Tunisia’s public prosecutor has detained Abir Moussi, a key rival of President Kais Saied, after she was arrested at the entrance to the presidential palace on Tuesday, October 3, according to lawyers.
Moussi’s lawyer, Aroussi Zgir had remarked that the politician had been detained for 48 hrs on the grounds of processing personal data, obstructing the right to work, and assault with the intent to cause chaos.
Police officials have since this year, detained over 20 political figures, alleging that some of them were plotting against state security.
President Saied has tagged those detained as terrorists, traitors and criminals.
Moussi, prior to her arrest, had been the leader of the Free Constitutional Party and is a big supporter of late president Zine El Abidine ben Ali who was overthrown by mass protests in 2011.
Over recent months, the party has initiated protests against Saied, with Moussi accusing Saied of ruling outside the law, and being selfish about making personal sacrifices to save the country.
Earlier on Tuesday, October 3, before her arrest, Moussi revealed in a video that she went to the presidential reception office to file an appeal in local elections expected to hold at the end of the year.