Tunisian Police Storm Bar Association Headquarters, Arrest Lawyer Critical of President
In a dramatic turn of events, Tunisian police stormed the bar association’s headquarters for the second time in two days and arrested a prominent lawyer known for his opposition to President Kais Saied. The lawyer, Mahdi Zagrouba, was taken into custody amidst chaotic scenes captured on a live broadcast on media website TUNMEDIA.
The arrest of Zagrouba comes after the detention of two journalists and another lawyer critical of the president over the weekend. The lawyer Sonia Dahmani, who was also known for her fierce criticism of Saied, was arrested on Saturday after commenting on a speech by the president regarding undocumented migrants.
The storming of the lawyers’ building and the subsequent arrests have sparked outrage among opposition parties, with the bar association declaring a nationwide strike in protest. Dozens of lawyers, including Zagrouba, gathered in front of the courtroom chanting slogans denouncing the crackdown on legal professionals.
The Interior Ministry defended the arrest of Zagrouba, stating that it was due to his alleged assault on two policemen near the courtroom. Meanwhile, Tunisia’s public prosecutor extended the detention of the two journalists arrested over radio comments and social media posts in a separate incident.
President Saied, who assumed additional powers in 2021, has faced criticism for his authoritarian rule and crackdown on dissent. The latest arrests have further raised concerns about the state of democracy and freedom of speech in Tunisia.