Ennahdha celebration calls mass arrests an ‘unprecedented marketing campaign of raids and violations’ earlier than October 6 ballot.
At the least 80 members of Tunisia’s largest opposition celebration Ennahdha have been arrested, celebration officers mentioned, as 1000’s took to the streets to protest towards President Kais Saied forward of the presidential election.
Because the marketing campaign season formally begins on Saturday, opposition events, politicians and human rights teams are accusing Saied’s administration of utilizing “arbitrary restrictions” and intimidation to safe his re-election within the October 6 ballot.
Ennahdha – which was the most important celebration in parliament earlier than Saied dissolved the chamber in July 2021 – had counted at the least 80 arrests and was within the technique of confirming at the least 116 in complete, together with six ladies, Latifa Habbechi, a lawyer of the celebration mentioned on Friday.
In a publish on social media platform X, Yusra Ghannouchi, daughter of detained Ennahdha chief and co-founder Rached Ghannouchi, mentioned greater than 100 celebration members have been arrested, together with an activist in her 70s.
In a press release, Ennahdha referred to as the arrests “an unprecedented marketing campaign of raids and violations of probably the most primary rights assured by regulation”.
Former Minister of Youth and Sports activities Ahmed Gaaloul, a member of the celebration’s govt committee, mentioned the arrests included high-ranking celebration officers.
The mass arrests are the newest to mar an already turbulent election season in Tunisia, which Saied guidelines by decree.
Earlier this month, police arrested distinguished opposition politician Ayachi Zammel as he was confirmed as one in every of simply two challengers to Saied within the polls.
Zammel is accused of falsifying voter signatures on his paperwork, however his attorneys say the case is supposed to drive him out of the race.
In August, the electoral fee eradicated three distinguished candidates from the race, citing alleged irregularities of their candidacy filings.
The courtroom accountable for election disputes ordered the fee to reinstate them on September 2, however the fee rejected the ruling.
Critics say Saied is utilizing the fee, whose members he appointed, to safe his victory by intimidating candidates. The president denies the accusations, saying he’s combating traitors, mercenaries and the corrupt.
The most recent arrests on Friday got here as 1000’s of individuals protested within the capital, Tunis, decrying the emergence of what they referred to as a police state.
The protesters chanted slogans together with, “Out with dictator Saied” and “No concern, no terror, streets belong to the folks”.
The protesters additionally demanded the discharge of Zammel and all political prisoners, activists and journalists detained for criticising Saied.