Ghannouchi comments on accusation of Ennahda of forming shadow security agency

The leader of Ennahda movement, Rached Ghannouchi, commented on accusations that his party sought to form a shadow security agency and on President Beji Caid Essebsi’s recent decision to refer Belaid and Brahimi assassination case to Tunisia’s National Security Council.

While attending Mediterranean Dialogues conference in Rome, Ghannouchi stated, that his party maintains dialogue and managing differences, because the country needs all Tunisians without exception, including members of the Popular Front, who demand the exclusion of Ennahda movement from the political scene.

“The accusation of forming a shadow security agency was a conventional method of oppression which Ben Ali’s regime used to implement to silence the opposition,” he added referring to the trials his party was subjected to under the pretext of establishing secret security apparatuses, due to the regime’s refusal to grant Ennahda a legal authorisation to carry on political activities in Tunisia.

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Ghannouchi added: “They accused us of being a shadow security agency and our response was to acknowledge our existence and let us resist for the sake of our homeland within the premises of democracy and the supremacy of the law. Yet, the regime’s answer came in the form of arrests and physical assaults against members of Ennahda. The oppressors had waged a war against the movement which did not end till the outbreak of the revolution.”

Ennahda leader expressed his surprise that “the same parties that launched these campaigns, continue to employ the same strategy, along with their supporters,” noting that “this is an evidence of their rejection of political competition with Ennahda movement, and their inability to keep up at the same level with us.”