Tunisia: Terrorism Case Against Ennahdha Movement Leaders Nears Conclusion
A specialized anti-terrorism chamber at the Tunis First Instance Court has concluded the interrogation of suspects detained in connection with the case known as "Ennahdha's Secret Apparatus." The suspects include former Central Director of Counter-Terrorism El Gorjani, Ennahdha leader Abdelaziz Deghsni, and former Director-General of Specialized Services at the Ministry of the Interior.
The chamber has set a date of next Tuesday to continue interrogating other accused individuals who are appearing in their own liberty.
Last Friday, the court began the interrogations by hearing the testimony of Ali Laarayedh, a leader within Ennahdha and former Minister of the Interior, as well as his former advisor.
35 Accused Individuals, 5 in Detention
The investigations in this case involve 35 accused individuals, with 5 in provisional detention related to this case, including Ennahdha leader Rached Ghannouchi. Seven others are detained in connection with other cases, including Ali Laarayedh and Fathi Baldi. Twelve accused individuals are appearing in their own liberty, while 11 others are on the run, including Mustapha Kheder.
The case of "Ennahdha's Secret Apparatus" was opened in 2022 following a complaint filed by the collective defending the two martyrs, Chokri Belaïd and Mohamed Brahmi.
Violence Against Young Doctors in Tunisia
Meanwhile, a study by the Tunisian Organization of Young Doctors (OTJM) has revealed that 73% of young doctors have experienced at least one form of violence during their first three to four years of practice in public hospitals. One in eight doctors has been threatened with a weapon.
The study, which covered approximately 730 young doctors in 24 governorates, found that 96% of the incidents involved verbal aggression, often accompanied by other forms of violence. The study also found that 65% of the incidents were not reported, and 68.5% occurred without any security measures in place.
Accompanying Patients as Primary Vectors of Violence
The study revealed a disturbing finding: more than 57% of the incidents were perpetrated not by patients themselves, but by their accompanying family members or friends. This is in contrast to France, where more than 70% of incidents are attributed to patients directly.
The OTJM president, Wajih Dhokkar, attributed this difference to the large number of accompanying individuals who flood emergency services, often up to 20 or 30 people for a single patient, leading to overcrowding, long wait times, and frustration that is directed towards healthcare workers.
82% of Young Doctors Consider Leaving Public Hospitals
The study found that 82% of young doctors are considering leaving public hospitals due to the lack of security and protection. The OTJM president warned that any act of violence against a healthcare worker is an invitation to leave the sector or even the country, and that at some point, there will be no one left to care for patients in public hospitals.
Zero Budget for Violence Prevention in 2026
The OTJM president criticized the government for allocating zero budget for a national strategy against violence in healthcare settings in 2026. He also noted the absence of legal representatives in hospitals during the filing of complaints.
Four Axes for Preventing Violence
The OTJM president proposed four axes for preventing violence in healthcare settings:
- Creating a national observatory for violence in healthcare settings to gather data and monitor incidents.
- Establishing a clear legislative framework with sanctions to deter violence.
- Regulating the presence of accompanying individuals, including setting limits on the number of visitors and deploying sufficient security personnel.
- Providing psychological support to victims of violence.
The OTJM president emphasized that these measures are essential for preventing the desertification of the medical sector and ensuring the safety and well-being of healthcare workers.
