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A Tunisian military court has sentenced opposition politician 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.
Hamdi, who holds Tunisian and US citizenship, was convicted in cases reportedly linked to social media posts. She leads the Third Republic Party and has repeatedly criticised President Kais Saied, calling for a transitional government and early presidential elections.
Additional Prison Sentence and Fines
Her lawyer said the latest ruling comprises two separate two-year prison terms, along with fines totalling 80,000 Tunisian dinars, equivalent to approximately $26,000.
Hamdi had also received a separate two-year prison sentence in March. She was detained at Tunisia’s main airport in February after returning from abroad, where she had been running a consulting firm in the United States.
Hamdi previously served as head of Tunisia’s national airline, Tunisair. She also sought to contest the 2024 presidential election, but her candidacy was rejected because she was below the minimum age requirement of 40 at the time.
US Monitoring the Case
A US Department of State spokesperson told AFP that Washington was closely monitoring the situation, emphasising that the safety and security of American citizens remained a priority for the administration.
The case comes amid growing tensions between the Tunisian government and its critics. Thousands of people reportedly joined a major protest against Saied in Tunis on October 17, accusing his administration of weakening democratic institutions and mishandling the economy.
Opposition figures, activists and journalists have faced prosecution and imprisonment during Saied’s rule, prompting criticism from rights groups and political opponents. Saied rejects accusations that he is targeting his critics, maintaining that the law applies equally to everyone.
The latest ruling adds to concerns raised by critics about the treatment of political opposition in Tunisia. The charges and convictions against Hamdi have been reported by her lawyer and news agencies; the allegations should be distinguished from the wider political interpretations of the case.
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