Tunisian court sentences Ennahda party leader Ghannouchi to 3 years in prison

By Alaa Hammoudi

TUNIS, Tunisia (AA) - A Tunisian court sentenced the head of the opposition Ennahda party, Rached Ghannouchi, to three years in prison Thursday, with "immediate enforcement," for receiving foreign donations for the party, according to the official Tunisian news agency.

It said the sentence was handed down by the Tunis Court of First Instance Financial Corruption Criminal Chamber.

Ghannouchi's son-in-law, former Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem, was also sentenced to three years in the same case.

In addition, the court imposed a fine of 3,642,361 Tunisian dinars, or its equivalent in US dollars, on the party "over the reception of foreign donations," the news agency quoted court spokesperson Mohamed Zitouna.

Ghannouchi is among dozens of political opponents of President Kais Saied, including former top officials and business figures, who have been arrested since last February, drawing international concern.

Ghannouchi served as parliament speaker whose Ennahda party was the largest before it was dissolved by Saied in July 2021, after which he ousted the government.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar​​​​​​​