Ex-Tunisian prime minister’s sentence cut to 24 years

On 26 February, a Tunisian court reduced former prime minister Ali Larayedh’s sentence from 34 to 24 years, according to Africanews via the Associated Press.

The ruling, issued by the Appeals Court of Tunis, relates to Larayedh’s conviction for assisting with the departure of Tunisian nationals into Syria.

Proceedings began in 2025, when the former prime minister was accused of enabling the departure of Tunisians to join the Islamic State. The case, commonly referred to as the “Tasfir” case, concerns a period when thousands of Tunisians travelled to Syria and Iraq. Tunisia was later identified as one of the largest sources of foreign fighters during the early years of the Syrian conflict.

The prosecution had initially sought a 34-year jail term, which was upheld at a first trial in May 2025 and has now been reduced on appeal.

Several other defendants were also sentenced to between 3 and 28 years in connection with the case.

Larayedh served as Tunisia’s interior minister before becoming prime minister from 2013 to 2014. His time in government followed the 2011 revolution. He is also a senior member of the Islamist opposition party Ennahda. The party has described the ruling as “politically motivated”, with the initial trial in 2025 being marked by questions over the strength of the evidence presented.

The case also comes amid a broader pattern of legal action involving opposition figures in Tunisia.

During 2025, Tunisian courts presided over cases involving opposition figures, with at least one high profile case being  postponed and other politicians facing charges in relation to political activities.

Public frustration over political freedoms have also been evident outside the courtroom. In July 2025, large demonstrations against President Kais Saied’s rule took place across the country. During these, protesters described the country as “an open-air prison”. The demonstrations highlighted continued dissatisfaction among parts of the population regarding the country’s political and judicial climate.

Africanews via the Associated Press, Maghrebi.org