The Ennahdha movement in Tunisia has issued a sharp condemnation following the sentencing of its veteran leader and former parliamentarian, Habib Ellouze, to 13 years in prison.
Handed down by the specialized criminal chamber for terrorism cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance, the verdict also included a 23-year sentence for Bechir Akremi, a former public prosecutor. Ennahdha argues that these heavy sentences illustrate a dangerous drift within the Tunisian judicial system, framing the legal actions as part of a broader campaign to settle political scores rather than a pursuit of justice.
The case originated in March 2023 when Habib Ellouze was detained on allegations that he pressured the judiciary to secure the release of an individual facing legal charges. However, Ennahdha firmly disputes these claims, asserting that no evidence exists to prove any such intervention. The party specifically points to the fact that Béchir Akremi was not the magistrate overseeing the case in question, which they believe undermines the entire logic of the prosecution’s argument.
According to the Islamist movement, the proceedings were characterized by a lack of independence and significant procedural irregularities. The party highlighted that the original investigating judge recused himself from the case and claimed that the defense was not permitted to fully present its arguments before the conviction was finalized. Ennahdha maintains that these factors, combined with Ellouze’s lengthy detention since his arrest, represent a clear violation of the guarantees required for a fair trial.
The movement also addressed widespread media reports linking these convictions to the 2013 assassination of political figure Chokri Belaid. Ennahdha has categorically rejected these claims, accusing several media outlets of spreading misinformation to tarnish the party’s reputation. The movement stated that previous judicial rulings related to the Belaid case have already cleared its leadership of involvement and warned that it reserves the right to take legal action against any outlets that continue to draw false connections between the current sentencing and the 2013 murder.
MK/AK/Sf/fss/abj/APA