Rached Ghannouchi and Ali Larayedh turned themselves in at the police station after being summoned by the “counter-terrorism” police.
Rached Ghannouchi, president of Tunisia’s dissolved parliament and leader of the Ennada party, was summoned to a police station after being summoned to answer questions about what his party said were accusations related to “terrorism”. Appeared in.
Dozens of protesters, including lawyers and political activists, gathered outside a building in the capital Tunis on Monday to demonstrate against the interrogation of Ganuchi, who has accused President Qais Said of wide-ranging power grabs.
“The police state is over. We are with Gunnouchi,” some chanted. Some shouted, “Freedom!”
Tunisian authorities have not given any statement as to the reason for Gannouchi’s summons.
An Ennahdha official said on Saturday that Ghannouchi and another party member, former prime minister Ali Larayedh, will be questioned by police for “sending jihadists to Syria”, but did not give details.
Mr Gannouchi has played a key role in Tunisian politics since the 2011 revolution that brought democracy.
When Said seized most power last summer and closed parliament, Ganuchi accused him of an anti-democratic coup, an accusation the president denies.
‘A new step towards exclusion’
Speaking to Reuters late Saturday, Ganuchi said the subpoenas were “a new attempt to target dissidents and another step toward elimination.”
Lareid said he had not been officially informed why he was summoned, but news leaked that it was related to the sending of fighters to Syria.
“I am against this phenomenon and have taken steps to limit it,” Larayedh said.
Ennahdha spokesman Imad al-Khamiri told Al Jazeera that the two were summoned only to distract the public from rising prices and economic concerns.
In a statement, Ennada accused Said of filing a “malicious lawsuit” against the opposition.
The party added that it would reveal more details at a press conference scheduled to be held later on Monday.
Secular parties have accused Ennada of being lenient toward armed groups, something the party has long denied.
Separately, five Tunisian political parties announced on Monday a boycott of parliamentary elections scheduled for December. The vote was solicited by Said.
