Tunisia's judiciary orders detention of Ennahda interim president

TUNIS, Tunisia

Tunisia's judiciary decided Wednesday to formally detain Ennahda party interim president Mondher Ounissi.

Lawyer Murad al-Obeidi told Anadolu that an investigating judge ordered Ounissi's detention under the charge of "conspiring against the state's security."

The Ennahda party said on Sept. 5 that Tunisian security forces detained Ounissi and took him to an unknown location.

"The judiciary will interrogate Ounissi next week to look whether to extend his custody or release him," said al-Obeidi.

Tunisian judicial authorities have yet to comment on the matter.

On April 26, the Ennahda party assigned Ounissi as its acting leader due to the arrest of the party's leader, Rached Ghannouchi.

Tunisian authorities have cracked down on opponents since February, arresting several media figures, activists and politicians.

Tunisia has been in the throes of a deep political crisis that has aggravated the country's economic conditions since President Kais Saied ousted the government and dissolved parliament in 2021.

While Saied insists that his measures were meant to "save" the country, critics have accused him of orchestrating a coup.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar