Tunisian Authorities Close Opposition Ennahdha Party HQ

04/20/2023

Tunisian authorities have closed the headquarters of the opposition Ennahdha party, a day after leader Rached Ghannouchi was arrested, party officials have said.

Ghannouchi, Ennahdha’s longtime leader, was arrested at his home in the capital, Tunis, late on Monday, the latest in a string of opposition figures held. Since early February, authorities in the North African country have arrested more than 20 political opponents and personalities. They have included politicians, former ministers, businessmen, trade unionists, and the owner of Tunisia’s most popular radio station, Mosaique FM.

Opponents of President Kais Saied accuse him of reinstating autocratic rule in Tunisia, which was the only democracy to emerge from the Arab Spring uprisings in the Middle East more than a decade ago. Since his dramatic power grab, Saied has ruled by decree, and last year rammed through a constitution that gave his office unlimited powers, and neutered parliament.

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