Tunis – In a statement marking his 1000th day in prison, Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Ennahda Movement, declared that “despotism and exclusion are two sides of the same coin.” He urged continued adherence to “peaceful struggle for a free Tunisia.” Ghannouchi’s remarks come amidst ongoing political tensions and arrests in the country.
The message, published on the Ennahda Movement’s Facebook page, quoted the former Speaker of Parliament as saying that his ordeal has become a measure of the commitment of various parties to the principles of democracy and citizenship.
Ghannouchi emphasized that since its inception, the Ennahda Movement has never vetoed any party inside or outside the country. He stated, “The mistake was in arresting a political party, not in recognizing another, because we believe that freedom accommodates everyone.”
Ghannouchi has been imprisoned since his arrest on April 17, 2023, following a raid on his home. He faces charges of inciting state insecurity and has received several prison sentences in various cases.
In related news, Tunisian authorities have arrested lawyer and former parliamentarian Seifeddine Makhlouf after his deportation from Algeria. Makhlouf is facing a five-year prison sentence in absentia on charges of conspiring against state security. Makhlouf, a staunch critic of President Saied’s policies, previously served as a member of parliament representing the “Al-Karama Coalition” before the parliament’s dissolution following the President’s declaration of exceptional measures on July 25, 2021.
Families of several “political” prisoners from various backgrounds in Tunisia recently announced the formation of a coordination group aimed at uniting efforts to secure their release. The announcement coincided with the 15th anniversary of the fall of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s regime following a popular uprising.
