Abdelkarim Harouni

Abdelkarim Harouni was born on December 17, 1960 in La Marsa, and is a prominent figure in the center-right Islamist party, Ennahda. He attended Carthage Presidence High School, and received a degree in architectural engineering from E.N.I.T. University in Manar. In 1990, Harouni worked as an editor for Al Fajr – a publication associated with Ennahdha.

Harouni was arrested for his affiliation with Ennahdha in 1990, and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1992. He was released after serving 16 years of his sentence - a number of which were spent in solitary confinement. His release on November 7, 2007, marked President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali’s twentieth year of rule.

Harouni stated that during his imprisonment he was subjected to torture.

In spite of his release, Harouni alleged that the political police continued to harass and intimidate him.

Harouni was one of the founders of the Tunisian student General Union and was elected its secretary general twice. He was also the Secretary General of the Freedom and Justice Association. He is married, and is a member of the Constituent Assembly.

Harouni is the minister of transportation.