Rights Groups Urge Immediate Release of Rached Ghannouchi Amid
Serious Health Deterioration

The
Tunisian Association for Victims of Torture on Sunday called for the immediate
release of former parliament speaker and Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi,
holding Tunisian authorities fully responsible for his safety following a sharp
deterioration in his health and his transfer to hospital for treatment.

Critical
Health Condition

In a
statement, the Geneva-based association renewed its call for Ghannouchi’s
release, describing his continued detention as a violation of international
law, particularly after he was classified by the United Nations Working Group
on Arbitrary Detention as being held arbitrarily.

The
association said Tunisia’s failure to heed this UN position constitutes a clear
breach of its international human rights obligations, including guarantees of a
fair trial.

It also
warned of the worsening health condition of Ghannouchi and a number of elderly
political detainees on hunger strike, urging authorities to assume full
responsibility for their physical safety. Those include Chaima Issa and Jawhar
Ben Mbarek.

Calls
for Immediate Release

The
association called for the release of all political detainees and prisoners of
conscience, and for an end to what it described as judicial proceedings that do
not comply with international standards. It also urged the United Nations, the
European Union, and international human rights organizations to intervene
urgently to press for respect for human rights in Tunisia.

For its
part, the Ennahda Movement said Ghannouchi’s health had deteriorated in prison,
noting that he was transferred urgently to hospital due to complications
related to chronic illnesses.

The
movement stressed that his continued detention comes despite UN opinions
deeming his arrest arbitrary and calling for his immediate release, adding that
the charges against him are linked to freedom of expression.

Tunisian
authorities arrested Ghannouchi in April 2023, and he has since received
multiple prison sentences in different cases. Ghannouchi rejects the charges
and considers them politically motivated.

(Source: Agencies)

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