The criminal chamber specialized in terrorism cases at the Tunis Court of Appeal delivered its long-awaited verdict on Monday in the assassination case of the late Chokri Belaïd, after the court heard all defendants and closing arguments from the defense.
Life imprisonment for several defendants
The court sentenced Mohamed Akkari, identified as the head of the security wing of the banned organization Ansar Al-Sharia, to life imprisonment plus an additional 120 years.
It also handed down life sentences to Mohamed Amine Gassmi (with an extra 20 years) and to Abderraouf Talbi, who received life imprisonment plus 18 years.
Reduced and confirmed sentences
The court reduced the sentence of Riadh Ouertani from 20 to 10 years in prison, while confirming the initial rulings against Yasser Mouelhi and Mohamed Ali Dammak.
It also upheld the previous judgments against Saïfeddine Arfaoui, Houssem Mezlini, Mohamed Aouadi, and Ezeddine Abdellaoui.
Partial acquittals and new convictions
The chamber dismissed charges against Karim Kalaï and Saber Mechergui, as well as Khmais Tahri and Ahmed Ben Aoun.
However, Ahmed Melki, known as Al-Somali, was sentenced to 37 years in prison, while the court confirmed the initial sentence against Mohamed Omari.
The court likewise maintained previous rulings concerning Mohamed Khiari, Maher Akkari, Allam Tizaoui, Hamza Arfaoui, Kaïs Mchala, Mouadh Hamaïdia, and Mohamed Naïmi.
A symbolic and long-awaited verdict
This verdict marks a major milestone in one of Tunisia’s most emblematic and politically charged trials — the assassination of Chokri Belaïd, a prominent left-wing political leader and human rights activist, who was gunned down in February 2013 in front of his home in Tunis.
The case, intertwining terrorism, religious extremism, and political turmoil, has deeply shaped Tunisia’s democratic transition over the past decade.
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