Ghannouchi before the courts… Terrorism Surrounds the Head of the Brotherhood in Tunisia
In a long-awaited step, the head of the Ennahdha Brotherhood movement in Tunisia, Rached Ghannouchi, will appear in court on Tuesday on charges of terrorism and money laundering.
Observers believe that Ghannouchi’s appearance before the judiciary is a long-awaited step to uncover the black record of the terrorist movement, whether in the case of political assassinations, money laundering or terrorism, which Tunisia experienced during the Brotherhood era during the last black decade.
Ghannouchi is being interrogated by the anti-terrorism unit (a competent court) as a defendant in the case of the “Namaa Tounes” charitable association accused of terrorism, money laundering and financing individuals or organizations linked to terrorism whether inside or outside the country, according to a lawsuit filed against him by the defense committee of the late opponents Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi.
Meanwhile, the Al-Ain News correspondent reported major security enhancements taking place in the vicinity of the Judicial Pole, after a number of Brotherhood supporters arrived since this morning, where they gathered near the Pole to support their leader and sow chaos in the event of Ghannouchi’s arrest.
“Tunisian authorities began investigating the case, following a complaint filed by the defense committee for the two leaders, Chokri Belaid and nationalist Mohamed Brahmi, who were assassinated in 2013, accusing a charity of receiving funds of unknown origin from abroad.”
Ridha Al-Radawi, a member of the defense committee for Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Al-Brahmi, said that the association was established in 2011 under the name “Namaa Tounes” (Development of Tunisia) charity. Its goal was to encourage foreign investments, and it was involved in the crimes of travel (sending young Tunisians to fight in conflict and war zones). Preliminary investigations were opened, which were soon pursued by the Ennahdha Movement through its arm in the judiciary.
Al-Radawi said the association used “encouraging investment” as a cover, while “its internal role was to manage the travel of young people to terrorist centers in exchange for money that would be transferred to its bank accounts”.
“One of the accused was a man named Najeh Hadj Latif, who manages the business of Rached Ghannouchi and one of his hidden arms, and was an agent for a company that works in the textile sector in Tunisia. This company was originally British and was expelled from it,” he said.
Hassan al-Tamimi, a Tunisian political analyst, said that “the more the noose is tightened on Ennahda, the more it resorts to methods of violence and intimidation.”
Rached Ghannouchi is expected to be arrested today, his first arrest since 2011, he said, stressing that “the Tunisian judiciary today enjoys full independence, and Ghannouchi must be held accountable for his crimes.”
