Tunisia is currently witnessing a judicial farce that takes the country back 30 years, to the peak of repression orchestrated by Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali's dictatorship (1987-2011). About 40 defendants, involved in an alleged "conspiracy" against "state security," were sentenced on Saturday, April 19, by a Tunis court to prison terms of up to... 66 years. This Kafkaesque trial, which the detained defendants only attended via videoconference from their cells, openly flouted the most basic defense rights, according to human rights organizations Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

Even Ben Ali, known for his uncompromising grip, maintained a minimum of decorum, sensitive to Tunisia's international image. The trial, described as "judicial madness" by lawyer Samir Dilou, so blatantly flouted the most established norms that European chancelleries,, usually rather supportive of President Kais Saied – an effective executor of the 2023 migration containment agreements with Brussels – have now openly voiced alarm. Paris expressed its "concern" on Wednesday, followed by Berlin the next day. These minimal but rare reactions are noteworthy.

You have 88.55% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.