标签： Asia

In a significant escalation of Tunisia’s political crackdown, an appeals court has increased the prison sentence of prominent opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi to 20 years. The verdict, delivered Tuesday, centers on allegations of “conspiracy against the internal security of the state” in what authorities term the “Conspiracy 2” case targeting President Kais Saied’s opponents.

Ghannouchi, who has been incarcerated since 2023, initially received a 14-year sentence. This latest judicial decision brings his cumulative prison term to over four decades. According to legal representatives, the 81-year-old intellectual has opted against appealing to the supreme court, citing profound concerns about judicial impartiality and what he characterizes as politically motivated proceedings.

The case forms part of a broader pattern of suppression since President Saied’s consolidation of executive powers in July 2021. Approximately twenty individuals face similar charges, including Saied’s former chief of staff Nadia Akacha and ex-Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, who currently resides abroad. These defendants stand accused of establishing a “secret security apparatus” allegedly operating through Ghannouchi’s Ennahda party.

Parallel sentencing developments include retired military officer Kamel Bedoui, whose punishment similarly increased from 14 to 20 years. Absentee defendants Akacha and Rafik Abdessalem (Ghannouchi’s son-in-law) received upheld sentences of 35 years imprisonment.

This ruling follows a previous major conspiracy trial concluded in November, which resulted in prison terms ranging from 5 to 45 years for 34 political opponents. Until Saied’s power consolidation, Ghannouchi’s Ennahda movement—which emerged victorious following Tunisia’s 2011 revolution—played a dominant role in the nation’s political landscape. The former parliament speaker saw his institution dissolved when Saied dismissed the prime minister and suspended legislative operations.

International and local human rights organizations have consistently condemned these proceedings as lacking due process guarantees, warning of significant democratic backsliding and erosion of civil liberties in the North African nation.

Israel’s domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet has systematically reclassified violent acts committed by settlers against Palestinians, downgrading numerous incidents from “terror attacks” to “serious incidents” according to reports from Israel’s Kan 11 public broadcaster. This policy shift, implemented approximately one year ago, has significantly altered how security forces prioritize cases and allocate investigative resources.

Under the revised classification framework, only attacks demonstrating “clear intent to kill” Palestinians now qualify as terrorism according to the Shin Bet’s Jewish Division. Common violent acts including arson attacks against buildings and unmanned vehicles—frequent occurrences across the occupied West Bank—now typically receive the lower classification of “serious incidents.”

Statistical evidence reveals the practical impact of this policy: of ten documented arson attacks by masked settlers during the past month, only three were designated as terror attacks while the remaining seven were recorded as serious incidents. This reclassification occurs alongside a documented surge in settler violence throughout the West Bank.

Critics highlight concerning patterns of impunity, noting that perpetrators are rarely detained or questioned by Israeli security forces. Numerous reports document instances where soldiers either actively participated in assaults or remained passive observers during attacks on Palestinian communities.

One recent incident in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, saw dozens of settlers attacking Palestinian communities while Israeli forces reportedly stood by. Witness accounts describe soldiers encouraging settlers during acts that included setting livestock on fire and stealing property.

Official data indicates a 25% increase in what the Israeli army terms “Israeli-Jewish terror attacks” in 2025 compared to the previous year, with 845 documented attacks resulting in four fatalities and approximately 200 injuries. Israeli rights organization B’Tselem reported in November that settlers killed at least 21 Palestinians in the two years following the October 2023 attacks, with no documented cases resulting in accountability for the perpetrators.

China’s top anti-corruption authorities have initiated a comprehensive disciplinary review and supervisory investigation into Lian Ji, the former president of the Chinese National Academy of Arts. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and National Supervisory Commission formally announced the probe on Tuesday, citing suspicions of serious violations of Party discipline and national laws.

Lian Ji, 70, whose career spans decades of public service, joined the Communist Party of China in 1975. The Shanxi native dedicated nearly thirty years of his professional life to administrative roles within the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, eventually ascending to the position of regional government vice chairman in 2003.

His political trajectory continued with significant appointments, including his 2011 role as Standing Committee member of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee and head of its publicity department. Lian assumed leadership of the prestigious Chinese National Academy of Arts in February 2016, overseeing the institution’s cultural and artistic development until his retirement in 2018.

The investigation represents the latest development in China’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign, demonstrating the authorities’ continued commitment to maintaining disciplinary standards within Party ranks regardless of an individual’s retirement status or previous positions held. This case particularly highlights the scrutiny placed on cultural and educational institutions, which have recently faced increased oversight regarding compliance with Party regulations and ethical standards.