Between 1956-1958, he continued his studies at Ecole Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr and from 1958 to 1959 went to the school of artillery and radar at Chalons-sur-Marne.[1] In December, 1962, following his participation in the coup against President Habib Bourguiba, El Materi was arrested and sentenced to death on 18 January 1963. However, on 24 January, 1963, his sentence was commuted to penal servitude for life by President Bourguiba. In June 1973, after 11 years of imprisonment, he was finally pardoned.[2] From 1973 to 1987, he was a feared opponent by Bourguiba; the regime imposed drastic limitations on his travel outside Tunis and confiscated his passport several times, thus preventing him from traveling abroad.