Tunisia: Final Judicial Avenue to Overturn Convictions in Unjust 'Conspiracy' Case

What the report says

Amnesty International said Tunisia’s Court of Cassation is scheduled to hear the final appeal in the so-called “conspiracy case” on 3 September, presenting what the rights group described as the last judicial path to overturn convictions against opposition figures. The appeal concerns a group of politicians, lawyers and human rights defenders whom Amnesty says were punished for peaceful political opposition and targeted in a case it calls unjust.

According to the organization’s statement, the case stems from a mass trial in Tunis. A first-instance court convicted 37 people in April 2025 on state-security-related charges, and the court of appeal later upheld convictions for 34 defendants in November 2025. Amnesty said the proceedings involved serious fair-trial violations and that the people convicted received prison terms ranging from four to 66 years at the first stage, later adjusted to five to 45 years on appeal.

The group named several prominent defendants, including Ayachi Hammami, Chaima Issa, Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, Issam Chebbi and Ghazi Chaouachi. It also said some detainees have been held since February 2023 and that prison conditions, including heat and limited ventilation, have worsened health concerns. More broadly, the report reflects ongoing scrutiny of Tunisia’s treatment of opposition figures and the use of courts in politically sensitive cases.