Ennahda's Ghannouchi begins hunger strike in jail

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
29 Sep 2023 17:38
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He had received a one-year jail sentence in May on charges of incitement and plotting against state security.

Tunisian Islamist Ennahda party leader Rached Ghanouchi delivers his speech during a press conference in Ariana district in Tunis Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011, ahead of the landmark Oct. 23 election for a constitutional body that will determine the future of this North African nation which overthrew its longtime dictator in January. On the flag, "Ennahda Mouvement" is written in Arabic. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Tunisia's opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi has initiated a three-day hunger strike in solidarity with fellow incarcerated opposition figures, his Ennahda party announced on Friday.

He had received a one-year jail sentence in May on charges of incitement and plotting against state security.

Over 20 additional opposition figures have been detained in the same year.

The detained argue that Tunisia's President Kais Saied's actions, which included dissolving the elected parliament in 2021 and governing by decree, constituted a coup.

Saied however denied allegations of a coup and argued that his actions were necessary to rescue Tunisia from years of turmoil.

The statement issued by Ennahda reads that its leader initiated a three-day hunger strike in solidarity with other incarcerated opposition figures who are protesting what they view as unfair imprisonment.

Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, a notable opposition figure held in detention for over seven months, commenced an indefinite hunger strike this week, asserting that his arrest was politically motivated.

Saied has labeled his detractors as criminals, traitors, and terrorists, cautioning that any judge who released them would be seen as aiding them.

Ghannouchi, who had experienced imprisonment and exile before the 2011 'revolution', served as the parliament speaker following the 2019 elections. His party held the largest number of seats in the legislature until Saied deployed military forces to dissolve it in 2021.

His lawyer stated that the charges against him are related to a eulogy he delivered last year at the funeral of an Ennahda party member. In the eulogy, he mentioned that the deceased "did not fear a ruler or tyrant, he only feared God."