The Tunisian justice system settles accounts with the murderers of government critics: four death sentences in the murder case of Chokri Belaïd. There are long prison sentences for other defendants.
In Tunisia, a court has sentenced four people to death for their role in the assassination of opposition leader Chokri Belaïd.
As the Tunisian news agency TAP reported, citing statements from the public prosecutor’s office, two defendants were also sentenced to life imprisonment in this connection. Prison sentences of between two and 120 years were imposed on other defendants. A total of 23 people were charged. The judgments are not legally binding.
Belaïd was leader of the left-wing opposition party Movement of Democratic Patriots. He was considered one of the fiercest opponents of the then governing coalition, which was led by the Islamist Ennahda party. He was killed by multiple gunshots in February 2013. Subsequently, the long-standing tensions in the country of origin of the Arab uprisings escalated and mass protests broke out again. The street protests led to the overthrow of the then Islamist government and its allies. Death penalties are still imposed in Tunisia, but are usually no longer carried out.
Source: Stern
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