About 40 opposition figures in Tunisia have been sentenced on appeal to prison terms of up to 45 years in a controversial trial over "conspiracy against state security" and "belonging to a terrorist group".
The 37 defendants, most of whom were imprisoned after their arrest in the spring of 2023, were accused of, among other things, meeting with foreign diplomats.
In the initial trial in April, the defendants were handed heavy prison sentences of up to 66 years after just three hearings and without closing arguments.
Right groups have condemned the trial as "politically motivated", while Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, denounced "violations of the law raising serious concerns about political motivations".
According to local media, the defendants received sentences ranging from 10 to 45 years on appeal.
