Tunisia Court Jails Ex-Justice Minister Bhiri for 20 Years Over Forged Passports Case

A Tunisian court has sentenced former Justice Minister Noureddine Bhiri to 20 years in prison over allegations of facilitating forged passports and citizenship documents for foreign nationals allegedly linked to terrorism cases, according to Tunisian state media.

The ruling, delivered by the criminal chamber specialising in terrorism cases at the Tunis Primary Court, is the latest legal setback for the senior member of the Islamist-inspired Ennahda Movement, who is already serving a separate 43-year prison sentence handed down in April 2025 in a case involving an alleged conspiracy against state security.

Tunisia’s state news agency, quoting an unnamed judicial source on Wednesday, said the court issued prison terms ranging from 11 to 30 years against several defendants in what has become known locally as the “forged passports and citizenships” case.

According to prosecutors, the case concerns allegations of “fabricating passports and falsifying citizenship documents” issued to foreigners wanted in terrorism-related investigations during Mr Bhiri’s tenure as justice minister in 2012.

Mr Bhiri and his lawyers have consistently denied the accusations, insisting the case is politically motivated.

The court also sentenced former security official Fathi Al Baladi to 20 years imprisonment.

In addition, the court handed down 30-year prison terms in absentia against Moaz Kheriji — the son of Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi — and three unnamed fugitives. Two other unnamed defendants received 11-year jail terms.

All the defendants were also placed under administrative supervision for five years after completing their prison terms.

However, the court removed former Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali from the list of defendants in the case.

Although the verdicts remain subject to appeal, the court ordered immediate enforcement, meaning the prison terms will begin pending a final judicial decision.

According to the state news agency, the disputed documents enabled a Syrian national allegedly linked to international terrorism cases to obtain Tunisian identity documents.

The report added that the origins of the case date back to a Syrian man and his wife obtaining Tunisian passports from Tunisia’s embassy in Vienna between 1982 and 1984 — years before Mr Bhiri became justice minister.

Prosecutors, however, argued that the couple’s nationality and identity registration process was fraudulently validated in 2012 while Mr Bhiri oversaw the Justice Ministry.

Mr Bhiri’s defence team has dismissed the charges as baseless, arguing that the case lacks credible legal evidence and forms part of a wider political crackdown on opposition figures.

Since February 2023, Tunisian authorities have detained several politicians, lawyers and civil society activists on accusations ranging from undermining public order and conspiracy against state security to collusion with foreign entities, incitement and money laundering.

Those targeted include Mr Ghannouchi, opposition leader Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, former presidential office minister Ridha Belhaj, Republican Party Secretary-General Issam Chebbi and former minister Ghazi Chaouachi.

Defence lawyers for the accused have repeatedly denied the allegations and accused the authorities of using the judiciary to silence dissent.