Staff Reporter

A Tunisian court has sentenced Tunisian former President, President Moncef Marzouki to eight years in prison in absentia after finding him guilty of assaulting state security agents and inciting Tunisians against each other.

Marzouki, who currently resides in Paris, has been previously sentenced to four years in absentia in 2021.

According to the court’s spokesperson, Mohamed Zitouna, the verdict was based on Marzouki’s statements, including incitement made in a speech he delivered in Paris.

Marzouki, served as president from 2011 to 2014, and has been a vocal critic of President Kais Saied, who solidified his expanded constitutional powers through a referendum with low turnout in 2022.

He has consistently denied that his actions constituted a coup, arguing that they were necessary to rescue Tunisia from years of chaos.

In addition to Marzouki, many opposition figures have faced arrest and detention in recent years.

Authorities have also taken into custody prominent opposition figures, Jawher Ben Mbarek, Khayam Turki, Ghazi Chaouachi, Issam Chabbi, Abdelhamid Jalasi, and Ridha Belhaj on suspicion of plotting against state security.