Ennahda leader’s daughter calls for EU sanctions against Kais Saied

BRUSSELS (AA) — The daughter of Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of Tunisia’s Ennahda movement, called on the EU on Wednesday to take action against authorities in her country for detaining politicians.

The EU “should impose sanctions” on Tunisian President Kais Saied and his government, Yusra Ghannouchi told a press conference in Brussels.

Last week, a judge ordered Ghannouchi be kept under arrest after he was detained on April 17 on accusations of plotting against state security.

About 30 people, including activists, politicians, lawyers, journalists, were also detained along her father, Yusra said.

“I think it’s time to understand that Kais Saied is the problem, not the solution, and to prepare for the post-Said period,” she added.

Poor prison conditions

Pointing to the poor prison conditions in Tunisia, Kaouther Ferjani, the daughter of another detained Tunisian politician, said her father Said Ferjani has been kept in an overcrowded ward since Feb. 27.

Noting that her father was one of 120 people being kept in a 60-person ward, Ferjani said she had not heard from him for 60 days.

She asked the EU to condemn the Tunisian government’s turn to authoritarianism and demand it release all political prisoners and respect basic human rights.

Tunisian authorities have launched a widespread arrest campaign against critics of Saied in recent weeks accusing them of being part of a conspiracy against state security.

The country has been in a deep political crisis since July 2021 when Saied ousted the government and dissolved the parliament, in a move decried by opponents as a “coup.”