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Tunisia Ennahda Party Spokesman Arrested

Ennahda spokesman Abdelfattah Taghouti. (Social media)
Ennahda spokesman Abdelfattah Taghouti. (Social media)
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Tunisia Ennahda Party Spokesman Arrested

Ennahda spokesman Abdelfattah Taghouti. (Social media)
Ennahda spokesman Abdelfattah Taghouti. (Social media)

The spokesman of Tunisia's Ennahda party has been detained, the party said on Wednesday.

Abdelfattah Taghouti was detained by a national guard unit on Tuesday evening, Ennahda said, demanding his immediate release.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) contacted the party but it had no information on the reasons behind the arrest.

Authorities are investigating several leaders from Ennahda, which is the largest party opposing President Kais Saied, over accusations of conspiracy against the state, financial corruption, sending Tunisians to Syria to fight, and terrorism.

The party says that these charges are fabricated and politically motivated.

Among the detainees are Ennahda Secretary-General Ali Laarayedh, who is a former prime minister and minister of the interior, former Minister of Justice Noureddine Bhiri, and former Minister of Agriculture, Mohamed Ben Salem.

Ennahda’s former MP al-Habib al-Loz and Abdul Hamid Al-Jalasi, who resigned from the party, were also arrested.

Investigations also include Rached Ghannouchi, head of the party, who is still free.

In its statement, Ennahda condemned a “campaign of arbitrary arrests aimed at diverting attention from the failings of the regime.”

“Public opinion knows the failure and impotence of the authorities after 20 months of monopolizing power, a period in which our country has sunk further into economic collapse, social misery, and international isolation,” the party stressed.

It further denounced the campaign to silence those who oppose Saied’s policies.

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Islamabad: 50,000 Pakistanis Are Missing in Iraq

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
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Islamabad: 50,000 Pakistanis Are Missing in Iraq

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)

Pakistan’s Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain sparked controversy when he revealed that 50,000 Pakistanis have gone missing in Iraq over the years.

He urged the Baghdad government to immediately launch a probe into how the Pakistanis entered Iraq to visit religious sites during the month of Muharram, he was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s Ummat newspaper.

Islamabad is investigating how people have traveled outside Pakistan through illegal means, he remarked.

The permanent committee for religious affairs and interfaith harmony has since proposed new policies for trips to holy sites in foreign countries, including Iraq.

In Iraq, the minister’s comments drew mockery and condemnation on social media and sparked renewed debate over illegal workers in the country.

Politician Mishaan al-Juburi urged the government to make a statement over Hussain’s comments, warning that they may impact security and the labor force.

Hussain’s comments coincided with Iraqi police announcing the arrest of six Pakistanis in Baghdad on charges of theft.

Previously, military intelligence also announced the arrest of a nine-member Pakistani kidnapping and extortion gang in Baghdad. The gang had kidnapped foreigners for ransom.

Meanwhile, Labor Minister Ahmed al-Asadi expressed his concern and condemnation over the increasing number of illegal workers in Iraq.

He said his ministry will investigate the disappearance of the Pakistanis.

He confirmed that several tourists, including Pakistanis, have flocked to Iraq in recent days, and many have taken up employment without the necessary legal permits.

He warned that this phenomenon is negatively impacting the national economy.

The ministry will not be lenient in taking the necessary legal measures against the violators, he vowed.

Iraq welcomes all tourists, whether they are here on a religious visit or otherwise, but they must respect local laws and regulations, declared Asadi.

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala.