Tunisian Court to Issue Verdicts in Major ‘Conspiracy Against State 2’ Case Involving Top Political Figures

Watan-Tunisia’s primary court in the capital is expected to issue verdicts Tuesday in the high-profile “Conspiracy Against State 2” case, which involves nearly 20 Tunisian citizens—including former top officials, ministers, and members of the opposition—accused of serious charges like forming a terrorist organization and attempting to overthrow the government.

The case follows the earlier “Conspiracy Against the State 1” trial, which saw 40 people sentenced in April 2025 to 4–66 years in prison, including sentences in absentia. These legal actions have triggered strong backlash from opposition parties and rights organizations, which claim the cases are politically driven efforts to silence dissent.

Origins of the Case

The current case dates back to September 2023, when a Tunisian judge issued international arrest warrants for 12 individuals, including:

• Youssef Chahed (former Prime Minister)

• Nadia Akacha (former chief of staff to President Kais Saied)

• Moaz Ghannouchi (son of Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi)

• Kamel El-Kaïzani (former security chief)

• Maher Zid (former MP)

• Lotfi Zitoun (former minister)

Over time, the investigation expanded, and the judiciary consolidated these into the “Conspiracy 2” case.

According to Hanen Qaddas, spokesperson for the anti-terror judiciary, the case involved accusations of:“forming a terrorist cell, conspiracy against internal state security, financing terrorism, money laundering, attempting regime change, and inciting violence via social media.”

Defendants Categorized in Three Groups

1. In Detention:

   • Rached Ghannouchi (former parliament speaker)

   • Ali Laarayedh (former PM)

   • Moez Zouari (former intelligence chief)

   • Others, including ex-officials and municipal leaders

2. On Bail:

   • Sadok Chourou (former Ennahda leader, seriously ill)

3. Fugitives or Abroad:

   • Moaz Ghannouchi, Nadia Akacha, Lotfi Zitoun, Youssef Chahed, Maher Zid, Kamel El-Kaïzani, and Rafik Abdessalem (former FM)

Opposition’s Response

The opposition Ennahda party firmly rejected the charges, calling the case a continuation of “political score-settling”. In a statement titled “Lies and Truths About the Conspiracy Case 2”, the party accused authorities of weaponizing the judiciary to persecute dissenters based on dubious testimonies from secret informants, claiming the case exemplifies the erosion of justice and judicial independence.

Background: ‘Conspiracy 1’ Case

In April, the Anti-Terror Judicial Division sentenced 40 individuals—some in absentia—to long prison terms in the earlier “Conspiracy 1” case, involving similar accusations of:

• Endangering national and foreign security

• Forming terrorist groups

• Attempting to change the form of government

• Fueling chaos and sectarian violence

• Threatening food security and the environment

Political Context

These cases are unfolding amid Tunisia’s ongoing political crisis. Since July 25, 2021, President Kais Saied has implemented a series of extraordinary measures, including dissolving parliament and issuing laws by decree, which critics describe as an authoritarian power grab.

While Saied defends these actions as necessary for “protecting the state”, many Tunisians—including opposition parties, legal experts, and international observers—view them as a slide into autocracy, with a judiciary increasingly used to suppress opposition.

If the verdicts issued today are harsh, they could further intensify political polarization, especially as Tunisia prepares for potential elections amid mounting economic and social unrest.