Rached Ghannouchi, head of Tunisia's Islamist Ennahda party, greets his supporters as he leaves the office of Tunisia's counter-terrorism prosecutor in Tunis on July 19, 2022. AFP
Rached Ghannouchi, head of Tunisia's Islamist Ennahda party, greets his supporters as he leaves the office of Tunisia's counter-terrorism prosecutor in Tunis on July 19, 2022. AFP
Rached Ghannouchi, head of Tunisia's Islamist Ennahda party, greets his supporters as he leaves the office of Tunisia's counter-terrorism prosecutor in Tunis on July 19, 2022. AFP
Rached Ghannouchi, head of Tunisia's Islamist Ennahda party, greets his supporters as he leaves the office of Tunisia's counter-terrorism prosecutor in Tunis on July 19, 2022. AFP

Tunisia's Rached Ghannouchi freed after nine-hour court hearing


Erin Clare Brown
  • English
  • Arabic

The leader of Tunisia's Islamist movement was questioned in a Tunis court by the anti-terror unit on Tuesday before being released ahead of a national referendum on a new constitution.

Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of the Islamist Ennahda party and the speaker of the dissolved parliament, dismissed the summons as a political ploy.

He appeared surrounded by hundreds of supporters amid a heavy police presence.

After a "more than nine-hour" session and "19 defence speeches" requested by lawyers, Mr Ghannouchi left the anti-terror centre and returned home, his lawyer and former Ennahdha official Samir Dilou said on Facebook.

Mr Dilou told AFP the anti-terror unit had allowed Mr Ghannouchi freedom of movement, while another lawyer said the politician was not the subject of "judicial control measures".

The summons came less than a week before President Kais Saied holds a referendum on a new constitution that would greatly expand his powers, a move that Ennahda and several other parties have rejected.

The charges centre on corruption and money laundering over a small civil society organisation called Namaa, which investigators claim Mr Ghannouchi and Ennahda use to launder foreign funding.

Mr Ghannouchi, Ennahda and Namaa deny the charges.

"Namaa is an independent civil society organisation which has never had any financial dealings with Ennahdha party or any of its leaders," the party said in a statement.

As part of the same investigation, Tunisian authorities last month arrested former prime minister and one-time Ennahdha leader Hamadi Jebali for alleged money laundering.

Jebali was later released, but is due to face questioning on the allegations on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, a court ordered the freezing of the bank accounts of Mr Ghannouchi and a dozen members of his family and his party ― including Jebali ― as part of this investigation.

In June, Mr Ghannouchi was handed a ban from travelling abroad as part of a separate investigation into high-profile political assassinations that rocked the country in 2013.

Mr Ghannouchi, who was elected as speaker of parliament in 2019, has become one of Mr Saied's harshest critics. He has also criticised Mr Saied for his dismissal of parliament and takeover of the judiciary.

In a written statement released during the questioning, Mr Ghannouchi said: “I have come here today to appear before the Tunisian judiciary out of respect for it and in support of the existence of an independent judiciary — not a mere function as some wish it to become, who seek to belittle its role and status.” ― additional reporting by AFP

Company profile

Company name: Suraasa

Started: 2018

Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker

Based: India, UAE and the UK

Industry: EdTech

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Al Wasl v Dibba, 7.45pm

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Price, base / as tested Dh326,700 / Dh342,700

Engine 3.0L V6

Transmission Eight-speed automatic

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Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia

The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.

It is expected to attract 25 million visits

Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.

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Profile of Tamatem

Date started: March 2013

Founder: Hussam Hammo

Based: Amman, Jordan

Employees: 55

Funding: $6m

Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media

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  • Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
  • Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

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GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

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Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

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Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

UAE v Ireland

1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets

2nd ODI, January 12

3rd ODI, January 14

4th ODI, January 16

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Updated: June 14, 2023, 6:44 AM`