The Tunisian judiciary extended the precautionary detention of prominent Brotherhood leaders, Habib Ellouz and the ousted Brotherhood public prosecutor Bashir Akremi, on terrorism-related charges.
This decision was made by the investigating judge at the Judicial Pole for Counter-Terrorism, prolonging their detention for an additional four months.
Ellouz and Akremi face serious allegations, including falsifying investigation records, interfering in judicial inquiries, assisting individuals in evading criminal prosecution, and involvement in forming and joining a terrorist organization.
Ellouz, known for his hardline stance within the religiously conservative Brotherhood movement, has been closely linked to the “Ansar al-Sharia” organization.
This group is accused of orchestrating the assassinations of Tunisian politicians Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi in 2013, allegedly under the instigation of the Islamist Ennahda Movement.
Following a breakthrough in the investigation into Belaid’s murder after ten years, in March of this year, a warrant for Ellouz’s imprisonment was issued based on a complaint filed by the defense committee in the Belaid and Brahmi assassination case.
Previously, the judiciary had shelved the case against Ellouz when the apparatus was under Brotherhood control, but it was reopened recently.
This development comes amid ongoing efforts to address terrorism and political violence in Tunisia, marking a significant step in the country‘s judicial and political landscape.
Earlier this year, Tunisian President Kais Saied decided to extend the state of emergency across the country for an additional month.
The state of emergency, which bestows special powers upon authorities, enabling them to ban gatherings, censor media, and impose curfews, will remain in effect until 30 January 2024.
