Tunisia’s jailed opposition leader Ghannouchi in ‘critical condition,’ lawyers say

Lawyers for Rached Ghannouchi, the jailed leader of Tunisia’s main opposition movement, said on Thursday that his health had deteriorated to a “critical condition,” raising fresh concerns about the treatment of political detainees in the North African country. The 85-year-old head of the Ennahda party reportedly fainted and suffered severe exhaustion while being held in detention, according to his legal team.

The announcement comes amid mounting criticism from rights groups and opposition figures who have questioned the conditions under which Ghannouchi has been held. His lawyers said he has been barred from receiving family visits, a restriction they argue has compounded his declining health and left him without adequate support during his imprisonment.

A veteran opposition figure under detention

Ghannouchi, a long-standing figure in Tunisian politics, has been held in detention as part of a broader crackdown on political opposition in the country. He served as speaker of Tunisia’s parliament before the chamber was dissolved, and he remains one of the most recognisable faces of the country’s opposition movement. His continued detention has drawn sustained attention from international human rights organisations and foreign governments that have urged Tunisian authorities to respect due process.

Concerns over political prisoners

The case has reignited debate over the treatment of political detainees in Tunisia. Advocacy groups have repeatedly raised alarms about prison conditions, restrictions on communication with families, and the health of several high-profile detainees. The barring of family visits, in particular, has been described by rights monitors as a violation of international standards governing the treatment of prisoners.

Calls have grown from civil society and political actors for greater transparency regarding the health and welfare of those held on politically motivated charges. Tunisian authorities have not yet publicly responded to the latest reports about Ghannouchi’s condition.

Looking ahead

As pressure mounts both domestically and abroad, Ghannouchi’s legal team is expected to seek urgent medical attention and renewed access for his family. The situation underscores the wider struggle over political freedoms in Tunisia and the conditions faced by those detained for opposing the government.

Source: Africanews — read the original report.