The EU shows its “concern” about the arrest in Tunisia of the leader of the Islamist party Ennahda

18 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The European Union (EU) has shown this Tuesday its “concern” over the arrest of the leader of the Islamist party Ennahda, Rachid Ghanuchi, and the closure of the formation’s offices in the capital, Tunis, as part of a campaign of arrests. in recent weeks against figures critical of the Tunisian president, Kais Saied.

“We are following the latest events in Tunisia with great concern, mainly the arrest yesterday afternoon of Ghanuchi and the information about the closure of the Ennahda headquarters in Tunis. This arrest adds to a series of arrests of political actors from different opposition groups. “said a spokesman for the EU’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Nabila Massrali.

Thus, he stressed that “pending official information on the reasons for this arrest”, the bloc “recalls the importance of respecting the right to defense and a fair trial”. “We also highlight the fundamental principle of political pluralism. These elements are essential in any democracy and are the basis of the association between the EU and Tunisia,” he concluded.

Ghanuchi, who was president of Parliament dissolved by Saied – who in July 2021 arrogated all powers after dissolving the Government and suspending the legislative body – was arrested after a search of his home around a video in which he was making allegedly “inflammatory” statements. Ennahda has denounced the arrest and has demanded the immediate release of its leader.

Ennahda has also denounced that Ghanuchi’s statements during a meeting with senior officials from the National Salvation Front opposition coalition were taken out of context. In them, the party leader called Ghanuchi’s actions a “coup” and said that “we must not be tolerant of it and must categorically condemn it.”

“That is why I consider that the success of the National Salvation Front is to go beyond this ‘paralysis’. There is an intellectual and ideological paralysis that actually lays the foundations for a civil war. Imagine a Tunisia if one group or another, without Ennahda , without political Islam, without the left or without another component. It would be the basis for a civil war,” says Ghanuchi, criticizing the repressive campaign against the opposition.

The opposition, mostly united around the National Salvation Front, has denounced the authoritarian drift of the president and has demanded his resignation, especially after his call for a boycott in the December and January legislatures resulted in a participation rate close to ten percent.