Tunis: The leader of Tunisia's Ennahda movement, Rached Ghannouchi, has initiated a hunger and medication strike to protest the 'complete isolation' imposed on him at a hospital, according to his defense team. This action, which began five days ago, is a response to restrictions that prevent his lawyers and family from visiting or communicating with him, as stated on Ghannouchi's Facebook page.
According to Anadolu Agency, Ghannouchi, 85, was transferred to a hospital on July 29. Since that time, his defense claims he has been isolated without access to his legal or familial contacts, despite repeated requests to authorities for updates on his health condition. On August 6, Ghannouchi began his strike to protest his isolation and the deprivation of his basic rights, which his team describes as a last resort to defend these rights.
The defense team has labeled the conditions imposed on Ghannouchi, given his fragile health, as 'inhuman abuse' and a severe violation of his basic rights and physical safety. They hold Tunisian authorities fully responsible for any potential complications that could arise from these conditions and demand that his lawyers and family be granted access to check on his health.
Ennahda, in a separate statement, condemned what it termed the 'systematic mistreatment' of Ghannouchi, labeling it a serious violation of his rights and arbitrary detention. The movement holds the authorities and the Justice Ministry accountable for any harm to Ghannouchi's physical safety and calls for respect for detainees' fundamental rights, including access to healthcare and communication with families and legal representatives.
Ennahda has appealed to national and international human rights organizations to take action to end these injustices and demands the immediate release of Ghannouchi and all political detainees, as well as an end to their alleged mistreatment.
As of 1800GMT, there has been no comment from Tunisian authorities regarding these statements. Ghannouchi, who was the former speaker of parliament before it was dissolved by President Kais Saied, has been imprisoned since his arrest on April 17, 2023. He faces charges of 'incitement against state security' related to remarks attributed to him and has been sentenced in several cases, though he claims the charges are politically motivated.
Tunisian authorities maintain that Ghannouchi and others are being prosecuted on criminal charges without political interference. However, critics and opposition figures argue that these cases are part of a broader campaign against opponents of the Tunisian president.