A Tunisian court sentenced Ennahda leader Rashid al-Ghannushi and former prime minister Ali al-Arid to prison in February 2026.
The convictions target the leadership of one of Tunisia's most prominent political movements. The rulings signal a severe crackdown on the party's internal structures and its influence within the state.
The criminal division of the primary court in Tunis handed down the sentences based on charges involving the alleged "secret apparatus" of the Ennahda movement. The court found the defendants guilty of conspiracy against state security and forming a terrorist organization.
Reports on the exact length of al-Ghannushi's sentence vary. The BBC said the term was 20 years [1], while the Anadolu Agency cited 22 years [2]. A video report from Al Jazeera Arabic said he was sentenced to life imprisonment plus 30 years [3].
Ali al-Arid, a senior Ennahda figure and former prime minister, also received a prison term. France24 said al-Arid was sentenced to 24 years in prison [4]. However, Al Jazeera Arabic said the term was 42 years [3].
The "secret apparatus" case centers on allegations that Ennahda maintained a clandestine network to influence political outcomes and undermine state security. The court's decision follows a series of legal actions against the movement's top officials.
Legal representatives for the defendants have not provided a public response to the specific sentencing lengths in the provided records. The proceedings took place in the capital city of Tunis, marking a significant legal blow to the party's remaining infrastructure.
“Rashid al-Ghannushi was sentenced to 20 years in prison for conspiracy against state security”
These sentences represent a pivotal moment in Tunisia's political trajectory, effectively decapitating the leadership of the Ennahda movement. By labeling the party's internal organization as a terrorist entity and a threat to state security, the judiciary has created a legal precedent that may be used to further dismantle Islamist political participation in the country.
