The police in Tunisia on Tuesday arrested Ayachi Hammami, a prominent opposition figure and human rights lawyer, according to Human Rights Watch, the latest sign of backsliding toward authoritarianism in the country that ignited the Arab Spring. Mr. Hammami, who was arrested at his home outside the capital, Tunis, was sentenced by an appeals court last week to five years in prison for belonging to a terrorist group and conspiring against state security, according to rights groups. His sentence was part of a broader case against roughly 40 people who were convicted on conspiracy charges. Mr. Hammami and the other defendants, including opposition leaders, lawyers, businessmen, rights activists and journalists, were originally sentenced in April, according to Human Rights Watch.

Full report : Tunisian opposition leader Chebbi arrested as crackdown escalates.