Tunisia adds two years to opposition leader’s sentence

Tunisia has sentenced opposition figure Abir Moussi to two additional years in prison for criticising the electoral commission, Reuters reports  Moussi, head of the Free Constitutional Party, has been detained since October 2023 after attempting to submit appeals at the presidential palace. She was convicted under a controversial decree targeting so-called “false news,” in what critics describe as part of President Kais Saied’s broader campaign to stifle dissent ahead of elections.

Her conviction underscores widening political repression: several leading opposition figures have been jailed, and the judiciary is increasingly viewed as an instrument of the presidency. Moussi’s lawyer said the sentence was rushed to ensure she remains incarcerated. Under Tunisian electoral law, a criminal conviction bars candidates from running, effectively excluding her from the 2026 presidential contest.

Observers warn that mounting legal actions against critics raise serious concerns for Tunisia’s democratic trajectory, as Saied continues to govern by decree and suppress political competition.