Tunisian Opposition Candidate Abir Moussi Sentenced to Two Years in Prison Ahead of October Election

Tunisian Opposition Candidate Abir Moussi Sentenced to Two Years in Prison Ahead of October Election
Abir Moussi, a prominent figure in Tunisia’s opposition and leader of the right-wing Free Destourian Party, has been sentenced to two years in prison. This development represents a significant challenge for the country’s fledgling opposition as President Kais Saied campaigns for re-election.
Moussi, a 49-year-old lawyer, was arrested last October after she publicly criticized the electoral process and presidential decrees, citing concerns over transparency. Her conviction came after a complaint by Tunisia’s election authority, accusing her of violating a controversial anti-fake news law designed to prevent the spread of information that is deemed defamatory or harmful. Critics argue that this law is frequently used to target government adversaries.
Despite the conviction, Moussi’s lawyer, Nafaa Laribi, affirmed that she remains determined to run in the October 6 presidential election. Laribi noted that the sentence does not legally bar Moussi from candidacy and emphasized that she plans to appeal the ruling. He also reported that Moussi is maintaining a positive outlook.
This sentencing is part of a broader trend of what many observers see as a politically motivated crackdown on dissent. With Moussi and other key opposition figures facing legal challenges, Saied is expected to encounter less competition in what was once considered the most progressive democracy in the Middle East and North Africa.
Moussi appeals to voters nostalgic for Tunisia’s pre-revolutionary era and is known for her strong criticism of Islamist figures like imprisoned Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi. Previously an official in President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s regime, Moussi remains a divisive and influential figure in Tunisian politics.