Ennahda leader Gannushi: Muslim world expects a lot from the AK Party

Rashid al-Ghannushi, the co-founder of the Tunisian Ennahda Movement on Friday said that the Muslim world expects a lot from the AK Party.

Gannushi joined Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu at his election rally organized in Adıyaman province on Friday and underlined AK Party's prominent role in the region.

"The Justice and Development Party's success does not only belong to Turkey, but it also belongs to the Muslim world, the oppressed and freedom fighters" said Gannushi, emphasizing AK Party's all-encompassing role representing Muslims throughout the world, not just Turkish people and advocating for their rights.

Gannushi, who was invited to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu's rally also told the audience that Tunisians love Turkey and the AK Party. He referred to the Spanish occupation of Tunis in 16th century, when the Ottomans provided assistance to liberate the country from the Spanish.

The Tunisian movement leader also praised Turkey for hosting two million Syrian refugees and thanked Turkish people.

Tunisia's Ennahda Movement, the strongest opposition force, was banned for two decades under Ben Ali's rule. During his presidency, Ben Ali faced widespread criticism for suppressing political freedoms and unfairly arresting and mistreating political opponents like the supporters of the Ennahda Movement. After the Jasmine revolution in 2011 that forced Ben Ali to step down, the Ennahda Movement was allowed to form a legal political party in 2011 and re-emerged as a major political force.

The movement was founded in 1981 by Rachid Ghannouchi and its supporters have been inspired by the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Ghannouchi returned Tunisia in 2011 after living in exile in London for almost 20 years. He was expected to run for president in the upcoming presidential election in November, however, he announced that he will not be a presidential candidate.