Noureddine Bhiri placed under house arrest in new blow to Tunisia’s Brotherhood

 Aya Ezz

The Tunisian Interior Ministry placed Muslim Brotherhood leading figure, Noureddine Bhiri, under house arrest on December 31.

It said in a statement its decision in this regard was based on the law regulating the state of special emergency in Chapter Five of the Constitution No. 50 of 1978.

This chapter, the ministry said, gives it the mandate to place individuals under house arrest to preserve Tunisian security.

Known as the ‘brains’ behind most Muslim Brotherhood actions in Tunisia, Bhiri faces charges of trying to destroy files that prove the involvement of Ennahda, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Tunisia, in the assassination of several Tunisian political figures in the past few years.

He served as the justice minister in the government of Hamadi Jebali between 2011 and 2013.

He then served as an accredited minister in the government of Ali Laarayedh between 2013 and 2014.

Bhiri has been a member of the Muslim Brotherhood since 1977. He was arrested and accused of joining an outlawed group between February and September 1987.

Bhiri is known among Tunisian observers as the man suspicious missions since the 1980s.

He is also known as the strong arm of Rachid Ghannouchi, the leader of Ennahda Movement.

He was born in Jebiniana in Sfax near Tunisia’s Mediterranean coast in July, 1958.

He graduated from the School of Law and Political Science in Tunis.

Bhiri worked in the legal profession after graduation, having served at the Court of Cassation in Tunis.

He then worked in human rights before joining the Executive Office of the Muslim Brotherhood.

After Ennahda won most seats in Tunisia’s Constituent Assembly in October 2011, Bhiri took over the justice portfolio.