Politician Ayachi Hammami latest arrest in Tunisia opposition crackdown

Tunisia opposition says charges are fabricated, as police enforce a five-year prison sentence.Published On 2 Dec 2025Police in Tunisia have arrested prominent opposition figure Ayachi Hammami at his home to enforce a five-year prison sentence after an appeals court upheld convictions against dozens of the administration’s political opponents on charges of conspiracy against state security.The court last week confirmed jail terms ranging from four to 45 years for opposition leaders, business figures and lawyers accused of plotting to overthrow President Kais Saied, who has conducted a crackdown on opposition figures for years.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Hong Kong residents demand answers after deadly apartment firelist 2 of 4Sri Lanka airlifts aid to communities devastated by huge floodslist 3 of 4Guinea-Bissau’s electoral commission says coup destroyed election resultslist 4 of 4Costco sues Trump administration for US tariff refundend of list“If you are seeing this video, I have been arrested,” Hammami, who served as minister of human rights in 2020, said in a video posted by his family on his Facebook page on Tuesday.“I have spent years fighting for democracy, freedom, rights. I will turn my cell into a new front of struggle,” he said, adding that he planned to go on hunger strike.His arrest follows that of fellow opposition figure Chaima Issa, detained last week at a protest in Tunis to enforce a 20-year prison sentence in the same case.The sweeping prosecution has targeted around 40 people, including former officials and the former head of intelligence, Kamel Guizani.Opposition members say the charges against them – including attempting to destabilise the country and topple the government – are fabricated and designed to eliminate dissent through the judiciary, adding that the measures are a mark of the country’s deepening authoritarianism.Police are widely expected to arrest Najib Chebbi, who heads the National Salvation Front, the main coalition challenging Saied, and who received a 12-year prison sentence.