Latest news with #Ghannouchi
France 24
5 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Once a leading force, battered Tunisian party awaits elusive comeback
But observers say that Ennahdha, the Islamist-inspired movement still considered by some Tunisians as the country's main opposition party, could still bounce back after a devastating government crackdown. On July 25, 2021, Saied stunned the country when he suspended parliament and dissolved the government, a move critics denounced as a "coup" a decade after the Arab Spring revolt ushered in a democratic transition in the North African country. Many of Saied's critics have been prosecuted and jailed, including Ennahdha leader Rached Ghannouchi, 84, a former parliament speaker who was sentenced earlier this month to 14 years in prison for plotting against the state. Ghannouchi, who was arrested in 2023, has racked up several prison terms, including a 22-year sentence handed in February on the same charge. The crackdown over the past four years has seen around 150 Ennahdha figures imprisoned, prosecuted or living in exile, according to a party official. "Some believe the movement is dead, but that is not the case," said political scientist Slaheddine Jourchi. Ennahdha has been "weakened to the point of clinical death" but remained the most prominent party in Tunisia's "fragmented and fragile" opposition, Jourchi added. 'Once we're free again' Riadh Chaibi, a party official and adviser to Ghannouchi, said that even after "shrinking" its political platform, Ennahdah was still a relevant opposition outlet. "Despite repression, prosecutions and imprisonment" since 2021, "Ennahdha remains the country's largest political movement," Chaibi said. He said the current government has been "weaponising state institutions to eliminate political opponents", but "once we're free again, like we were in 2011, Ennahdha will regain its strength". Since 2011, when Ghannouchi returned from exile to lead the party, Ennahdha for years had a key role in Tunisian politics, holding the premiership and other senior roles. But by 2019, the year Saied was elected president, the party's popularity had already begun waning, winning only a third of the 1.5 million votes it had in 2011. Experts ascribed this trend to the party's failure to improve living standards and address pressing socio-economic issues. Ennahdha has also been accused of jihadist links, which it has repeatedly denied. Saied, who religiously avoids mentioning either Ennahdha or Ghannouchi by name, has often referred to the party's years in power as "the black decade" and accused it of committing "crimes against the country". Crowds of Tunisians, increasingly disillusioned as a political deadlock trumped Ennahdha's promise of change, poured into the streets in celebration when Saied forced the party out of the halls of power in 2021. Analyst Jourchi said Ennahdha's rise to power was a "poorly prepared adventure", and the party had "made many mistakes along the way". Left-wing politician Mongi Rahoui said it was "only natural that Ennahdha leaders and their governing partners be prosecuted for crimes they used their political position to commit". Today, the party's activities have been reduced mostly to issuing statements online, often reacting to prison sentences handed down to critics of Saied. 'Silence everything' But Ennahdha has weathered repression before, harshly suppressed under Tunisia's autocratic presidents Habib Bourguiba and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Party leaders were jailed or forced into exile, and Ghannouchi was sentenced to life in prison under Bourguiba but then freed -- and later exiled -- under Ben Ali. Tunisian historian Abdellatif Hannachi said that the party "seems to be bending with the wind, waiting for changes that would allow it to return". It has been in "clear decline", he added, but "that does not mean it's disappearing." Ennahdha's downfall was not an isolated case. Other opposition forces have also been crushed, and dozens of political, media and business figures are currently behind bars. "This regime no longer distinguishes between Islamist and secular, progressive and conservative," rights advocate Kamel Jendoubi, a former minister, recently said in a Facebook post. Saied's government "wants to silence everything that thinks, that criticises, or resists", Jendoubi argued. The opposition, however, remains fractured, failing for example to come together in rallies planned for the anniversary this month of Saied's power grab. © 2025 AFP
Arab News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Once a leading force, battered Tunisian party awaits elusive comeback
TUNIS: The party that once dominated Tunisian politics has faded away since President Kais Saied staged a dramatic power grab, with its offices shuttered and leaders behind bars or in exile. But observers say that Ennahdha, the Islamist-inspired movement still considered by some Tunisians as the country's main opposition party, could still bounce back after a devastating government crackdown. On July 25, 2021, Saied stunned the country when he suspended parliament and dissolved the government, a move critics denounced as a 'coup' a decade after the Arab Spring revolt ushered in a democratic transition in the North African country. Many of Saied's critics have been prosecuted and jailed, including Ennahdha leader Rached Ghannouchi, 84, a former parliament speaker who was sentenced earlier this month to 14 years in prison for plotting against the state. Ghannouchi, who was arrested in 2023, has racked up several prison terms, including a 22-year sentence handed in February on the same charge. The crackdown over the past four years has seen around 150 Ennahdha figures imprisoned, prosecuted or living in exile, according to a party official. 'Some believe the movement is dead, but that is not the case,' said political scientist Slaheddine Jourchi. Ennahdha has been 'weakened to the point of clinical death' but remained the most prominent party in Tunisia's 'fragmented and fragile' opposition, Jourchi added. 