A Tunisian military court has sentenced opposition leader Olfa Hamdi to four years in prison on charges of plotting against state security and inciting the military to disobey orders. According to her defense counsel, the criminal case against the dual Tunisian and United States national stemmed directly from her social media publications.
Akram Moussa, Hamdi’s lawyer, confirmed the verdict on Wednesday, noting that the total sentence comprises two separate two-year prison terms resulting from additional convictions, alongside fines totaling 80,000 dinars, equivalent to roughly $26,000. Hamdi had previously received a two-year prison sentence in March in connection with a separate legal matter.
Hamdi leads the Third Republic Party and has maintained a vocal stance against the rule of Tunisian President Kais Saied, frequently utilizing digital platforms to advocate for a transitional government and early presidential elections. In 2024, at age 36, she attempted to mount a presidential campaign, but election authorities rejected her candidacy because she did not meet the constitutional minimum age requirement of 40 years.
The opposition leader was taken into custody in February at Tunisia’s primary airport shortly after stepping off an incoming flight. Prior to her detention, she had resided abroad while operating a consulting firm in the United States, following a brief tenure as the head of the country’s national flag carrier, Tunisair.
The prosecution and subsequent conviction have intensified domestic and international scrutiny surrounding Tunisia’s political climate. Critics and global human rights organizations have frequently condemned the legal proceedings against opposition figures, characterizing them as part of a broader government crackdown on dissent under Saied’s administration.
In Washington, the U.S. Department of State indicated that American authorities are closely monitoring developments. A State Department spokesperson stated that ensuring the safety and security of U.S. citizens remains a paramount priority for the administration.
Human rights advocates contend that President Saied has systematically curtailed political freedoms following a consolidation of executive power in 2021. Public discontent flared notably on Saturday, when thousands of demonstrators gathered for one of the largest anti-government protests seen in years, leveling accusations against Saied’s administration for undermining democratic institutions and mismanaging the national economy. Over the course of Saied’s tenure, numerous political figures, civil rights activists, and journalists have faced imprisonment.
President Saied has consistently denied allegations that his government is engaged in a targeted campaign against political opponents and critics, maintaining that the nation’s legal framework applies impartially to all citizens regardless of their public status or political affiliations.
