Tunisia: President Saied Issues Stern Warning To Opposition Figures

President Kais Saied has maintained that the law must be respected issuing a strict warning to the opposition figures in the country.

The day after the police searched his home and party headquarters, Rached Ghannouchi, the detained leader of the Tunisian opposition, was taken to a hospital.

Nejib Chebbi told The Associated Press that neither he nor any other attorneys are aware of the circumstances surrounding Ghannouchi's transfer to the La Marsa hospital or the nature of his condition. 

The 82-year-old Ghannouchi leads the Ennahdha party. The coalition is known as the National Salvation Front, of which Ennahdha is a part, and is led by Chebbi.

The most well-known opponent of President Kais Saied is Ghannouchi. Although he has previously been detained for questioning, the circumstances of his most recent detention gave the impression that this time was more serious.

Before Saied dissolved the legislature and seized the majority of executive powers in the North African nation last July, a move that Ghannouchi and other opponents have dubbed a coup, he served as speaker of the Tunisian parliament.

Monday night, police conducted a thorough search of Ghannouchi's home before taking him to the El Aouina prison in the east of the capital. Soon after, Ennahdha officials announced three additional leaders of the moderate Islamist party had been detained during a news conference. The party headquarters was evacuated and searched by police.

Additionally, police surrounded the National Salvation Front offices, preventing party officials from holding a press conference to discuss the circumstances of Ghannouchi's detention.

According to Chebbi, the state of freedom in the nation is deteriorating.