Hundreds of people have taken to the streets of Tunisia’s capital to protest against President Kais Saied. The protesters claim that under Saied’s rule, Tunisia has been transformed into a large prison and that he is running an is running an authoritarian regime.
The protests against Saied are being held under the slogan “This republic is a big prison.” Demonstrators calling for Saied’s resignation are also demanding the release of politicians, journalists, and political activists who have been imprisoned during his rule.
These large-scale protests in Tunisia’s capital against Saied coincide with the fourth anniversary of his seizure of power. In 2021, Saied dissolved Tunisia’s parliament. Since then, he has been governing by presidential decrees. Many Tunisians believe Saied’s rule is unconstitutional and that under his authority, authoritarianism has increased, with many government opponents arrested and opposition parties silenced.
In 2022, Saied also dissolved Tunisia’s Supreme Judicial Council and dismissed numerous judges from courts. However, he denies accusations from the opposition of interfering with the judiciary. Under Saied’s rule, leaders and members of opposition political parties, as well as many journalists, have been charged with terrorism and sentenced to prison. This also includes a large number of lawyers.
