Faith Nyasuguta
Tunisia’s minister of interior ministry has revealed that a detained former justice minister is suspected of “terrorism”.
Ex-minister Noureddine Bhiri of the Ennahdha party was detained over the weekend.
So far, he has refused any food or medicine and was on Monday transferred to a hospital where he is said to have continued with the hunger strike.
According to interior Minister Taoufik Charfeddine, there were reports of acts of terrorism forcing the authorities to act.
After Tunisian president Kais Saied fired the prime minister and dismissed parliament in 2021, the head of state has been at crossroads with the Ennahdha party.
After dismissing parliament, the president took steps to rule by decree, and, in early December, promised to press on with reforms to the political system. Critics decried his move as a coup.
The president has defended his takeover as the only way to end governmental paralysis after decades of political squabbling and economic stagnation.
He has promised to uphold rights and freedoms won in the 2011 revolution.
Party members and activists have said the ex-minister’s health is at risk as he has a chronic illness and has been denied professional care.
As quoted by the AFP news agency, his wife said he had suffered a heart attack and that she was denied access to him.
Recent Comments