Ennahda deputy chief slams terror accusations as ‘distraction’

TUNIS, Tunisia

Ennahda deputy leader Ali Laarayedh has condemned terrorism accusations against opponents as an attempt to “distract” attention away from economic woes.

Tunisian judicial authorities summoned Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi and Laarayedh for questioning on Monday into accusations of sending Tunisians to hotspots overseas.

This “is an attempt to target opponents, including Ennahda leaders and national figures,” Laarayedh told reporters outside the headquarters of the anti-terror unit in the capital Tunis.

“It’s an attempt to distract attention away from the real issues, including the current economic situation,” he added.

Last week, the private Radio Mosaique, citing informed sources, said that judicial authorities have given permission to the relevant security body to take necessary measures to investigate the case with "involved politicians, former security officials, lawyers and heads of charity organizations."

According to local media, arrest warrants were issued against three former security officials, former parliamentarian Reda al-Jawadi, businessman Mohamed Frikha and cleric Bechir ben Hasan.

The Ennahda party termed the warrants as “random arrests" aimed at defaming the image of the party and its figures.

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

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

*Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report