Tensions are rising in Tunisia as local rights groups accuse President Kais Saied of threatening freedoms in the country. At a joint conference held on Saturday, 10 rights groups highlighted the use of the judiciary and police to punish opponents of the government.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have condemned the recent arrests of 10 individuals, including lawyers, activists, journalists, and civil society officials, calling on the authorities to respect Tunisians’ right to free speech and civil liberties. The crackdown has sparked outrage, leading thousands of lawyers to go on strike after police raided the Bar Association’s headquarters for the second time.
During the conference in Tunis, marking the 47th anniversary of the Tunisian Human Rights League, officials from various organizations called for a united front against what they described as an unprecedented attack on freedoms. The UGTT union, Human Rights League, and the Bar Association emphasized that Tunisians will not accept the loss of free speech and civil rights.
President Saied, who came to power through free elections in 2019 and later shut down the elected parliament to rule by decree, has defended his actions as necessary to end years of chaos and corruption. However, political opponents argue that freedoms, including freedom of the press, are under serious threat under his rule.
Zied Dabbar, president of the national journalists syndicate, expressed concern over the increasing prosecution of journalists, with 41 journalists facing charges and four currently in prison. The situation has raised fears about the erosion of hard-won gains in the country.