Movement leader Ennahda Ghannouchi arrested in Tunisia

Rashid al-Gannouchi, the leader of the Ennahda Movement and a former speaker of the Tunisian Parliament, was arrested after a 48-hour detention period.

Ghannouchi, who was arrested after security forces raided his home at the time of iftar on April 17, was arrested by the Tunis Court of First Instance, where he was transferred yesterday afternoon after 48 hours of interrogation by part of the prosecution

Lawyer Habib Bin Sidhum, a member of the Ennahda Movement, said in a statement on his social media account that 11 more people accompanying Ghannouchi were included in the investigation file and that the investigation fell within the scope of the “conspiracy against the security of the State”. .

It was decided that the leaders of the Ennahda Movement, Muhammed al-Kumani, Bilkasim Hasan and 6 other members of the Ennahda Movement, who were detained with Gannuşi, should be tried pending trial by the same court.

PARTY REACTION: DANGEROUS DEVELOPMENT

In a written statement by the Ennahda Movement on Ghannouchi’s arrest, it called on the opposition to “unite as one line against violations and oppressive practices against the rights and freedoms of opposition politicians.” The statement condemned Ghannouchi’s arrest as a “rather dangerous event” and demanded the immediate release of the Ennahda leader.

The National Liberation Front, the umbrella organization of the Tunisian opposition, also announced on April 19 that the center in which they operate and the center of the Ennahda Movement were closed. In the statement made by the Tunisian Will Party, it was announced that the country’s authorities closed the party’s headquarters in the capital, Tunis.

There was no explanation from official authorities as to what Ghannouchi was charged with. (AA)