150 academics and intellectuals in Europe and North America have called for the release of Tunisian Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi. In an open letter, intellectuals and academics said the charges against GhANNouchi "are nothing but a desperate attempt to root out one of the loudest voices resisting the destruction of democracy in Tunisia" The signatories expressed their "solidarity with Ghannouchedi and all Tunisians who have been unjustly imprisoned or tried for aggression," calling for the restoration of freedoms and human rights in Tunisia.