Tunis Court Keeps Suspended Judge Mourad Messaoudi Free Pending New Hearing
Date: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
The criminal chamber of the Tunis Court of Appeal ruled on 18 February 2026 to maintain the suspended judge Mourad Messaoudi in a state of liberty, according to his lawyer Samir Ben Omar.
“The case concerns certificates issued during his electoral campaign,” Ben Omar told Diwan FM.
Key points of the decision
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial judgment | A first‑instance verdict rendered in absentia sentenced Messaoudi to eight months in prison. |
| Appeal outcome | The original sentence was confirmed by the Tunis Court of Appeal. |
| Current ruling | The criminal chamber accepted the appeal on procedural grounds and postponed the case review to 4 March 2026. |
| Background | On 19 January 2026, the Tunis Court of Cassation annulled the earlier judgment and remanded the case to the Court of Appeal for a fresh review by a different panel of judges. |
What the postponement means
- Messaoudi remains free while the case is re‑examined.
- The new hearing on 4 March 2026 will reassess the evidence surrounding the alleged misuse of certificates linked to his political campaign.
- The procedural acceptance signals that the appellate court found legal irregularities in the way the original appeal was filed, rather than a substantive review of the facts.
Related coverage
Keywords: Tunis Court of Appeal, Mourad Messaoudi, suspended judge, electoral campaign certificates, Tunis legal system, appeal postponement, Tunisia news, 2026 court ruling.
