Politics Protest in Tunisia against President Saied
Hundreds of people in Tunisia have once again demanded the release of political prisoners from President Kais Saied. They gathered yesterday evening in the center of the capital Tunis - on the fourth anniversary of Saied's measures, which his critics describe as a "coup" and illegal expansion of power. Activists and relatives of opposition politicians took part in the protest.
26.07.2025, 14:45
SDA
"The situation in the prisons is bad. They are overcrowded and there is a risk of diseases spreading," said the son of the head of the Republican Party, Issam Chebbi, who was arrested at the beginning of 2023. However, his father's fighting spirit is unbroken, Abdelaziz Chebbi told dpa, who carried a symbolic cage at the protest in Tunis.
Saied has been ruling the small country on the Mediterranean in an increasingly authoritarian manner for several years. Following his victory in the 2019 presidential election, he pushed ahead with an expansion of power from 2021, which critics describe as a systematic erosion of the rule of law. Saied has defended his actions and stated that he is acting within the framework of the law and fighting corruption.
According to human rights activists, dozens of members of the opposition have been arrested in Tunisia in recent years, including activists, journalists and lawyers. The opposition describes these arrests as politically motivated.
Among the detainees is probably Saied's most prominent critic: Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the moderate Islamist party Ennahda. The now 84-year-old was sentenced to 22 years in prison in February.
