By John Ikani
A Tunisian court has sentenced former President Moncef Marzouki in absentia to four years in prison for “assaulting” the security of the state, according to state media.
Local media on Wednesday said he was found guilty of “undermining the security of the state from abroad” and of having caused “diplomatic harm”.
In a statement to newsmen, Marzouki rejected the ruling as illegal, saying it was “issued by an illegitimate president who overturned the constitution”.
He said the accusations against him are a “reversal of the facts” and instead apply to President Kais Saied, who in July seized sweeping executive powers.
The 76-year-old, who currently lives in France, had previously criticised Saied and called for protests.
Marzouki had previously described Saied’s seizure of power in July as a coup and called for protests against him.
He also urged that a major international meeting of French-speaking countries be moved from Tunisia.
Saied has rejected accusations that his seizure of power, suspension of parliament, and plans to change the constitution are a coup.
He said he acted to end protracted political paralysis and that a referendum will be held next year on a new constitution followed by parliamentary elections.
Foreign donors needed to help address a looming crisis in Tunisia’s public finances have urged Mr Saied to restore normal constitutional order and say democracy and freedom of speech are important to their relationship with the North African country.
After Tunisia’s 2011 revolution that introduced democracy, an elected assembly appointed Mr Marzouki as the interim president, overseeing the transition to a new constitution in 2014.
