Rached Ghannouchi, the 82-year-old leader of Tunisia’s Ennahdha party, launched a hunger strike on February 19th while imprisoned since April 2023.
According to a statement by Ennahdha, Ghannouchi’s action is “in solidarity with all the political opponents in the different prisons” who are also refusing food. This move represents an escalation in tensions after several jailed opposition figures, including prominent members of the National Salvation Front, embarked on an eight-day hunger strike demanding their release.
Ghannouchi stands as the most recognizable opposition figure imprisoned since President Kais Saied’s controversial power grab in July 2021, when he dissolved parliament and concentrated power in his hands. The leader of Ennahdha, which dominated Tunisian politics after the 2011 Arab Spring uprising, faces several legal challenges. Earlier this month, he received a three-year sentence for allegedly receiving illegal foreign funding for his organization. This followed a previous one-year sentence on terrorism-related charges, later increased to 15 months on appeal.
These charges stem from comments Ghannouchi made during a funeral procession, deemed critical of the police by authorities. Notably, over 20 opposition figures, including businessmen and individuals labeled “terrorists” by Saied, have been imprisoned in the past year. This recent hunger strike adds fuel to the ongoing debate surrounding political detentions and accusations of judicial manipulation in Tunisia.
While the majority of imprisoned opposition figures face charges of “conspiracy against state security,” this hunger strike highlights their struggle against what they claim to be “baseless, arbitrary prosecutions” aimed at silencing dissent and consolidating the President’s control. With Ghannouchi joining the protest, the situation demands close attention as it unfolds and raises concerns about the future of democracy and human rights in Tunisia.
