Latest news with #Islamist-inspired
France 24
7 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Once a leading force, battered Tunisian party awaits elusive comeback
But observers say that Ennahdha, the Islamist-inspired movement still considered by some Tunisians as the country's main opposition party, could still bounce back after a devastating government crackdown. On July 25, 2021, Saied stunned the country when he suspended parliament and dissolved the government, a move critics denounced as a "coup" a decade after the Arab Spring revolt ushered in a democratic transition in the North African country. Many of Saied's critics have been prosecuted and jailed, including Ennahdha leader Rached Ghannouchi, 84, a former parliament speaker who was sentenced earlier this month to 14 years in prison for plotting against the state. Ghannouchi, who was arrested in 2023, has racked up several prison terms, including a 22-year sentence handed in February on the same charge. The crackdown over the past four years has seen around 150 Ennahdha figures imprisoned, prosecuted or living in exile, according to a party official. "Some believe the movement is dead, but that is not the case," said political scientist Slaheddine Jourchi. Ennahdha has been "weakened to the point of clinical death" but remained the most prominent party in Tunisia's "fragmented and fragile" opposition, Jourchi added. 'Once we're free again' Riadh Chaibi, a party official and adviser to Ghannouchi, said that even after "shrinking" its political platform, Ennahdah was still a relevant opposition outlet. "Despite repression, prosecutions and imprisonment" since 2021, "Ennahdha remains the country's largest political movement," Chaibi said. He said the current government has been "weaponising state institutions to eliminate political opponents", but "once we're free again, like we were in 2011, Ennahdha will regain its strength". Since 2011, when Ghannouchi returned from exile to lead the party, Ennahdha for years had a key role in Tunisian politics, holding the premiership and other senior roles. But by 2019, the year Saied was elected president, the party's popularity had already begun waning, winning only a third of the 1.5 million votes it had in 2011. Experts ascribed this trend to the party's failure to improve living standards and address pressing socio-economic issues. Ennahdha has also been accused of jihadist links, which it has repeatedly denied. Saied, who religiously avoids mentioning either Ennahdha or Ghannouchi by name, has often referred to the party's years in power as "the black decade" and accused it of committing "crimes against the country". Crowds of Tunisians, increasingly disillusioned as a political deadlock trumped Ennahdha's promise of change, poured into the streets in celebration when Saied forced the party out of the halls of power in 2021. Analyst Jourchi said Ennahdha's rise to power was a "poorly prepared adventure", and the party had "made many mistakes along the way". Left-wing politician Mongi Rahoui said it was "only natural that Ennahdha leaders and their governing partners be prosecuted for crimes they used their political position to commit". Today, the party's activities have been reduced mostly to issuing statements online, often reacting to prison sentences handed down to critics of Saied. 'Silence everything' But Ennahdha has weathered repression before, harshly suppressed under Tunisia's autocratic presidents Habib Bourguiba and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Party leaders were jailed or forced into exile, and Ghannouchi was sentenced to life in prison under Bourguiba but then freed -- and later exiled -- under Ben Ali. Tunisian historian Abdellatif Hannachi said that the party "seems to be bending with the wind, waiting for changes that would allow it to return". It has been in "clear decline", he added, but "that does not mean it's disappearing." Ennahdha's downfall was not an isolated case. Other opposition forces have also been crushed, and dozens of political, media and business figures are currently behind bars. "This regime no longer distinguishes between Islamist and secular, progressive and conservative," rights advocate Kamel Jendoubi, a former minister, recently said in a Facebook post. Saied's government "wants to silence everything that thinks, that criticises, or resists", Jendoubi argued. The opposition, however, remains fractured, failing for example to come together in rallies planned for the anniversary this month of Saied's power grab. © 2025 AFP
Arab News
7 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Once a leading force, battered Tunisian party awaits elusive comeback
