TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tunisians took to the streets of central Tunisia on Saturday over what they described as President Case Said Russia's increasingly authoritarian rule and the demand for the release of all imprisoned political prisoners.
The rally, held under the slogan “Against Injustice,” brought together families of political prisoners and activists of different ideological orientations.
The demonstration drew more than 1,000 protesters, some dressed in black and chanting anti-regime slogans, including “The people want to overthrow the regime,” “What a great country! Oppression and tyranny!” and “No fear, no terror, the street belongs to the people.”
The protest was part of a wider wave of protests across the country due to political and economic turmoil under Said's rule. Tunisian journalists protested on Thursday against an increasing crackdown on press freedom and the suspension of several prominent civil society organizations.
Protesters also alleged Said's interference in the judiciary and accused him of using the police to persecute political opponents.
Ayoub Amara, one of the organizers, told reporters on Saturday that the purpose of the protest was to highlight the plight of those held in Tunisian prisons for their political views. He said it also touched on other broader issues, including environmental protests rocking the phosphate-producing city of Gabes and arbitrary arrests under anti-terrorism laws.
“All the progress of the last 14 years has been wiped out,” Amara said. ” Tunisia is large enough for all Tunisians, and no one person can rule it as he pleases.”
Monia Brahim, the wife of jailed opposition figure Abdelhamid Jlassi, said she joined the march because she believes “many Tunisians face deep injustice.”
“I came to defend my rights as a citizen,” she told The Associated Press. “Political prisoners know for sure that they are in prison to pay the price for their principles, their constitutional right to civic and political activity, and are hostages of the regime established in Tunisia today.”
Among those detained, some are currently on hunger strike, including constitutional law professor Jauher Ben Mbarek, who has been on strike for more than 20 days.
Several human rights groups have expressed growing alarm over the growing scale of repression in Tunisia. Human Rights Watch said that since late 2022, more than 50 people, including politicians, lawyers, journalists and activists, have been arbitrarily arrested or prosecuted for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and political activity.
The rights group also warned that sweeping anti-terrorism and cybercrime laws are being used to criminalize dissent and curb all forms of free speech.
Said, who suspended parliament and consolidated all branches of government in July 2021, said his actions were necessary to root out corruption, remove “traitors” and restore state institutions.