'Crimes against the country' Riadh Chaibi, a party official and adviser to Ghannouchi, said that even after 'shrinking' its political platform, Ennahdah was still a relevant opposition outlet. 'Despite repression, prosecutions and imprisonment' since 2021, 'Ennahdha remains the country's largest political movement,' Chaibi said. He said the current government has been 'weaponizing state institutions to eliminate political opponents,' but 'once we're free again, like we were in 2011, Ennahdha will regain its strength.' Since 2011, when Ghannouchi returned from exile to lead the party, Ennahdha for years had a key role in Tunisian politics, holding the premiership and other senior roles. But by 2019, the year Saied was elected president, the party's popularity had already begun waning, winning only a third of the 1.5 million votes it had in 2011. Experts ascribed this trend to the party's failure to improve living standards and address pressing socio-economic issues. Ennahdha has also been accused of jihadist links, which it has repeatedly denied. Saied, who religiously avoids mentioning either Ennahdha or Ghannouchi by name, has often referred to the party's years in power as 'the black decade' and accused it of committing 'crimes against the country.' Crowds of Tunisians, increasingly disillusioned as a political deadlock trumped Ennahdha's promise of change, poured into the streets in celebration when Saied forced the party out of the halls of power in 2021. Analyst Jourchi said Ennahdha's rise to power was a 'poorly prepared adventure,' and the party had 'made many mistakes along the way.' Left-wing politician Mongi Rahoui said it was 'only natural that Ennahdha leaders and their governing partners be prosecuted for crimes they used their political position to commit.' Today, the party's activities have been reduced mostly to issuing statements online, often reacting to prison sentences handed down to critics of Saied. 'Weathering repression' But Ennahdha has weathered repression before, harshly suppressed under Tunisia's autocratic presidents Habib Bourguiba and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Party leaders were jailed or forced into exile, and Ghannouchi was sentenced to life in prison under Bourguiba but then freed — and later exiled — under Ben Ali. Tunisian historian Abdellatif Hannachi said that the party 'seems to be bending with the wind, waiting for changes that would allow it to return.' It has been in 'clear decline,' he added, but 'that does not mean it's disappearing.' Ennahdha's downfall was not an isolated case. Other opposition forces have also been crushed, and dozens of political, media and business figures are currently behind bars. 'This regime no longer distinguishes between Islamist and secular, progressive and conservative,' rights advocate Kamel Jendoubi, a former minister, recently said in a Facebook post. Saied's government 'wants to silence everything that thinks, that criticizes, or resists,' Jendoubi argued. The opposition, however, remains fractured, failing for example to come together in rallies planned for the anniversary this month of Saied's power grab.
Int'l Business Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Once A Leading Force, Battered Tunisian Party Awaits Elusive Comeback
The party that once dominated Tunisian politics has faded away since President Kais Saied staged a dramatic power grab, with its offices shuttered and leaders behind bars or in exile. But observers say that Ennahdha, the Islamist-inspired movement still considered by some Tunisians as the country's main opposition party, could still bounce back after a devastating government crackdown. On July 25, 2021, Saied stunned the country when he suspended parliament and dissolved the government, a move critics denounced as a "coup" a decade after the Arab Spring revolt ushered in a democratic transition in the North African country. Many of Saied's critics have been prosecuted and jailed, including Ennahdha leader Rached Ghannouchi, 84, a former parliament speaker who was sentenced earlier this month to 14 years in prison for plotting against the state. Ghannouchi, who was arrested in 2023, has racked up several prison terms, including a 22-year sentence handed in February on the same charge. The crackdown over the past four years has seen around 150 Ennahdha figures imprisoned, prosecuted or living in exile, according to a party official. "Some believe the movement is dead, but that is not the case," said political scientist Slaheddine Jourchi. Ennahdha has been "weakened to the point of clinical death" but remained the most prominent party in Tunisia's "fragmented and fragile" opposition, Jourchi added. Riadh Chaibi, a party official and adviser to Ghannouchi, said that even after "shrinking" its political platform, Ennahdah was still a relevant opposition outlet. "Despite repression, prosecutions and imprisonment" since 2021, "Ennahdha remains the country's largest political movement," Chaibi said. He said the current government has been "weaponising state institutions to eliminate political opponents", but "once we're free again, like we were in 2011, Ennahdha will regain its strength". Since 2011, when Ghannouchi returned from exile to lead the party, Ennahdha for years had a key role in Tunisian politics, holding the premiership and other senior roles. But by 2019, the year Saied was elected president, the party's popularity had already begun waning, winning only a third of the 1.5 million votes it had in 2011. Experts ascribed this trend to the party's failure to improve living standards and address pressing socio-economic issues. Ennahdha has also been accused of jihadist links, which it has repeatedly denied. Saied, who religiously avoids mentioning either Ennahdha or Ghannouchi by name, has often referred to the party's years in power as "the