TUNIS: The party that once dominated Tunisian politics has faded away since President Kais Saied staged a dramatic power grab, with its offices shuttered and leaders behind bars or in exile. But observers say that Ennahdha, the Islamist-inspired movement still considered by some Tunisians as the country's main opposition party, could still bounce back after a devastating government crackdown. On July 25, 2021, Saied stunned the country when he suspended parliament and dissolved the government, a move critics denounced as a 'coup' a decade after the Arab Spring revolt ushered in a democratic transition in the North African country. Many of Saied's critics have been prosecuted and jailed, including Ennahdha leader Rached Ghannouchi, 84, a former parliament speaker who was sentenced earlier this month to 14 years in prison for plotting against the state. Ghannouchi, who was arrested in 2023, has racked up several prison terms, including a 22-year sentence handed in February on the same charge. The crackdown over the past four years has seen around 150 Ennahdha figures imprisoned, prosecuted or living in exile, according to a party official. 'Some believe the movement is dead, but that is not the case,' said political scientist Slaheddine Jourchi. Ennahdha has been 'weakened to the point of clinical death' but remained the most prominent party in Tunisia's 'fragmented and fragile' opposition, Jourchi added. 'Crimes against the country' Riadh Chaibi, a party official and adviser to Ghannouchi, said that even after 'shrinking' its political platform, Ennahdah was still a relevant opposition outlet. 'Despite repression, prosecutions and imprisonment' since 2021, 'Ennahdha remains the country's largest political movement,' Chaibi said. He said the current government has been 'weaponizing state institutions to eliminate political opponents,' but 'once we're free again, like we were in 2011, Ennahdha will regain its strength.' Since 2011, when Ghannouchi returned from exile to lead the party, Ennahdha for years had a key role in Tunisian politics, holding the premiership and other senior roles. But by 2019, the year Saied was elected president, the party's popularity had already begun waning, winning only a third of the 1.5 million votes it had in 2011. Experts ascribed this trend to the party's failure to improve living standards and address pressing socio-economic issues. Ennahdha has also been accused of jihadist links, which it has repeatedly denied. Saied, who religiously avoids mentioning either Ennahdha or Ghannouchi by name, has often referred to the party's years in power as 'the black decade' and accused it of committing 'crimes against the country.' Crowds of Tunisians, increasingly disillusioned as a political deadlock trumped Ennahdha's promise of change, poured into the streets in celebration when Saied forced the party out of the halls of power in 2021. Analyst Jourchi said Ennahdha's rise to power was a 'poorly prepared adventure,' and the party had 'made many mistakes along the way.' Left-wing politician Mongi Rahoui said it was 'only natural that Ennahdha leaders and their governing partners be prosecuted for crimes they used their political position to commit.' Today, the party's activities have been reduced mostly to issuing statements online, often reacting to prison sentences handed down to critics of Saied. 'Weathering repression' But Ennahdha has weathered repression before, harshly suppressed under Tunisia's autocratic presidents Habib Bourguiba and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Party leaders were jailed or forced into exile, and Ghannouchi was sentenced to life in prison under Bourguiba but then freed — and later exiled — under Ben Ali. Tunisian historian Abdellatif Hannachi said that the party 'seems to be bending with the wind, waiting for changes that would allow it to return.' It has been in 'clear decline,' he added, but 'that does not mean it's disappearing.' Ennahdha's downfall was not an isolated case. Other opposition forces have also been crushed, and dozens of political, media and business figures are currently behind bars. 'This regime no longer distinguishes between Islamist and secular, progressive and conservative,' rights advocate Kamel Jendoubi, a former minister, recently said in a Facebook post. Saied's government 'wants to silence everything that thinks, that criticizes, or resists,' Jendoubi argued. The opposition, however, remains fractured, failing for example to come together in rallies planned for the anniversary this month of Saied's power grab.
