Rached Ghannouchi and Ennahdha members receive heavy prison sentences in Tunisia
via Business News1 min read
The criminal chamber of the Tunis Court of First Instance has delivered its verdict in the "discussion circle case," also known as the "El-Moussamara case," imposing significant prison sentences on several defendants. On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, the court sentenced Ennahdha leader Rached Ghannouchi, along with party members Youssef Nouri and Ahmed Mechergui, to twenty years in prison each. In the same case, Ennahdha members Mohamed Goumani and Belgacem Hassan received three-year prison sentences. This case led to Rached Ghannouchi's arrest on the night of April 17, 2023, following his statements about the risk of civil war. This incident is part of a series of legal proceedings targeting several opposition figures and is linked to accusations of "conspiracy against state security." Ghannouchi's arrest occurred during Ramadan, two days after a discussion circle organized by the National Salvation Front. During this meeting, the Ennahdha leader had warned against the authoritarian drift of the government and the consequences of excluding political forces, particularly the left and Islamists, which he deemed dangerous for civil peace. The prosecution cited a statement in which he mentioned the risk of "civil war" if political Islam were to be eliminated from the national scene. Authorities considered these remarks to be an attack on the internal security of the state, under Article 72 of the Tunisian Penal Code.
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A widely circulated Facebook post claiming the Egyptian Ministry of Health officially banned C-sections, except in extreme necessity, has been debunked as false. Investigations found no official communication from the ministry announcing such a prohibition. Instead, Egyptian health authorities have been implementing a long-standing policy to reduce medically unjustified C-sections, not to ban them. Official recommendations encourage natural childbirth when medically feasible, while maintaining C-sections for maternal or infant protection. The Egyptian Health Council's guidelines emphasize clinical evaluation by health professionals for such decisions. Egypt has a high C-section rate, prompting a national strategy to reduce unnecessary interventions through medical training and improved obstetric practices. This strategy does not include a general ban on C-sections. This rumor has been circulating on Egyptian social media since October, appearing in various forms suggesting an official decision, but no official document has confirmed it. The Egyptian authorities' policy aims to combat C-sections performed without medical indication, not to eliminate them, as C-sections remain essential in many obstetric situations.
Tunisia's Assembly of People's Representatives ARP approved two loan agreements for the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company STEG on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. These loans are intended to finance an energy sector reform program. The first bill, approving a guarantee agreement between Tunisia and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development IBRD for a STEG loan, passed with 72 votes in favor, 19 against, and six abstentions. The second bill, concerning another guarantee agreement with the IBRD as the implementing entity for the Clean Technology Fund, also for STEG, was adopted with 19 votes against and six abstentions. These loans aim to improve efficiency, performance, and governance in Tunisia's energy sector, strengthen electrical infrastructure, and support renewable energy development. The adoption followed several days of parliamentary tension, including a session on Friday, July 10, being suspended and postponed. Deputy Bilel El Mechri had accused the Assembly President, Brahim Bouderbala, of delaying the vote due to strong opposition, calling the agreements "colonization loans" and alleging they would benefit foreign companies and lead to STEG's privatization.
The Tunis Court of Appeal's criminal chamber specializing in terrorism cases increased the sentences of B茅chir Akremi, Habib Ellouze, and Hassen Brik on Monday, July 13, 2026, in two cases related to the assassination of Chokri Bela茂d. B茅chir Akremi's total sentence was raised from 23 to 29 years in prison for procedural failures in handling the Bela茂d case, including intentionally omitting to arrest a suspect, concealing the truth, and falsification. Habib Ellouze and Hassen Brik each saw their sentences increase from 13 to 17 years in prison. They were convicted for providing skills and expertise to individuals involved in terrorist offenses and disclosing information to aid those linked to terrorist crimes. The court also confirmed the administrative control measure for all three convicts, to be applied after their prison sentences. These decisions follow the initial judgments on March 4, 2026, by the Tunis Court of First Instance. Both the convicted individuals and Chokri Bela茂d's defense committee had appealed the first-instance rulings. These cases are part of investigations following the assassination of political opponent Chokri Bela茂d on February 6, 2013, focusing on the judicial handling of the matter rather than the perpetrators of the assassination itself. The Ennahdha movement had previously criticized the initial trial, citing a lack of independence and procedural irregularities, and disputed the charges against Habib Ellouze and B茅chir Akremi's involvement.