TUNIS, Tunisia — Former Prime Minister Ali Larayedh received a 24-year prison sentence Friday following charges that he facilitated the travel of Tunisian jihadists to Syria over the last decade.

Why it matters: Larayedh is a senior official in the Islamist opposition party Ennahda, and his sentencing marks a major escalation in the legal battles between the state and political rivals of President Kais Saied.

The big picture: While Ennahda denies the allegations, secular critics have long accused the party of aiding the departure of hundreds of Tunisians to join Islamic State groups in Syria, Iraq, and Libya following the 2011 revolution. The opposition maintains this case is a politically motivated “crackdown on dissent” triggered by Saied’s 2021 move to dissolve parliament and rule by decree.

What he’s saying: Larayedh, who has been in custody since 2022, pleaded his innocence before the court during a hearing on Thursday.

• “I am innocent,” Larayedh stated.
• He further told the court he was being subjected to “injustice, abuse and ingratitude.”

By the numbers: The judicial official quoted by TAP state news agency provided details on the broader case:

• 8 total defendants were involved in the proceedings, including former Interior Ministry officials.
• 3 to 24 years is the range of sentences handed down to the group.
• 2013–2014 was the turbulent period during which Larayedh served as the nation’s prime minister.

What’s next: Larayedh, who led the government during the post-revolutionary transition, retains the legal right to appeal both the conviction and the 24-year term.