Rached Ghannouchi, one of the main opponents of Tunisian President Kais Saied, has been arrested, his Ennahdha party said Monday, the latest in a string of opposition figures held. "Ennahdha denounces this extremely serious development and calls for the immediate release of Rached Ghannouchi," the statement said. His arrest came after media reports in which he allegedly said Tunisia would be threatened with "civil war" if political Islam, from which his party originated, were eradica ted there. A source at the interior ministry quoted by Tunisian media confirmed that Ghannouchi's arrest was linked to these statements. Since early February, authorities in the North African country have arrested more than 20 political opponents and personalities.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 18, 2023 06:15 UTC