In conjunction with the visit of European MPs… New maneuver by Ghannouchi
A new maneuver is being conducted by the leader of the Islamist Ennahdha Movement to prevent the pursuit of many defendants in terrorism or financial corruption cases and to halt the authorities’ actions against the group. This is happening in conjunction with news related to a visit by members of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee to Tunisia, with the aim of discussing human rights issues.
The Ennahdha Movement announced in a statement, widely circulated by its media and pages, that its leader Ghannouchi, who is detained in the Mornaguia prison west of the Tunisian capital, has decided to participate in a hunger strike that began yesterday and will last for (3) days.
Riadh Chaibi, the political advisor to the head of the Ennahda Movement, said that Ghannouchi, who has been detained for about (5) months on charges related to terrorism, money laundering, and incitement to endanger national security, is expressing his rejection of the pursuit of opposition figures and demanding the release of detainees.
Ghannouchi’s strike comes in solidarity with Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, a member of the National Salvation Front opposition, who has been on a hunger strike since Tuesday in protest of the arrest of several politicians and activists.
According to a statement from the Ennahdha Movement, Ghannouchi claims that those detained in espionage and conspiracy cases are political prisoners and demands their release and the cessation of trials.
Ghannouchi’s move coincided with reports of a visit by a European parliamentary delegation to Tunisia, attempting to capitalize on the visit. However, the government anticipated this and rejected the request.
Tunisian Interior Minister Kamel Feki, in an interview with DW Arabic, emphasized the rejection of the entry of members of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee into Tunisia and requested a postponement of the visit by a delegation from the European Commission to a later date.
In this context, Feki stated, “We must differentiate with regard to the delegation claiming to represent the European Parliament… They do not represent the European Parliament. They are (4) deputies working independently who have engaged in a campaign against the Tunisian authorities as part of a wide campaign to tarnish the image of the Tunisian state and the government’s policies. They have made many false allegations and have received many individuals who have harmed Tunisia’s reputation for narrow political calculations.”
Ghannouchi has been detained for (5) months, facing several charges, and the authorities have arrested prominent leaders of the Ennahdha Movement, including Ali Larayedh, the former prime minister.
