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Tunisian Islamists show strength at chief’s return
Reception for Sheikh Rachid Ghannouchi was the strongest showing by Tunisia’s Islamists in two decades
The reception for Sheikh Rachid Ghannouchi, leader of the Ennahda party, at Tunis airport was the biggest showing by the Islamists in two decades (Getty Images)
Thousands of Tunisians turned out on Sunday to welcome Islamist leader Sheikh Rachid Ghannouchi. The Islamists were Tunisia’s strongest opposition force at the time Ben Ali cracked down on them in 1989 but are thought not to have played a leading role in the popular revolt (Getty Images)
Rached Ghannouchi waves upon arrival at the Tunis Carthage airport on January 30, 2011. He returned to Tunisia eyeing a political role for his Ennahda movement in a country that is breaking free of the tight controls imposed by the former regime (Getty Images)
The 69-year-old Rached Ghannouchi, who says he has no ambition to run for state office, waves upon arrival at the Tunis Carthage airport (Getty Images)
Ghannouchi was exiled in 1989 by Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was toppled on Jan 14 by popular protests that have sent tremors through the Arab world (Getty Images)
Rached Ghannouchi (L) is embraced by a wellwisher as he prepares to fly out of London’s Gatwick airport on his way to Tunisia, on January 30, 2011. Ghannouchi has been exiled in Great Britain since 1989 (Getty Images)
Rached Ghannouchi (L) holds a Tunisian flag as he prepares to fly out of London’s Gatwick airport on his way to Tunisia, on January 30, 2011, following the recent collapse of the Tunisian government (Getty Images)
Supporters of Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of Tunisia’s Islamist movement Ennahdha, celebrate his arrival at the Tunis Carthage airport after 22 years in exile on January 30, 2011 (Getty Images)
People gather to welcome Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of Tunisia’s Islamist movement Ennahdha, at the Tunis Carthage airport on January 30, 2011 (Getty Images)
A man gestures as thousands gather to welcome Rached Ghannouchi at the Tunis-Carthage on January 30, 2011. Ghannouchi, a former radical preacher who says he now espouses moderate ideals similar to Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), was persecuted in Tunisia since founding his Islamist movement in 1981 (Getty Images)
