Tunisia’s Fifth Criminal Chamber for Terrorism Cases issued preliminary prison sentences ranging from 18 to 36 years on Friday in the high-profile “terror travel” case, with all convicted individuals also subject to five years of administrative surveillance, according to the Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) agency citing the First Deputy to the Public Prosecutor at the Judicial Counter-Terrorism Pole.

The case involves accusations against several individuals of forming networks to facilitate the travel of Tunisians to conflict zones abroad, a crime classified under terrorism offenses.

Among those sentenced is former Prime Minister and Vice President of the Ennahda Movement, Ali Larayedh, who received a 34-year prison sentence, according to local media reports. His conviction marks one of the most prominent rulings in cases linked to the recruitment and transfer of Tunisians to foreign war zones.

These rulings are considered among the harshest issued in “terror travel” cases, reflecting Tunisian judicial authorities’ determination to hold accountable those involved in recruiting and dispatching fighters abroad, particularly in the post-2011 period that saw a sharp increase in such activity.