Exiled ex-president sentenced in absentia for "complicity" in murders of 43 protesters during country's 2011 uprising.
Tunisia's ex-strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has been sentenced in absentia to life in prison for complicity in the murders of 43 protesters in the 2011 revolution that toppled him, a military judge has said.

Hedi Ayari of the Tunis military court said on Thursday that Ben Ali was judged with around 40 of his former officials, including General Ali Seriati, ex-head of presidential security, who was given a 20-year prison term.

Former interior minister Rafik Belhaj Kacem was sentenced to 15 years, while the case against Ahmed Friaa, another former interior minister, was dismissed.

In total, 21 of those charged were acquitted, and Ben Ali was the only defendant to receive a life sentence, a court official said.

The other sentences ran between five and 20 years. Families of the victims reacted angrily, saying the sentences for Seriati and Kacem were too lenient and criticising the dismissal of the case against Friaa.

http://m.aljazeera.com/story/2012719161231698132

In retrospect, Ben Ali appears to be a wise dude.

huh?

Why not stone to death according to Sharia law?!

Na waoo

Absentia? If na me i no go return again.

What a life! an Experience of the highest & lowest part of it.

Okija_juju: huh?

Why not stone to death according to Sharia law?!

dammytosh: and you people want al assad to step down ? Stay there, and he go die there.

I think life imprisonement is worse than Death, that's why i think Al-assad will not step them, coupled with the fact that he gains more if he dies because virgins will be waiting for him.

thats sad. Recently in africa, ex-presidents and top officials are been laid to life in prisonment. Charles taylor and co

Hmm

Judging from the humiliating and shabby treatment meted out to the likes of (especially) Hosni Mubarak and Ben Ali, the international community is indirectly trying to say that it is better for despots to fight till the death and kill as many protesters as possible, rather than relinquish power after a few days of riots with minimal casualties. It's ridiculous in a way because the likes of Assad would continue killing innocent people and hang on to power until they die. I think even Charles Taylor would be regreting that he stepped down from power only to face the situation he is in now. It would have paid him to hang on to power even if Liberia would burn - until death. The international community has to find common sense solutions to these issues.

What goes around,comes around.

and what about black africa? i see a couple of exes in my motherland who should be serving life hanging around and chilling, getting more money, getting more girls.

The same thing suppose to happen to GEJ.

Life is gud!

its so surprising that all north africa former preisdents are always been sentence after thier reign

Charles gave in to cajoles to step down, seeing wat d trend is in d world today, his wise decision will now seem to him as folly.

Dictators with nerves to inflict as much pain to humanity as they have done will now see wisdom in fight to death than relinquish power. They'll prepare for d worst

Onoru1: The same thing suppose to happen to GEJ.

olodo like u,
is obj not gej

are the expecting him to return or what.

^^^^^

Return to pick what?

speeder: thats sad. Recently in africa, ex-presidents and top officials are been laid to life in prisonment. Charles taylor and co

hopefully OBJ and later GEJ will be among.