Tunisian Jailed opposition leader and Ennahda party chief, Rached Ghannouchi, is in critical condition after collapsing from severe exhaustion in prison, his lawyers said, raising fresh concerns over his health and detention conditions.
In a statement, the legal team for the 85-year-old former Speaker of Parliament said prison authorities had denied both lawyers and family members access to Ghannouchi despite his deteriorating health, describing the move as a violation of the law and prisoners’ fun mydamental rights.
The lawyers said they were “deeply concerned” about the worsening condition of their client, who was arrested in 2023 on multiple charges, including plotting against the state, and has received prison sentences totalling more than 40 years in separate cases.
Ghannouchi led the Islamist-inspired Ennahda party, which played a central role in Tunisia’s political transition following the 2011 Arab Spring uprising that ousted longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
He was serving as Speaker of Parliament when President Kais Saied suspended parliament and consolidated power in 2021. Since Saied assumed office in 2019, local and international human rights Organisations have accused his administration of rolling back democratic rights and civil liberties.
Africanews
concerned” about the worsening condition of their client, who was arrested in 2023 on multiple charges, including plotting against the state, and has received prison sentences totalling more than 40 years in separate cases.
Ghannouchi led the Islamist-inspired Ennahda party, which played a central role in Tunisia’s political transition following the 2011 Arab Spring uprising that ousted longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
He was serving as Speaker of Parliament when President Kais Saied suspended parliament and consolidated power in 2021. Since Saied assumed office in 2019, local and international human rights Organisations have accused his administration of rolling back democratic rights and civil liberties.
Africanews
