Tunisian Lawyer Sentenced Amidst Allegations of Government Crackdown

On Monday, a Tunisian court handed down a two-year prison sentence to Sonia Dhamani, a prominent lawyer known for her critical stance on President Kais Saied, according to statements from her legal team.

Dhamani had drawn attention for her remarks on a TV program criticizing Tunisia's treatment of African migrants, comments that led to her arrest and trial under the country's controversial Decree 54 cybercrime law. Despite her defense team's withdrawal from the case in protest of what they claim is a double jeopardy scenario, the court pushed through with the verdict.

This development reflects a pattern of arrests and trials against opposition figures and journalists since Saied consolidated power in 2021. Rights groups claim this marks a crackdown on dissent, while the government maintains it is an effort to combat chaos and corruption.

(With inputs from agencies.)