Tunisian court jails former PM for facilitating jihadist travel to Syria
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – A Tunisian court sentenced on Friday former Prime Minister and Ennahda Party vice president Ali Larayedh to 34 years in prison on charges of facilitating the travel of jihadists to Syria during the past decade.
The court also handed down lengthy prison terms to several political opponents, businessmen, and media figures on charges of conspiracy. Sentences ranged from 18 to 36 years and included eight individuals, among them senior security officials, according to Reuters.
A lawyer involved in the case told Reuters that Larayedh was convicted in connection with facilitating the movement of foreign fighters to Syria. His defense team stated that the former prime minister, who has been in custody since 2022, was tried remotely without any of the defendants physically present in court.
The Ennahda party has rejected the charges against Larayedh, dismissing them as politically motivated and denying any links to terrorism.