Tunisian mercenary sentenced to 55 years for fighting in Syria

A Tunisian appeals court has upheld a 55-year prison sentence against Bilal Al-Shawashi, a leader of the "Ansar al-Sharia" group, after convicting him on terrorism-related charges, including fighting in Syria and joining extremist groups, including ISIS and Al-Nusra mercenaries.

7 July, 2026 12:12

NEWSDESK

The Tunisian Court of Appeal on Monday upheld the 55-year prison sentence against Al-Shawashi, who was convicted in a terrorism case involving his membership in extremist groups in Syria and his participation in combat alongside them.

According to the court case file, Al-Shawashi was charged with joining a terrorist organization outside Tunisia, receiving military training inside and outside the country with the aim of carrying out terrorist acts, and using Tunisian territory to recruit individuals to join terrorist organizations.

Tunisia's Interior Ministry placed Al-Shawashi on its terrorist list in 2019 after he joined “Jabhat Al-Nusra” and later ISIS mercenaries in Syria.

Al-Shawashi is regarded as one of the most prominent leaders of the Salafi-jihadist movement in Tunisia. His assets and property were frozen under a decision by Tunisia's National Counterterrorism Commission.

He also appeared in a video following the 2015 bombing of a presidential guard bus in Tunisia, threatening to carry out further attacks, according to Tunisian authorities.

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ANHA