Ennahda says Ghannouchi held in ‘total isolation’ for 3 weeks

Tunisia's Ennahda movement said Tuesday that imprisoned leader Rached Ghannouchi was held in “total isolation” during a three-week hospital stay, accusing authorities of denying the 85-year-old family visits and legal counsel despite repeated requests from his defense team.

Isolation allegations

Ghannouchi was transferred back to Mornaguia Prison near the capital Tunis on Monday following medical treatment that began on July 29, according to his lawyers. The movement stated that officials barred family members and attorneys from visiting him throughout his hospitalization, rejecting multiple appeals to verify his condition. Ennahda added that prison authorities prevented Ghannouchi from accessing news sources available to other inmates at the facility.

Health protest

The former speaker of parliament — dissolved by President Kais Saied in 2021 — staged a five-day hunger and medication strike before ending it at the request of his medical team, the movement reported. Ennahda cited repeated hospitalizations within a short timeframe as evidence of his declining physical state, demanding his immediate release. The group maintains that charges of “incitement against state security” leveled against Ghannouchi are politically motivated and lack legal merit.

Judicial context

Ten co-defendants imprisoned in the same conspiracy case voiced solidarity with Ghannouchi earlier Tuesday, expressing concern over his health through a statement published by families of political detainees. Tunisian authorities have not commented on the isolation allegations, though they have previously denied reports of deteriorating conditions among prisoners. Officials insist Ghannouchi is being prosecuted on criminal grounds without political interference, while opposition figures contend the judiciary is being instrumentalized to silence dissent against Saied's consolidation of power.