The Criminal Chamber of the Court of Appeal in Tunis held its first hearing on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, in the high-profile “Instalingo” case, one of the most sensitive judicial files in Tunisia in recent years.
Last February, the Second Criminal Chamber of the Tunis Court of First Instance issued its verdicts in this case, handing down sentences ranging from 5 to 54 years in prison, alongside asset confiscations and financial penalties against 41 defendants, some of whom remain at large.
A case with political, security, and media ramifications
The “Instalingo” file includes a wide range of defendants, including security officers, bloggers, journalists, business figures, and politicians. Among the prominent names cited in the case:
- Rached Ghannouchi, President of the Ennahdha Movement
- Hichem Mechichi, former Prime Minister
- Nadia Akacha, former Chief of Staff to the President
They face charges of “conspiring against state security, attempting to alter the structure of the state, and attributing grave accusations to the President of the Republic”, in accordance with Articles 61, 62 bis and 67 of the Tunisian Penal Code.
A highly anticipated appeal hearing
Tuesday’s hearing marks a new phase in a complex judicial process involving allegations of political interference, coordinated digital campaigns, and threats to national security. Legal observers expect the appeal stage to offer a deeper review of the case material, while families of the defendants hope for a reconsideration of the heavy sentences issued earlier this year.
The judiciary, meanwhile, emphasizes the sensitivity of the case and its significance for preserving state stability and the rule of law.
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