TUNISIAN OPPOSITION LEADER GHANNOUCHI HELD INCOMMUNICADO AFTER PRISON COLLAPSE

The family of jailed Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi said they have been denied all contact with him and information about his condition for more than 11 days after he collapsed in prison. His son Moadh Ghannouchi told Al Jazeera on Monday that lawyers last saw his father days before he lost consciousness on 17 July, and that requests to visit him in hospital have been refused. His daughter Soumaya Ghannouchi posted a video on Instagram stating: "Where is my father? Where are they hiding him? Why prevent visits?" The family said they have received no official confirmation of his whereabouts or current condition.

An eyewitness reported seeing Ghannouchi lose consciousness inside Mornaguia Prison. His family said temperatures inside the prison had exceeded 50 degrees Celsius during a severe heatwave, and that the facility has no air conditioning. Ghannouchi, described as leader of the Ennahda party, has high blood pressure and difficulty breathing. His son said lawyers were informed that his father felt dizzy and fainted during a visit due to heat exhaustion, but that conflicting rumours on social media have placed him at either Rabta public hospital in Tunis or a military hospital. Moadh Ghannouchi alleged the confinement was intended to worsen his father's health.

His defence team issued a statement on Monday demanding information on his condition. Moadh Ghannouchi described the situation as "like enforced disappearance", saying his father was accustomed to regular visits from lawyers and family each week. He stated: "It was not enough to imprison him – they want to torment him further."