Tunisia: judiciary orders detention of senior Ennahda official

The judiciary in Tunisia ordered the continued detention of Ennahda party’s interim President Mondher Ounissi on Wednesday, Anadolu has reported.

Lawyer Murad Al-Obeidi told the agency that an investigating judge ordered Ounissi’s detention on the charge of “conspiring against state security.” Ennahda said on 5 September that Tunisian security forces had detained Ounissi and taken him to an unknown location.

“The judiciary will interrogate Ounissi next week to see whether to extend his custody or release him,” said Al-Obeidi.

Ennahda appointed Ounissi as its acting leader on 26 April following the arrest of veteran politician and former Speaker of Parliament Rached Ghannouchi. The Tunisian authorities have cracked down on political opponents since February, arresting several media figures, activists and politicians.

Tunisia has gone through a period of unrest ever since President Kais Saied sacked the government and froze parliamentary operations in July 2021.

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