TUNIS: A Tunisian court on Friday jailed prominent lawyer Ahmed Souab for five years on anti-terror charges, his defense counsel said — the latest case in a crackdown on opposition figures in the North African country.
Defense lawyer Yosr Hamid said her client had received an additional three-year sentence of “administrative supervision” after a trial lasting just seven minutes.
Hundreds of opposition figures, lawyers, journalists, trade unionists and humanitarian workers in Tunisia are being prosecuted for “conspiracy” or in connection with a “fake news” decree by authorities.
That legislation, Decree Law 54, has been criticized by rights activists, who are concerned over its broad interpretation by some courts.
Souab was arrested in April following criticism of the legal process in a trial of prominent figures, including opposition leaders.
