Tunisia: Ennahdha appoints caretaking President as Ghannouchi hallows in detention

Tunisia’s largest political party, Ennahdha, named Wednesday Mondher Lounissi as the new chairman of the Islamist movement in the absence of incumbent leader Rached Ghannouchi detained since April 17 on several charges.

The executive committee of the party held a meeting Wednesday to take stock of the recent developments that hit the movement.

Ghannouchi, the party’s iconic leader has been in detention for ten days now on several charges including terrorism. He was arrested at his home in capital Tunis following a raid.

The committee has appointed the deputy chair Lounissi to take charge of affairs while Ghannouchi is absent. The meeting condemned the detention of the Islamist leader and branded the arrest a serious deviation of power that threatens the freedom of thought and expression, through opinion trials.

Ghannouchi has prompted reaction at home and also on the international front. The European Union, the U.S. and several other countries have expressed concerns over his detention and called for his release.