Tunisia, temporary release of opposition member Muhammad Mawaada

A statement released on Thursday by the Tunisian ministry of Justice said that the Tunisian opposition member Muhammad Mawaada was released temporarily, as he was re-jailed on June 19, 2001 to be jailed for 11 years of according to a court sentence.

Al- Mawaadah, the former chairman of the Socialist democrats movement said in a telephone call with one reporter from his house that he is pleased to leave the prison.

Mawaada ( 62 year old) stopped on January 22 a hunger strike he had started on earlier on January 14 demanding his release. Mawaada was jailed for the first time in October 1995 under the charges of making connections with a foreign intelligence. After that a decision was issued provided for his release. However, this decision was canceled and the opposition member was returned back to prison on June 2001 on the background of establishing relations with the Tunisian banned al-Nahda Islamic party.