Tunisia jails opposition politician for four years over social media posts

Hamdi has repeatedly criticised Tunisian President Kais Saied’s rule and called for a transitional government and early presidential elections.Critics say the case against Hamdi is the latest in a crackdown on opponents of Saied.In Tunisia’s 2024 elections, Hamdi, who was then 36, sought to run for president.

Her candidacy was rejected for not meeting the 40-year age minimum for candidates.Hamdi, the leader of the Third Republic Party, was detained at Tunisia’s main airport after disembarking from a flight in February.She ‌had been living abroad, running a consulting firm in the US after briefly serving as the head of Tunisia’s national airline Tunisair.Hamdi’s sentence comprises two separate two-year prison terms from two additional convictions and 80,000 dinars ($26,000)….

Global human rights organisations have widely criticised the cases against her.A US Department of State spokesperson told the AFP news agency that Washington was “closely tracking the situation”.“The [President Donald] Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens,” he said.Rights groups have criticised Saied, accusing him of rolling back freedoms in a 2021 power grab.Thousands of ‌Tunisians joined the largest protest against Saied in….

Opposition leaders, activists ⁠and journalists have been imprisoned during his rule.Saied rejects accusations that he is targeting political opponents and critics, saying the law applies to everyone regardless of their position.

Olfa ⁠Hamdi, a US-Tunisian national, was convicted of 'plotting' and 'inciting' military to disobey orders.