PIX: President Kais Saied

In an expansion of President Kais Saied’s campaign against political opponents, which started after he assumed complete control over the North African country over two years ago, Tunisian police have detained a senior opposition leader and three other party officials.

Rachid al-Ghannouchi, the leader of the Ennahda party, who for years presided over Tunisia’s Parliament during the country’s brief democratic experience, was the target of the arrest on Monday night.

The Ennahda party became extremely unpopular for its Islamist ideas and mistakes made while in office.

About 100 police officials, according to Ennahda, raided and searched Mr al-Ghannouchi’s residence in Tunis, the country’s capital, before transporting him and another party member to a military base.

The authorities later raided the Ennahda headquarters in Tunis, where they detained two other key party figures.

The party said in a statement published on the leader’s Facebook page that it “condemns this very dangerous development and demands the immediate release” of Mr al-Ghannouchi. It also urged liberals to unite in opposition to Mr Saied’s repressive actions.

Mr Saied has intensified his repression of opposition since mid-February in reaction to the growing fear of an imminent economic disaster.

At least 20 opposition politicians, journalists, activists, judges, and other individuals were held by the government in what many thought was an attempt to divert attention away from his own mistakes and shift blame for Tunisia’s deteriorating situation.