Moncef Marzouki sentenced to eight years in prison in absentia

Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki, a vocal critic of current President Kais Saied, has been sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison for attempting to "provoke disorder" in the country, local media reported on Friday evening.

The verdict was delivered by the criminal chamber of the Tunis Court of First Instance, according to these sources.

Living in France, Mr. Marzouki, the first democratically elected president in Tunisia after the 2011 Revolution, is being prosecuted in this case following statements published on social media, according to local media.

He was found guilty in the first instance of attempting to "change the form of government," "incite people to arm themselves against each other," and "provoke disorder and looting" in the country, said private radio station Mosaïque FM, citing a judicial source.

In late 2021, Mr. Marzouki was already sentenced to four years in prison for "endangering state security abroad" after, during a demonstration in Paris, he called on the French government to "reject any support" for President Saied, whom he accused of "plotting against the Revolution." Since November 2021, he has also been the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by a Tunisian judge shortly after President Saied requested an investigation into various statements by Mr. Marzouki, described as an "enemy of Tunisia," and the revocation of his diplomatic passport.

Following President Saied's power grab in July 2021, Mr. Marzouki has been active in appearing on television channels and social media to call for the removal of a man he refers to as a "coup leader" and "dictator."

As a historic opponent of the Ben Ali dictatorship and the first post-revolution president (2011-2014), Moncef Marzouki, 78, has long symbolized the fight for democracy in Tunisia, although his image has been tarnished by his controversial alliance with the Islamist-conservative Ennahdha party.