Ali Laarayedh

Ali Laarayedh (Tunisian Arabic: علي العريّض, ʿAlī el-ʿArayiḍ; born 15 August 1955) is a Tunisian politician who was Prime Minister of Tunisia from 2013 to 2014. Previously he served in the government as the Minister of the Interior from 2011 to 2013. Following the resignation of Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali, Laarayedh was designated as prime minister in February 2013 and elected on 13 March 2013. He is a member of the Ennahda Movement.

Early life

Laarayedh was born in Medenine in 1955.

Political activism

Laarayedh was the spokesperson for the Ennahda Movement from 1981 until his arrest in 1990. After he was harassed by the police under President Habib Bourguiba, he was sentenced to fifteen years in prison under President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, during which time he suffered torture. He was, among other techniques, threatened with HIV transfusion. His wife, Wided Lagha, was sexually abused and videotaped by officials from the Ministry of Interior.

Career

On 20 December 2011, after President Ben Ali was deposed, he joined the Jebali Cabinet as Minister of the Interior. He vowed to support peace in Tunisia, rejecting religious extremism, tribalism or regionalism. On 22 February 2013, Laarayedh was appointed prime minister after Hamadi Jebali resigned from office. Laarayedh in turn resigned on 9 January 2014.

After being detained for some hours on 19 September 2022, Laarayedh was arrested on 19 December 2022 on accusations alongside others of facilitating the departure of Tunisians to fight with armed rebel groups in the Syrian conflict. On 2 May 2025, he was sentenced to 34 years' imprisonment over the charges. On 27 February 2026, his sentence was reduced to 24 years in prison, while seven co-defendants, including former interior ministry officials, received prison terms ranging from three to 24 years.

Personal life

Laarayedh is married and has three children. His wife is a medical technician.

External links

• Media related to Ali Larayedh at Wikimedia Commons