Tunisia jails opposition politician for four years over social media posts

A Tunisian military court has sentenced opposition leader Olfa Hamdi to four years in prison on charges of plotting against state security and inciting military personnel to disobey orders, according to her lawyer, Akram Moussa.

The charges against Hamdi, a dual Tunisian-American national, stem from social media posts, her lawyer said on Wednesday. Hamdi has repeatedly criticised Tunisian President Kais Saied and called for a transitional government and early presidential elections.

The case has drawn criticism from rights groups and opposition figures, who view it as part of a broader crackdown on dissent under Saied's administration.

According to Moussa, Hamdi's four-year sentence comprises two separate two-year prison terms arising from additional convictions. She was also fined 80,000 Tunisian dinars, equivalent to approximately US$26,000.

The opposition leader was sentenced in March to a separate two-year prison term in another case. International human rights organisations have criticised the proceedings against her.

Hamdi, who leads the Third Republic Party, was detained at Tunisia's main airport in February after arriving on a flight. She had been living abroad, where she operated a consulting firm in the United States after briefly serving as head of Tunisia's national airline, Tunisair.

Hamdi sought to contest Tunisia's 2024 presidential election when she was 36 years old. However, her candidacy was rejected because she did not meet the minimum age requirement of 40 years for presidential candidates.

Since then, she has continued to criticise Saied's leadership and advocate political changes, including a transitional government and early presidential elections.

Her imprisonment comes amid wider tensions between the Tunisian government and opposition groups over political freedoms, the independence of institutions and the treatment of government critics.

The United States Department of State has said it is closely monitoring the situation involving Hamdi, who holds American citizenship.

A department spokesperson told the AFP news agency that Washington was “closely tracking the situation”.

“The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens,” the spokesperson said.

The statement comes as concerns grow over the treatment of opposition figures and other individuals facing prosecution in Tunisia.

Thousands of Tunisians joined the largest protest against Saied in years on Saturday, accusing him of weakening democratic institutions and mishandling the economy.

Opposition leaders, activists and journalists have been imprisoned during his tenure, prompting criticism from human rights organisations and political opponents.

Critics say Saied has rolled back civil liberties following his 2021 power grab, which significantly altered Tunisia's political landscape.

Saied has rejected allegations that he is targeting political opponents, insisting that the law applies equally to everyone, regardless of their political position.

Hamdi's latest sentence adds to the continuing dispute over political rights, judicial proceedings and the future of democratic governance in Tunisia.