Tunisian authorities freeze bank accounts of former parliament speaker

By Adel Thabeti

TUNIS, Tunisia (AA) – Tunisian authorities have frozen the financial assets of the former speaker of the dissolved Parliament, Rached Ghannouchi, and nine other people.

In a statement, the Financial Analysis Committee of Tunisia's Central Bank said the move was taken upon a request from an anti-terrorism judge.

The list of people includes Ghannouchi’s son Moadh, former Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali and former Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem.

No details were provided about the case and there was no comment from Ghannouchi or other people on the decision.

Tunisia has been in the throes of a deep political crisis that aggravated the country's economic conditions since President Kais Saied ousted the government, suspended parliament and assumed executive authority in July 2021. He later dissolved the assembly after lawmakers held a session to revoke his measures.

While Saied insists that his measures were meant to "save" the country, critics have accused him of orchestrating a coup.

* Writing by Ahmed Asmar