Jailed Tunisian political leader faces death penalty; lawyers appeal charges

Lawyers for Abir Moussi, leader of Tunisia’s Free Constitutional Party, have launched an appeal against charges that could lead to the death penalty, according to a report in the Libya Express. Her arrest is a high profile example of a growing political crackdown launched by President Kais Saied. Moussi was arrested in October 2023 for attempting to file a grievance against Saied, and faces accusations of "planning to change the state structure." Critics argue the charges, based on a broad interpretation of Article 72, are being used to silence political opposition.

Her case has drawn significant attention, with her party asserting that Moussi was simply exercising her legal right to challenge the president's decrees. The charges are part of a wider crackdown on dissent, which has seen several opposition figures detained. Moussi, a vocal critic of Saied and the Ennahda party, also faces charges for allegedly spreading "misleading information" about the 2022 elections. Critics argue Saied’s actions reflect an increasingly authoritarian approach to governance.