The leader of the Free Destourian Party (PDL), one of the main opposition parties in Tunisia, was placed in conditional detention on Tuesday after she was arrested in front of the presidential palace, according to the lawyer of her party. According to her party, Ms. Moussi was arrested in front of the presidential palace in Carthage, where she had come to file appeals against presidential decrees, as she claimed. In a video posted on the PDL’s Facebook page, Ms. Moussi stated before her arrest that the presidential office had refused to accept her appeal and issue her an acknowledgment receipt. Since early February, authorities have incarcerated several opposition figures, including the historic leader of the Islamist-conservative Ennahdha party, Rached Ghannouchi, as well as prominent figures, including former ministers and businesspeople. President Saied, accused by the opposition of authoritarianism, has labeled the arrested individuals as “terrorists” and claimed they were involved in a “plot against the security of the state.”

Source: The North Africa Journal October 05, 2023 15:02 UTC