Tunisian Opposition Leader Olfa Hamdi Sentenced to Four Years for Social Media Criticism of President Saied

A Tunisian military court has handed down a four-year prison sentence to opposition leader Olfa Hamdi, a dual Tunisian and United States national, on charges including plotting against state security and inciting the military to disobey orders. Her lawyer, Akram Moussa, stated that the charges were based on social media posts made by Hamdi, who has been a vocal critic of Tunisian President Kais Saied's administration. Hamdi has advocated for a transitional government and early presidential elections.

Critics contend that Hamdi's case is the latest in a series of actions against opponents of President Saied, who consolidated power in 2021. Hamdi, who leads the Third Republic Party, had previously attempted to run for president in Tunisia's 2024 elections but was disqualified for not meeting the age requirement of 40. She was detained at Tunisia's main airport in February after returning from abroad, where she had been living and managing a consulting firm in the US, following a previous role as head of Tunisair.

The sentence includes two separate two-year terms from additional convictions and a fine of 80,000 dinars ($26,000). Hamdi had already received a two-year prison sentence in March from a separate case. Global human rights organizations have expressed significant criticism of the legal proceedings against her. A spokesperson for the US Department of State indicated that Washington is closely monitoring the situation, referencing the Trump Administration's priority on the safety of American citizens.

Human rights groups have accused President Saied of curtailing freedoms since his 2021 power consolidation. Recently, thousands of Tunisians participated in a large protest against Saied, citing concerns about the undermining of democracy and economic mismanagement. Opposition figures, activists, and journalists have been imprisoned during Saied's tenure. The President, however, denies targeting political opponents, asserting that the law is applied equally to all.