Int'l Business Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Once A Leading Force, Battered Tunisian Party Awaits Elusive Comeback
The party that once dominated Tunisian politics has faded away since President Kais Saied staged a dramatic power grab, with its offices shuttered and leaders behind bars or in exile. But observers say that Ennahdha, the Islamist-inspired movement still considered by some Tunisians as the country's main opposition party, could still bounce back after a devastating government crackdown. On July 25, 2021, Saied stunned the country when he suspended parliament and dissolved the government, a move critics denounced as a "coup" a decade after the Arab Spring revolt ushered in a democratic transition in the North African country. Many of Saied's critics have been prosecuted and jailed, including Ennahdha leader Rached Ghannouchi, 84, a former parliament speaker who was sentenced earlier this month to 14 years in prison for plotting against the state. Ghannouchi, who was arrested in 2023, has racked up several prison terms, including a 22-year sentence handed in February on the same charge. The crackdown over the past four years has seen around 150 Ennahdha figures imprisoned, prosecuted or living in exile, according to a party official. "Some believe the movement is dead, but that is not the case," said political scientist Slaheddine Jourchi. Ennahdha has been "weakened to the point of clinical death" but remained the most prominent party in Tunisia's "fragmented and fragile" opposition, Jourchi added. Riadh Chaibi, a party official and adviser to Ghannouchi, said that even after "shrinking" its political platform, Ennahdah was still a relevant opposition outlet. "Despite repression, prosecutions and imprisonment" since 2021, "Ennahdha remains the country's largest political movement," Chaibi said. He said the current government has been "weaponising state institutions to eliminate political opponents", but "once we're free again, like we were in 2011, Ennahdha will regain its strength". Since 2011, when Ghannouchi returned from exile to lead the party, Ennahdha for years had a key role in Tunisian politics, holding the premiership and other senior roles. But by 2019, the year Saied was elected president, the party's popularity had already begun waning, winning only a third of the 1.5 million votes it had in 2011. Experts ascribed this trend to the party's failure to improve living standards and address pressing socio-economic issues. Ennahdha has also been accused of jihadist links, which it has repeatedly denied. Saied, who religiously avoids mentioning either Ennahdha or Ghannouchi by name, has often referred to the party's years in power as "the black decade" and accused it of committing "crimes against the country". Crowds of Tunisians, increasingly disillusioned as a political deadlock trumped Ennahdha's promise of change, poured into the streets in celebration when Saied forced the party out of the halls of power in 2021. Analyst Jourchi said Ennahdha's rise to power was a "poorly prepared adventure", and the party had "made many mistakes along the way". Left-wing politician Mongi Rahoui said it was "only natural that Ennahdha leaders and their governing partners be prosecuted for crimes they used their political position to commit". Today, the party's activities have been reduced mostly to issuing statements online, often reacting to prison sentences handed down to critics of Saied. But Ennahdha has weathered repression before, harshly suppressed under Tunisia's autocratic presidents Habib Bourguiba and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Party leaders were jailed or forced into exile, and Ghannouchi was sentenced to life in prison under Bourguiba but then freed -- and later exiled -- under Ben Ali. Tunisian historian Abdellatif Hannachi said that the party "seems to be bending with the wind, waiting for changes that would allow it to return". It has been in "clear decline", he added, but "that does not mean it's disappearing." Ennahdha's downfall was not an isolated case. Other opposition forces have also been crushed, and dozens of political, media and business figures are currently behind bars. "This regime no longer distinguishes between Islamist and secular, progressive and conservative," rights advocate Kamel Jendoubi, a former minister, recently said in a Facebook post. Saied's government "wants to silence everything that thinks, that criticises, or resists", Jendoubi argued. The opposition, however, remains fractured, failing for example to come together in rallies planned for the anniversary this month of Saied's power grab.
