Leader of Tunisia’s main opposition movement arrested

Ennahda considers it “shameful” that politicians are tried under the anti-terrorism law against state security

18 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The Tunisian authorities have arrested Rachid Ghanuchi, leader of the main opposition party, the Ennahda Islamist movement, on Monday and have carried out a search of his home, to question him in the context of a leaked video in which he made “inflammatory statements “.

Ennahda has explained that a security squad has raided the home of its leader, taking him to an unknown place and without respecting legal procedures. Thus, he has denounced this “dangerous event” and has called for his immediate release, reports the Mosaique FM radio station.

It has also called for an end to slandering opposition political activists and has urged to remain united against repressive practices that violate rights and freedoms.

Agents of the Anti-Terrorist Unit have made the arrest to interrogate Ghanuchi, under the authorization of the Prosecutor’s Office, on the occasion of a leaked video of a conversation with leaders of the National Salvation Front in which he stated that “the banishment of political Islam in Tunisia is a project of civil war”. Likewise, the agents have seized the evidence of the investigation, as the station has learned.

In a press conference at the headquarters of the opposition movement, the deputy head of Ennahda, Mundir al Wanisi, has criticized the arrest, considering that power abuses Ghanuchi because he has always been a man of dialogue and peace, which he has never done a call to violence.

In this sense, he has considered that the Tunisian government has failed to provide solutions to the economic and social crisis, which they are trying to mask by targeting politicians to distract public opinion.

“We have not been officially notified of the reason for the arrest, they have prevented the lawyers from meeting with him, we do not know if they have given him his medication, as he suffers from diseases due to his age,” Al Wanisi explained.

Thus, he has declared that “it is shameful that politicians are tried under the law against terrorism and conspiracy against state security”, since the movement has not transgressed the law in the demonstrations.

“What the authorities have done is incomprehensible and unjustified. We hold them responsible for any damage to their physical and mental integrity, as well as for the violation of the right of Tunisians to exercise politics,” they have settled.

Ghanuchi’s lawyer, Mojtar al Jamai, has maintained that “he is not yet aware of the trail” of the detainee, while “the actions attributed to Ghanuchi are unknown.”

“For some time now, we have felt that he is under attack and a charge is being sought against him. His recent statements have expedited the arrest process,” al-Jamai said.