Tunis, Tunisia — Tunisia’s jailed opposition leader, Rached Ghannouchi, is reported to be in critical condition following a fainting spell and severe exhaustion, according to his legal team.
The 85-year-old leader of the Ennahdha party has been detained since 2023 on various charges, including accusations of plotting against the state, and was handed multiple sentences totaling over 40 years in prison.
The incident, which occurred during a visit by Ghannouchi’s lawyer, has raised further concerns about the conditions of detention for political prisoners in Tunisia, a nation that emerged as a beacon of democracy following the 2011 Arab Spring but has seen a regression of rights and freedoms under President Kais Saied’s rule. Tunisian authorities have been accused of refusing to allow visits from Ghannouchi’s lawyers or family members, a claim that his legal team says violates the law and the fundamental rights of prisoners.
The fainting episode was witnessed by Haifa Chebbi, the daughter of Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, another prominent political prisoner, during a visit to Mornaguia prison, where temperatures reached 52 degrees Celsius (126 degrees Fahrenheit).
The lawyers for Ghannouchi expressed their deep concern over the serious deterioration in his health condition and criticized the authorities for the denial of visits.
The conditions inside Mornaguia prison, where Ghannouchi is being held, have been described as harsh, with detainees spending most of their time confined to small cells and limited time outside. Ghannouchi’s arrest and subsequent sentencing have been met with international concern.
The imprisonment of the 37 defendants, including Ghannouchi, was described by United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk as a setback to justice and rule of law, citing violations of fair trial and due process rights.
The international community remains silent on the reported conditions and health of political prisoners in Tunisia. Questions linger regarding the Tunisian authorities’response to the concerns raised by Ghannouchi’s lawyers and family, as well as the broader implications for human rights in the country.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Africanews
Source: Rédaction Africanews
