A decision that makes the land of jasmine speak. Rached Ghannouchi, leader of Tunisia’s Islamo-conservative Ennahdha movement arrested in April, was sentenced to one year in prison on Monday for “apologizing for terrorism”, local media reported.
The main opponent of President Kais Saied, he was arrested on April 17 and placed under a warrant following declarations in which he had affirmed that Tunisia would be threatened with a “civil war” if the left-wing parties or those from of political Islam like Ennahdha, were eliminated there. But his conviction on Monday is linked to another case in which he was heard in February by the counter-terrorism judicial center before being released.
No reaction from his party
His summons followed a complaint filed by a police union which accuses him of inciting Tunisians to kill each other, because of remarks made in early 2022, during the funeral of a leader of Ennahdha. He then said that the deceased “did not fear rulers or tyrants”.
In addition to the one-year prison sentence, Rached Ghannouchi was sentenced to a fine of 1,000 dinars (300 euros), according to the same source. No reaction could be obtained by AFP from his party immediately.
20 opponents imprisoned since February
Rached Ghannouchi is the most famous opponent arrested since the coup by President Kais Saied who took full power in July 2021. Rached Ghannouchi led the Parliament then dissolved by the president. The United States and Europe criticized his arrest in April, but President Saied dismissed the criticism, calling it “blatant interference” in Tunisian affairs.
The day after his arrest, the Tunisian authorities closed the offices of his movement throughout the country. Since the beginning of February, the authorities have imprisoned more than 20 opponents and personalities including ex-ministers, businessmen and the owner of the most listened to radio station in the country, Mosaïque FM.
A desire to neutralize Ennahdha
President Saied, accused by the opposition of authoritarian drift, described those arrested as “terrorists”, claiming that they were involved in a “conspiracy against state security”. In a report published on May 11, the NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated that “the Tunisian authorities have intensified their offensive against opponents of the coup carried out in 2021 by President Kais Saied, by redoubling their efforts to neutralize Ennahdha, the largest political party in the country”.
“After having demonized Ennahdha and launched serious accusations without evidence, the authorities of President Saied have simply set out to dismantle the party,” said Salsabil Chellali, director of HRW’s office in Tunisia. “The authorities should immediately release all those arbitrarily detained, and end restrictions on freedom of association and assembly,” added the NGO in its report.