Rached Ghannouchi, the 83-year-old co-founder of Tunisia’s Ennahdha party and former Speaker of Parliament, remains imprisoned more than two years after his initial arrest, a situation his family and supporters describe as a politically motivated injustice. His daughter, Yusra Ghannouchi, has voiced grave concerns about his well-being, citing his age, health conditions, and the “humiliating” conditions of his confinement.
In an interview with Salaamedia, Yusra Ghannouchi revealed the profound isolation her father faces. “My father will be turning 84 this Friday, and because of the health and prison conditions we are worried about him,” she stated. “I have not been in contact with him since he was arrested, for more than two years.” She explained that her 75-year-old mother has only seen him once due to difficult visiting arrangements involving barriers and phone communication, which her father has refused in protest, demanding direct visits that have since been denied.
Ghannouchi was arrested on 17 April 2023, when approximately 100 policemen raided his home. He is currently held at Mornaguia prison in Tunis. His imprisonment is part of a broader crackdown on political opposition following President Kais Saied’s consolidation of power in July 2021. Human rights organisation DAWN (Democracy for the Arab World Now) has called for his immediate release, labelling him an “unjustly imprisoned political leader.”
SMread: World Bank Loan Sparks Backlash
Legal Battles and International Appeals
Ghannouchi has faced multiple trials on various charges. In February 2025, a Tunisian court handed him a new 22-year prison sentence for charges including “plotting against state security” in a case linked to the digital content firm Instalingo. This is the most severe sentence he has received, adding to previous convictions for “supporting terrorism” and receiving illegal foreign funding. The Ennahdha party has denied any connection to the company and condemned the trial as “unjust and political.”
According to his daughter, Ghannouchi himself views his situation through a political lens. “He believes that his imprisonment is a political decision and will only be overturned by a political decision,” she said. “He does not have much hope in the legal process.”
This sentiment is echoed by supporters who point to numerous due process violations and a lack of evidence in the trials. DAWN has highlighted the “systematic erosion of judicial independence” in Tunisia, noting that Ghannouchi’s prosecution is emblematic of the government’s use of the legal system to silence dissent.
In response, the family is seeking alternative paths to justice. “We are also trying to seek justice outside Tunisia; we have cases at the International Criminal Court, as well as the African Court on Human Rights against the Tunisian government by a group of families of political prisoners,” Yusra Ghannouchi confirmed. The family of the imprisoned leader remains committed to raising awareness and promoting his democratic ideals.
Once celebrated as a key architect of Tunisia’s democratic transition after the 2011 revolution and recognised by Time magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2012, Ghannouchi’s current status as an imprisoned figure highlights the dramatic political shifts within the nation.
