Prominent Tunisian lawyer Ayachi Hammami was arrested Tuesday after receiving a five-year sentence for plotting against the state, colleagues said. Hammami, a vocal critic of President Kais Saied, was among around 40 opposition figures sentenced last week up to 45 years.
Charges included “conspiracy against state security” and “belonging to a terrorist group,” according to court documents obtained by AFP. Hammami’s lawyer, Amine Bouker, criticised the process, saying his client was not given sufficient time to appeal his conviction.
In a Facebook video posted after his arrest, Hammami declared, “If you’re watching this I’ve been arrested,” calling the trial politically motivated. He accused President Saied’s government of using the judiciary to punish critics instead of addressing education, healthcare, and transport challenges.
“All he does is stigmatise those who disagree with him,” Hammami said, framing the arrests as part of a broader crackdown. Tunisia, once a beacon of the Arab Spring, has seen democracy erode since Saied’s 2021 power grab, according to rights groups.
Dozens of critics have faced prosecution, including terrorism-related charges and a 2022 law banning the “spreading of false news.” Last Thursday, the European Parliament urged Tunisia to release political prisoners, human rights defenders, and others detained for free expression. Saied condemned the resolution, calling it “blatant interference” and asserting the EU could learn lessons on rights and freedoms from Tunisia.