black decade" and accused it of committing "crimes against the country". Crowds of Tunisians, increasingly disillusioned as a political deadlock trumped Ennahdha's promise of change, poured into the streets in celebration when Saied forced the party out of the halls of power in 2021. Analyst Jourchi said Ennahdha's rise to power was a "poorly prepared adventure", and the party had "made many mistakes along the way". Left-wing politician Mongi Rahoui said it was "only natural that Ennahdha leaders and their governing partners be prosecuted for crimes they used their political position to commit". Today, the party's activities have been reduced mostly to issuing statements online, often reacting to prison sentences handed down to critics of Saied. But Ennahdha has weathered repression before, harshly suppressed under Tunisia's autocratic presidents Habib Bourguiba and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Party leaders were jailed or forced into exile, and Ghannouchi was sentenced to life in prison under Bourguiba but then freed -- and later exiled -- under Ben Ali. Tunisian historian Abdellatif Hannachi said that the party "seems to be bending with the wind, waiting for changes that would allow it to return". It has been in "clear decline", he added, but "that does not mean it's disappearing." Ennahdha's downfall was not an isolated case. Other opposition forces have also been crushed, and dozens of political, media and business figures are currently behind bars. "This regime no longer distinguishes between Islamist and secular, progressive and conservative," rights advocate Kamel Jendoubi, a former minister, recently said in a Facebook post. Saied's government "wants to silence everything that thinks, that criticises, or resists", Jendoubi argued. The opposition, however, remains fractured, failing for example to come together in rallies planned for the anniversary this month of Saied's power grab.
Roya News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi sentenced to 14 years in prison
Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Tuesday. Ghannouchi, the 84-year-old head of the Ennahda party and a prominent figure in Tunisian politics for decades, was convicted along with 17 other political figures on charges of 'conspiring against state security.' The court ruling adds to an already lengthy list of convictions for Ghannouchi, who has been behind bars since 2023. In recent months, he has received multiple sentences totaling more than 20 years, including convictions related to alleged money laundering. His defense team has rejected the latest charges, insisting the trial was politically motivated and failed to meet fair trial standards. Ghannouchi himself refused to attend the sentencing remotely, continuing to challenge the legitimacy of the proceedings. Founded by Ghannouchi in the 1980s, the moderate Islamist Ennahda party has been a central player in post-revolution Tunisian politics. Ghannouchi served as speaker of parliament until 2021, when President Kais Saied suspended the legislature and began ruling by decree, an act widely viewed as a turning point for the country's democratic experiment. Tuesday's ruling also extended to Ghannouchi's children, Mouadh and Tasnim, who were sentenced in absentia to 35 years each. Both had previously left the country. Other high-profile figures sentenced in absentia include former Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem Bouchlaka and former intelligence chief Kamel Guizani. Rights groups have repeatedly condemned Tunisia's increasing crackdown on dissent. Since President Saied's power grab in 2021, dozens of opposition leaders, lawyers, journalists, and activists have been imprisoned or investigated, with critics accusing the president of dismantling the democratic gains of the 2011 revolution.
LeMonde
09-07-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
Tunisia sentences opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi to 14 years in prison
A Tunisian court on Tuesday, July 8, sentenced one of the country's most prominent opposition leaders to 14 years in prison, adding to a string of convictions that he received in other cases. Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of Tunisia's Ennahda movement, was among those sentenced as part of a sweeping case in which politicians were charged with conspiring against state security. Several other detained members of his party were sentenced to 12 years. Ghannouchi's party rose to power after Tunisia became the first country in the region to oust a longtime dictator as part of the Arab Spring. He later served as speaker of the country's assembly and is among the opposition figures that have faced prosecution since President Kais Saied took power six years ago. His defense team denied the charges and said in a statement that proceedings didn't meet the standards of a fair trial. "All accusations were based on a false and contradictory testimony by a secret, anonymous witness who failed to present any evidence for his baseless and contradictory allegations, and who ultimately retracted most of them," attorneys said in a statement. 'Unjustified judicial harassment' The judge overseeing the case issued arrest warrants for several party members tried in absentia, including Ghannouchi's son and a former foreign minister. The defendants faced charges including participating in an organization linked to terrorist acts, inciting violence, attempting to overthrow the government, and recruiting and training individuals for terrorist purposes both within Tunisia and abroad. Ghannouchi, 86, is facing charges in several other cases and refuses to appear before courts he considers politically manipulated. He has already served multiple prison sentences totaling more than 20 years, notably for money laundering. His lawyers denounce what they call "unjustified judicial harassment" by the authorities and are calling for the release of imprisoned Islamist leaders.
