Tunisian Authorities Close Ennahda Movement Offices, Mobilize to Ban its Political Activities

A security man in front of the main center of Ennahda Movement in Tunis, Tunisia (AFP)
A security man in front of the main center of Ennahda Movement in Tunis, Tunisia (AFP)
TT

Tunisian Authorities Close Ennahda Movement Offices, Mobilize to Ban its Political Activities

A security man in front of the main center of Ennahda Movement in Tunis, Tunisia (AFP)
A security man in front of the main center of Ennahda Movement in Tunis, Tunisia (AFP)

The headquarters of Ennahda Movement in all 24 governorates of Tunisia were shut down on Tuesday following “high-level orders” to security forces, informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Decisions to ban all political activities of the movement are reportedly in the works, potentially paving the way for a complete ban of Ennahda and its classification as a terrorist organization.

Sources predicted that more Ennahda leaders and supporters would be summoned for questioning, possibly leading to a final confrontation between the movement’s leadership and President Kais Saied.

They also anticipated the pursuit of all critics of Saied’s policies, especially on social media platforms.

This follows the arrest of Ennahda’s leader, Rached Ghannouchi, by Tunisian security forces.

Ghannouchi was transported to military barracks in El Aouina, located in the north of the capital city of Tunis, for questioning regarding statements that were attributed to him and that allegedly incited civil war in Tunisia.

It is believed that these statements were the main reason for the raid on his home, search, and referral for questioning with the permission of the Tunisian public prosecutor’s office.

Additionally, three leaders Ennahda Movement, who were considered close to Ghannouchi, were also arrested.

Lawyer Mokhtar al-Jamei confirmed that movement advisers Muhammad al-Qumani and Belkacem Hassan, both members of the executive office, were detained on Sunday night for questioning in the same case that led to Ghannouchi’s arrest.

Al-Jamei, who is Ghannouchi’s legal representative, stated that the defense team “was not able to know the reasons for the arrest of Ghannouchi, al-Qumani, and Hassan, nor were they able to know the charges against them or their place of detention.”

Human rights sources confirmed that Ghannouchi declined to provide any information during his initial hearing with the central unit for combating terrorism of the National Guard in the El Aouina barracks, following his arrest.

He also insisted on the presence of his lawyer during the hearing, which is not possible until 48 hours after arrest according to Tunisia’s 2015 counter-terrorism law.



At Least 15 Killed in Suicide Bombing at Damascus Church

A Syrian man reacts inside Mar Elias church where a suicide bomber detonated himself in Dweila in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
A Syrian man reacts inside Mar Elias church where a suicide bomber detonated himself in Dweila in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
TT

At Least 15 Killed in Suicide Bombing at Damascus Church

A Syrian man reacts inside Mar Elias church where a suicide bomber detonated himself in Dweila in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
A Syrian man reacts inside Mar Elias church where a suicide bomber detonated himself in Dweila in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

At least 15 people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Syria's capital Damascus on Sunday, security sources said.

Syria's interior ministry said the suicide bomber was an ISIS member. He entered the church, opened fire and then detonated his explosive vest, the ministry added in a statement.

A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two men were involved in the attack, including the one who blew himself up.

Syria's state news agency cited the health ministry as putting the preliminary casualty toll at nine dead and 13 injured.

Some local media reported that children were among the casualties.

A livestream from the site by Syria's civil defense, the White Helmets, showed scenes of destruction from within the church, including a bloodied floor and shattered church pews and masonry.

Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mostafa condemned the attack, calling it a terrorist attack.

“This cowardly act goes against the civic values that brings us together,” he said in a post on X. “We will not back down from our commitment to equal citizenship ... and we also affirm the state’s pledge to exert all its efforts to combat criminal organizations and to protect society from all attacks threatening its safety.”