Tunisia’s 81-year-old opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi appeared Tuesday before an anti-terror unit.
After hours in the waiting Monday and a postponement of his questioning, he was eventually questioned over alleged involvement in sending jihadist militants to Syria and Iraq.
The supporters of the Ennahdha chief chanted "freedom" and slogans as they gathered in a show of solidarity. The party spokesperson denounced "a willingness to ill-treat" Ghannouchi throughout the interrogation process:
"He is a citizen [Rached Ghannouchi] who came willingly. He came freely, not under arrest. They [his lawyers] asked that the interrogation be postponed to today because the conditions for the interrogation hadn't been fulfilled yesterday [the previous day].
What surprised us was that there was a willingness to ill-treat Rached Ghannouchi, and to subject him to these conditions, despite his age, Imed Khemiri lamented. We think this is a form of torture, and it undermines the transparency of the questioning."
"Without evidence"
One of the deputies of the party Ali was also questioned and was held at the headquarters of the anti-terror unit late Monday. In a statement released overnight, Ennahdha denounced the interrogation as "a flagrant violation of human rights".
Citing one of his lawyers, the Reuters agency reported Laarayedh will appear before a judge on Wednesday. "We are shocked..the file is completely empty and without any evidence", Samir Dilou, another lawyer told Reuters.
After the 2011 overthrow of long-time president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, thousands of Tunisians joined the ranks of jihadist organizations -- most notably the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq, but also in neighboring Libya.
Ennahdha played a central role in Tunisia's post-Ben Ali politics until president Kais Saied began his power grab in July last year, followed by a controversial referendum that granted unchecked powers to his office.
Ennahdha had on Sunday decried attempts "to use the judiciary to tarnish the opposition's image" and implicate its leaders in "fabricated affairs".
-Africa News
Central Africa
DRC elections: EU Cancels Election Observation Mission Due to "Technical Issues"
The European Union announced on Wednesday that it was cancelling its election observation mission in...
Southern Africa
Malawi slammed for sending workers to Israel amid Gaza conflict
Opposition parties and human rights organizations in Malawi have voiced strong criticism against Pre...
Economy
Nigerian president outlines first budget after reforms
Nigeria's president said economic growth and national security were among his main concerns as he ou...
East Africa
Disease stalks Somali district ravaged by floods
The floodwaters in the southwestern Somali district of Dolow may have started to recede -- for now -...
West Africa
Russian officials visit Niger to strengthen military ties
A Russian delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Defense arrived in Niamey to discuss with the mil...
Mining
Libya dismantles illegal gold mining network
An illegal gold mining network operating in the Libyan desert and employing Chinese, Chadians and Ni...
North Africa
Tunisia: At least 20 wounded Gazans received in Tunis for treatment
Tunisia says it has received and treated some of the wounded from Gaza where fighting between Hamas ...
Business
Skyrocketing sugar prices left Ishaq Abdulraheem with few choices. Increasing the cost of bread woul...
Opinion
Paul Kalisha is stuck in Uganda’s dream to revive copper mining. His father was a miner, and taug...