Irish Examiner
24-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
Ireland's first jihadist attack officially confirmed by gardaí in EU terror report
An Garda Síochána has officially reported Ireland's first confirmed jihadist attack to the EU, citing the attempted murder of a Defence Forces chaplain by a radicalised teenager in August 2024. The knife attack in Galway formed part of a notable rise in Islamist-inspired assaults across the EU last year. A report by Europol, the EU police agency, said five people were killed in such attacks in 2024, with 16 injured — including Fr Paul Murphy at Renmore Barracks. The Waterford chaplain narrowly escaped with his life when a 16-year-old attacker repeatedly stabbed him with an eight-inch hunting knife. The boy thrust the knife through the half-open window of a moving car driven by Fr Murphy, continuing the attack for 90 seconds — first as the chaplain stopped at the barracks' entrance, then as the car moved 25 metres into the complex. The attacker, now 17, received an eight-year sentence for attempted murder. The court previously heard the boy had converted to Islam at age 15 and was radicalised online by Islamic State–style material, including propaganda videos and footage of beheadings. Some of the content featured Mohammed Emwazi, known as 'Jihadi John,' a British national infamous for atrocities against hostages in Syria. The boy was not charged with a terrorist offence, possibly due to the Director of Public Prosecutions' reluctance to bring such a charge against a juvenile. The Irish Examiner first reported the attack as Ireland's initial confirmed jihadist incident. However, the Europol report marks the first time An Garda Síochána has officially classified it as a 'jihadist' attack. The 2025 European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (EU TE-SAT) said there were 58 terrorist attacks across 14 member states in 2024. These included 34 completed attacks, five failed attempts, and 19 foiled plots. Of these, 24 attacks were attributed to jihadist terrorism — up from 14 in 2023. 'Jihadist terrorism remained the most lethal, resulting in five victims killed and 18 injured,' the report said. It also noted that 20 of the 24 jihadist attacks were carried out by 'lone actors,' including the incident in Ireland. The total number of terrorist attacks in 2024 (58) marked a sharp drop from 2023 (120) but was still higher than 2022 (28). In contrast, arrests related to terrorism have increased: 380 in 2022, 426 in 2023, and 449 in 2024. The majority were related to jihadist activity — 266 in 2022, 334 in 2023, and 289 in 2024. Despite the rise of far-right political movements across Europe, confirmed far-right terrorist attacks remained low: one in 2024, two in 2023, and four in 2022. Catherine De Bolle, Executive Director of Europol, said: 'Terrorism and violent extremism continue to pose a persistent and multifaceted threat to the security of the European Union and its citizens. Driven by geopolitical tensions, accelerated by digital interconnectivity, and fuelled by ideologically diverse movements, these threats are becoming increasingly complex.' The report also cited Israel's war in Gaza as a significant factor affecting terrorist threats across the EU. 'There were numerous attacks and calls to violence across the entire ideological spectrum,' the report said. 'Online terrorist and violent extremist propaganda instrumentalised the conflict and ignited hatred, with anti-Semitism being a common denominator in both. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine was another driving factor for the spread of violent extremist narratives, radicalisation and mobilisation.'
Express Tribune
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Tunisia puts more opposition figures on mass trial
A new trial of nearly two dozen Tunisian opposition figures accused of plotting against the state opened on Tuesday, weeks after a separate mass trial jailed nearly 40 defendants on similar charges. The latest trial — known as the "conspiracy against state security II" — involved 22 defendants, including 83-year-old Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party leader Rached Ghannouchi, currently jailed in another case. Youssef Chahed, a former prime minister, and Nadia Akacha, once the head of the presidential office, were also among the defendants, according to court documents. The defendants were accused of terror-related charges, incitement to murder, and "plotting against state internal security", among other charges, according to a court document. The majority of the defendants are being tried in absentia, having fled the country, lawyer Samir Dilou said. Ghannouchi was already sentenced in early February to 22 years in prison — also for plotting against state security in a different case. He had been the speaker of parliament when President Kais Saied staged a sweeping power grab in 2021. In this case, Ghannouchi as well as other Ennahdha officials stand accused of setting up a "secret security apparatus" in service of the party, which had dominated Tunisia's post-revolution politics. Tunisia had emerged as the Arab world's only democracy following the ouster of longtime ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, after it kicked off the Arab Spring uprisings. Tuesday's hearing was conducted remotely with only four defendants attending virtually, according to lawyers. Last month's similar trial had drawn criticism from the United Nations, which said it was "marred by violations of fair trial and due process rights". But Saied dismissed the "comments and statements by foreign parties" as "blatant interference in Tunisia's internal affairs". In a statement on Monday, Tunisia's main opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front (FSN), called for "an end to sham and unfair trials", demanding "the release of all political prisoners".
