Tunisian President Kais Saied on Friday condemned a European Parliament resolution on human rights calling for the release of his critics as "blatant interference".
"The European Parliament (resolution) is a blatant interference in our affairs. They can learn lessons from us on rights and freedoms," Saied said in a video statement released by the presidency.
On Friday, a Tunisian appeals court handed jail terms of up to 45 years to opposition leaders, businessmen and lawyers, a court document showed.
Forty people were charged in the case of conspiracy to overthrow the president in one of the largest political prosecutions in Tunisia's recent history. Twenty of those charged have fled abroad and were sentenced in absentia.
The sentences ranged from five to 45 years, according to a court document seen by Reuters.