Tunisian lawyer and writer Sonia Dahmani (L) is kissed by a relative at home in Tunis after her conditional release from prison. AFP
Nearly 40 defendants, many of them critics of President Kais Saied, were sentenced to up to 66 years in April for "conspiracy against state security" and "belonging to a terrorist group".
The United Nations and rights groups have criticised the trial, and the charges were mainly based on accusations of meeting with foreign diplomats. Most of the detainees were arrested in 2023.
On Friday, President Kais Saied denounced a European Parliament resolution on human rights calling for the release of his critics as "blatant interference".
Among the defendants in the mass trial were Jawhar Ben Mbarek, co-founder of a leading opposition coalition, party leaders Issam Chebbi and Ghazi Chaouachi, and businessman Kamel Ltaief, who are all already behind bars.
Ben Mbarek, Chebbi and Chaouachi were sentenced to 20 years, up from 18, while FSN co-founder Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, an octogenarian, received 12 years, down from 18, according to a document communicated by the defence team.
Businessman Kamel Ltaief was handed the longest term of 45 years, down from 66 years, while politician Khayam Turki received 35 years down from 48, according to the document.
Three defendants, including Mosaique FM chief Noureddine Boutar, were acquitted, the document said.
Ben Mbarek's family has said the detainee has been on hunger strike for over a month and warned of "risks of dying", according to his sister and lawyer Dalila Msaddek.
Others remain abroad and were tried in absentia, including feminist Bochra Belhaj Hmida and French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy, both receiving 33 years in prison.
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