Tunisia increases prison sentences for defendants in deadly 2023 Djerba synagogue attack - report

Tunisia’s judicial authorities have increased the sentences and punishments for several defendants involved in the 2023 attack on the Ghriba synagogue on the island of Djerba. Five defendants had been convicted and sentenced in February 2026 for the deadly May 2023 attack. Five people were killed in the attack by a National Guard officer.

Al-Ain news in the UAE and the Tunisie Telegraph reported on October 21 that a criminal chamber of the court which specializes in terrorism cases at the Tunis Court of Appeal had increased the sentences of four defendants.

Al-Ain noted that “the court's decision included increasing the prison sentence from 8 to 10 years for both the fiancée of the perpetrator of the attack and the person who arranged a house for him and communicated with him, while subjecting them to administrative supervision for 5 years.”

It added that the court had also decided to increase the sentence of a third defendant from two years to six years in prison. It was not clear how many of these defendants had already been serving time since 2023.

“In the same context, the court overturned the initial ruling issued against the fourth defendant, which ruled that the case should not be heard, and decided to convict her and sentence her to 6 years in prison,” the Al-Ain report added.

The Tunisie Telegraph noted that the Tunisian Court of Appeal had reopened the files of those involved in the attack. The report provided similar information, noting that the court had revisited the case of the fiancée of the perpetrator and also a person who had arranged accommodation for the perpetrator and communicated with him.

The report added that the National Guard member had killed his colleague “before heading towards the vicinity of the Ghriba Temple and opening fire, in an incident that resulted in deaths and injuries, and brought back to the forefront the issue of securing sensitive sites during religious and tourist visits.” The attack wounded a number of security forces. “The attack also killed two visitors and injured others.”

Reversal of previous decision to not hear defendant's case

The Telegraph added that the “new appellate rulings are of particular importance” because they had reversed a previous decision not to hear part of the case of one of the defendants.

“These rulings remain part of the judicial process related to determining responsibilities in the case, while the perpetrator of the attack who opened fire should not be confused with the rest of the defendants to whom the judicial authorities are responsible for the actions attributed to them.”

The report noted that the attack on the historic synagogue took place during an annual Jewish pilgrimage season. It said the perpetrator had shot his colleague and stolen the colleague’s ammunition. He then attacked the synagogue, killing three other security officers and two Jewish visitors.

The Jews who were killed included a local Tunisian and a relative of his who was visiting from France, the report added. The same site was attacked in 2002 by terrorists using a truck bombing. The attack killed 21 people and was believed to be carried out by Al Qaeda.

In May, the Associated Press noted that “the annual Jewish pilgrimage to the 26-century-old El-Ghriba Synagogue in Tunisia drew a modest but notable return of international visitors this year, worshipping together under tight security after a deadly 2023 attack disrupted the festival.”