Rabat — Thousands of protesters are rallying in Tunisia, urging an end to injustice and the crackdown on activists.
Activists wore black shirts and marched through Tunis yesterday, urging the “fall” of the current “regime” under President Kais Saied.
People also chanted slogans denouncing the president, emphasizing that they have no fear, stating that the “street belongs to the people.” The protester also condemned repression against activists.
The protest comes in response to a court ruling against Ahmed Souab, a Tunisian critic who was handed a five-year prison sentence.
The protesters accused Saied of using the judiciary and police against citizens.
Reuters quoted Ezzedine Hazgui, father of a jailed politician, saying that the Tunisian president turned the country “into an open prison,” adding that “We will never give up.”
Earlier this month, activists and lawyers of Jawhar Ben Mbark accused prison authorities of assaulting him to force the jailed politician to end his hunger strike.
Ben Mbarek was detained in 2023 and received a sentence of 18 years on charges of conspiring to overthrow the president.
The activist denied the changes, emphasizing they were fabricated.
Ben Mbarek is one of several jailed opposition leaders who have launched a hunger strike campaign while in detention for their vocal criticism of the current president and his administration.
One of the leading opposition leaders is Rached Ghannouchi, an 84-year-old politician, and the head of the Ennahda party. He received a sentence of 14 years in prison in July. The sentence was added to a string of other jail terms he received in different cases.
At least 18 politicians and officials received prison sentences for conspiring against state security.
According to an Arab Barometer report, trust in the government “remains relatively low. Just over a third (36 percent) express confidence in the government, which is a drop of 5 points since 2021.”
