According to her party, Abir Moussi was arrested in front of the presidential palace in Carthage where she had come to file appeals against presidential decrees
The leader of the Free Destourian Party ( PDL ), one of the main Tunisian opposition groups, was placed in pre-trial detention on Tuesday, October 3 after being arrested in front of the presidential palace.
According to her party, Abir Moussi was arrested in front of the presidential palace in Carthage where she had come to lodge, according to her, appeals against presidential decrees.
The charges against the president of the PDL, according to the head of the section of the Council of the Tunisian Bar Association, cited by a Tunisian media outlet, relate to “an attack aimed at sowing disorder on Tunisian soil, the treatment of personal data without authorization and disruption of freedom of work.
“What happened was a kidnapping in front of the presidency, and she is being held at the police station,” lawyer Nafaa Laribi was quoted as saying by Reuters.
In a video posted on the PDL Facebook page, Abir Moussi had indicated earlier in the day that she was going to an office in the presidential palace to file an appeal related to the local elections due to take place at the end of the year ( necessary procedure to file an appeal before the administrative court). According to her, the presidential office had refused to accept her request and to give her an acknowledgment of receipt.
Abir Moussi, ex-MP, is a fierce opponent of President Kais Saied and the Islamists of Ennahdha, claiming the legacy of ex-President Zine el-Abidine ben Ali overthrown in 2011 during the first revolt of the Arab Spring .
She is accused by the left of seeking to reinstate a new dictatorship in Tunisia.
Since the beginning of February, the authorities have imprisoned several opponents, including the historic leader of the Islamo-conservative Ennahdha party, Rached Ghannouchi, and personalities including ex-ministers and businessmen.
President Kais Saied called those arrested “terrorists,” saying they were involved in a “ plot against state security .”
Dozens of Moussi supporters protested against the repression carried out against the opposition in front of the La Goulette police station (north-east of Tunis) on Tuesday, while a large police force was in place around the building.
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