Summary:

On 12 September 2024, the Ennahdha Movement expressed its discontent with the recent arrests of its leaders in different regions of the country, the last of which occurred on 10 September.  

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The Islamist movement stated that over eighty members of the party have been detained in difficult conditions without access to medical services or lawyers and emphasized that the majority of these detainees are over 60 years old and suffer from chronic diseases. 

The movement demanded that the authorities release those who were arrested, along with all political detainees, and stop the policy of arrests and trials of political competitors. 

Meanwhile, the Court of First Instance decided to transfer the investigation file concerning the several leaders of the Ennahdha Movement to the terrorism court. 

Outlook: 

The recent arrests of Ennahdha Movement leaders and the referral of the cases to the terrorism court reflects the ongoing securitization of the Tunisian election. The framing of political rivals as security threats by the current administration serves to frighten citizens about the range of threats to their security and livelihoods from other political parties and leaders – especially Ennahdha – thereby appealing to Saied’s voting base. 

The Administrative Court’s ruling to approve three other candidates in the election, including Abdellatif Mekki, former Minister of Health and former member of Ennahdha, likely pushed the current administration further down this road in an effort to demonize Ennahdha candidates and ensure their exclusion from the race. 

The Ennahdha Movement is likely trying to mobilize its supporters but also other opposition factions to call for the liberation of its leaders, as a large and diverse coalition is likely the only means by which a victory over President Saied could be secured. Ennahdha is thus seeking to profit from the growing popular frustration toward President Saied that was on clear display on 13 September during a large rally in downtown Tunis. 

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