Tunisia: Rached Ghannouchi returns to prison after 3 weeks in isolation

Rached Ghannouchi, the imprisoned leader of Tunisia’s Ennahda party, has been returned to Mornaguia civil prison after spending nearly three weeks in hospital since July 29, according to his defence team.

The defence team said Ghannouchi had been kept in complete isolation throughout that period and was denied visits from his lawyers and family, as well as access to news through the means available to other prisoners, despite repeated requests by his defence team to visit him and check on his health.

It said Ghannouchi’s continued isolation and deprivation of his basic rights had led him to go on a five-day hunger and medication strike, which he ended at the request of the medical team overseeing his condition.

The defence team said the complete isolation of its client, and the denial of contact with his lawyers and family and of other rights guaranteed to prisoners, amounted to “physical and psychological abuse” and violated Tunisian law and guarantees provided under international treaties binding on Tunisia.

In a statement on Tuesday, the defence team held the relevant authorities “fully legally responsible for these violations and for any harm that may result from them”, adding that it reserved the right to take all necessary legal action over the violations.

Meanwhile, Tunisia’s Ennahda movement said it condemned the isolation and repeated violations against its leader, Rached Ghannouchi.

It expressed “grave concern for his health” following his repeated transfers to hospital within a short period, particularly amid the complete information blackout imposed on him by the prison administration, which it said was contrary to international treaties and conventions.