Marwa al-Saheli
20 January 2022•Update: 20 January 2022
TUNIS, Tunisia
Tunisia's Ennahda Movement party on Thursday demanded a judicial investigation into the death of Rhida Bouziane, who was critically injured during an anti-government protest and later died in a hospital.
In a news conference, Emad al-Houmairi, the party's spokesman, called for the launch of a judicial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Bouziane, 59, who was seriously injured while taking part in a demonstration on Friday.
He added that Bouziane died in a hospital five days later from his injuries as a result of serious brain damage.
Al-Houmairi, whose party has the most seats in the now-suspended Tunisian parliament, accused the Tunisian authorities of his killing, claiming that security units used force against demonstrators.
The Tunisian government has yet to respond to Ennahda's allegations.
On Wednesday, a local court in Tunis announced the launch of an investigation into Bouziane's death and ordered a forensic examination of his body to ascertain the death cause.
Bouziane was among thousands of protesters commemorating the 11th anniversary of the Tunisian revolution that deposed longstanding leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and emphasizing the country's return to democracy following Kais Saied's power grab.
Tunisian President Saied ousted the government on July 25 last year, suspended parliament, and assumed executive authority. While he insists that his "exceptional measures" are meant to "save" the country, critics have accused him of orchestrating a coup.
*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara
