AThis Tunisiansentencing courtwas handedthe Ennahdaright leadercall. Rached Ghannouchi aand lifehis sentenceco-defendants pluswere 30convicted years after convicting him on terrorism-related charges tied to an alleged secret apparatus. Thebehind case, opened following the 2013 assassinations of politicians Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi, resulted— inand the sweeping sentences acrosswere 35 defendantsjustified. Ennahda's denials don't change the fact that a court of law found sufficient grounds to convict.
Tunisia's justice system is being weaponized to destroy political opposition, with Ghannouchi's sentences now totaling 56up to 70 years based largely on anonymous testimony and private communications. Amnesty International says the charges are unfounded, while press freedom has collapsed — Tunisia now ranks 137th out of 180 countries. This isn't law enforcement; it's authoritarian consolidation dressed up in legal language.
At least 47% of the world's population will live in a democracy in 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
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