A Tunisian court has sentenced former Justice Minister Noureddine Bhiri, a senior figure in the Ennahda Movement, to 20 years in prison over allegations of facilitating passports and citizenship documents for foreign nationals, according to state media.
The case centers on accusations that Bhiri authorized the fabrication of passports and falsified citizenship documents for foreigners allegedly wanted in terrorism-related cases. Prosecutors say the actions took place during his tenure as justice minister in 2012, when Tunisia was undergoing a fragile political transition following the Arab Spring.
Bhiri and his legal team have consistently denied the charges, arguing that the case lacks credible evidence and is politically motivated. His defense maintains that the allegations rely on disputed documentation and interpretations of administrative procedures.
According to Tunisia’s state news agency, the criminal chamber specializing in terrorism cases at the Tunis primary court issued varying sentences against multiple defendants in what authorities describe as the forged passports and citizenships case.
Ruling deepens political tensions
Bhiri, who is already imprisoned, had previously been sentenced on April 19, 2025, to 43 years in a separate case tied to alleged conspiracy against state security. The latest ruling adds to mounting legal pressures against opposition figures in Tunisia.
Authorities also sentenced former security official Fathi Al-Baladi to 20 years in the same case. Meanwhile, a 30-year sentence was handed down in absentia to Moaz Kheriji, the son of Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi, along with three other fugitives.
Two additional defendants received 11-year prison terms, while all convicted individuals were placed under administrative supervision for five years following their sentences. The court also removed former Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali from the list of defendants.
Although the rulings remain subject to appeal, the court ordered immediate enforcement, meaning the sentences take effect before the appeals process is completed.
State media reports claim the case involves documents that enabled a Syrian national allegedly linked to international terrorism to obtain Tunisian identity papers. Authorities argue that the nationality was granted using fabricated records during Bhiri’s tenure.
However, Bhiri has countered that the origins of the documents date back decades before his time in office. He points to records indicating that a Syrian man and his wife received Tunisian passports through the country’s embassy in Vienna between 1982 and 1984.
Prosecutors contend that the later recognition and registration of those documents in 2012 constituted fabrication. Bhiri’s legal team disputes this interpretation, insisting that administrative validation does not equate to falsification.
The case unfolds amid a broader wave of arrests targeting opposition politicians, lawyers and civil society figures since February 2023. Those detained face charges ranging from undermining public order to colluding with foreign entities and money laundering.
High-profile figures prosecuted include Rached Ghannouchi, National Salvation Front leader Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, former minister Ridha Belhaj, Republican Party Secretary-General Issam Chebbi and former minister Ghazi Chaouachi.
Tunisian authorities maintain that the judiciary operates independently and that all legal proceedings adhere to the rule of law. However, opposition groups argue that the prosecutions reflect a systematic effort to silence dissent and weaken political rivals.
The outcome of Bhiri’s appeals process is expected to be closely watched both domestically and internationally, as Tunisia continues to grapple with political divisions and questions over judicial independence.
