Raed Ghannouchi's lawyer, the leader of the opposition "Ennahdha" party in Tunisia, informed Reuters that "an investigative judge ordered Ghannouchi to be imprisoned today, Thursday, making him the latest opposition politician to be jailed in the country." Lawyer Mounia Bou Ali stated that "the decision to imprison him came after he was interrogated for at least eight hours."
The "Ennahdha" party condemned what it described as a "unjust and political decision," considering it aims to cover up the government’s failure in improving economic and social conditions, as well as its inability to address the severe financial crisis leading to bankruptcy.
In a statement, the party added: "The maltreatment of a national symbol who has spent much of his life resisting dictatorship will not save the country from its crisis." Ghannouchi's official Facebook page shared his comment after the arrest decision, stating: "Do what you must; you are only ruling this worldly life. I am optimistic about the future. Tunisia is free."
The United States deemed the arrest of opposition leader Raed Ghannouchi, the closure of the party's offices, and the banning of opposition meetings as a concerning escalation.
Previously, Tunisian authorities had prohibited meetings at all Ennahdha party offices and closed the venue for the Salvation Front meetings on Tuesday. The police arrested Ennahdha leader Raed Ghannouchi last Monday, who is a staunch critic of President Kais Saied, due to statements authorities described as incitement.
