The campaign, coordinated by the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, brings together an ideologically diverse group including former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki and former Turkish President Abdullah Gül. The list of signatories features influential academics such as Francis Fukuyama and Larry Diamond, who argue that the imprisonment of an elderly political figure for his beliefs undermines democratic norms.
In section Releases
Global Coalition Demands Release of Imprisoned Tunisian Leader
More than 400 former heads of state, human rights advocates, and prominent scholars from 30 countries have issued an urgent appeal for the release of 85-year-old Rached Ghannouchi. The former Tunisian parliamentary speaker is currently serving a life sentence following a closed-door trial that drew widespread international condemnation.
Ghannouchi has been held since April 2023, following President Kais Saied’s 2021 move to dissolve the parliament. Defense lawyers and international observers contend the judicial process lacks independence and serves as a tool for executive suppression. With Ghannouchi’s health deteriorating—he was hospitalized in April 2026—the coalition is pressuring the Tunisian government to restore judicial autonomy and release all political detainees. Organizers emphasize that the petition transcends individual political alignment, focusing instead on the protection of due process and the rejection of incarceration as a tool for silencing dissent.
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