Tunisian Opposition Leader Sahbi Atig Sentenced in Crackdown

A Tunisian court has handed a 15-year prison sentence to Sahbi Atig, a high-ranking official in Ennahda, the country's main opposition party, on money laundering charges. His lawyer announced the conviction on Friday, marking another significant step in President Kais Saied's clampdown on political adversaries.

Atig's arrest in 2023 joins a growing list of opposition figures detained since Saied began consolidating power two years ago, actions perceived by critics as an unconstitutional coup. President Saied justifies his sweeping measures as essential for eradicating corruption and prosecuting Tunisia's allegedly corrupt elite, albeit contested by Atig as baseless accusations.

Atig's lawyer, Mokthar Jmaayi, criticized the verdict as politically motivated, devoid of substantial evidence, and aimed at silencing dissent. Reacting to the ruling, he stated, "It extends the punishment of opponents while diverts attention from Tunisia's pressing issues." Recently, courts have delivered lengthy sentences to various opposition leaders, stoking fears about the erosion of judicial independence amidst President Saied's reforms.

(With inputs from agencies.)