The Tunis Court of Appeal's criminal chamber specializing in terrorism cases increased the sentences of Béchir Akremi, Habib Ellouze, and Hassen Brik on Monday, July 13, 2026, in two cases related to the assassination of Chokri Belaïd. Béchir Akremi's total sentence was raised from 23 to 29 years in prison for procedural failures in handling the Belaïd 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 Belaïd's defense committee had appealed the first-instance rulings. These cases are part of investigations following the assassination of political opponent Chokri Belaïd 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 Béchir Akremi's involvement.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed sent a message of condolences to Qatar on Monday, July 13, 2026, following the death of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former emir, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 74. In a message conveyed by the Qatar News Agency QNA, the head of state expressed his deep sympathy to the ruling family and the Qatari people. He offered prayers for the deceased and extended wishes of courage and comfort to his loved ones and the entire Qatari nation during this period of mourning. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani died in Doha, and a funeral prayer was held at the Imam Mohammed bin Abdel Waheb Mosque before his burial. Qatari authorities have declared four days of national mourning. Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani was a significant figure in Qatar's contemporary history, playing a central role in the emirate's transformation and development during his reign.
A highly violent video circulating on social media features an individual issuing insults, calls for execution, and threats of murder and hanging against several political figures and lawyers, including Hamma Hammami, the Secretary-General of the Workers' Party. Hammami has decided to file a complaint with the justice system. The three-minute video, widely shared, shows a man identified as a supporter of the President of the Republic, making repeated calls for Hammami's "execution" and stating his willingness to kill him. The threats extend to other named individuals, including Samir Dilou, Mohamed Abbou, Ezzeddine Hazgui, and Rached Ghannouchi. The video's author expresses a desire to gather them, "tie them together," and place chains around their necks, while also urging authorities to prevent some of these individuals from leaving the country. The video also contains continuous insults, labeling the targeted individuals as "traitors," "mercenaries," and "dogs," and claims they are acting against the President of the Republic. The author attributes statements to Hamma Hammami calling for a "new revolution" starting July 25, which are presented in the video as justification for the calls to violence. The article highlights the public nature of these explicit death threats and the question it raises about the normalization of political violence on social media, especially when such content is openly accessible and features specific acts of violence.
Tunisian Minister of Interior Khaled Nouri spoke by phone with his French counterpart Laurent Nuñez on Monday, July 13, 2026, at the initiative of the latter. Their discussions focused on shared security challenges, particularly the fight against cross-border crime and drug trafficking. According to a statement from the Tunisian Ministry of Interior, the two officials addressed various issues under the purview of their respective ministries. The exchanges specifically covered ways to strengthen coordination against criminal networks operating across borders, especially given the increasing regional security challenges. The telephone conversation also provided an opportunity to explore consolidating Tunisian-French security cooperation. Both ministers emphasized the importance of continuing joint efforts to address common threats, including illicit trafficking and organized forms of crime. Security cooperation remains a major aspect of the relationship between Tunis and Paris, alongside economic, migratory, and diplomatic matters.