupt” and “traitorous” elements within the country.

Reuters and Maghrebi.org