The protesters hold a portrait of a cage, as mentioned by political prisoners and organizers, representing the state of political life in the country.
Hundreds of Tunisian activists have protested President Kais Said, calling his rule a “authoritarian regime” since 2021, turning the country into a “field prison.”
Protesters marched in the capital Tunis on Friday, marking four years since Sayed moved to unify his one-person rule in what was once known as the birthplace of the Arab Spring democratic uprising.
Reciting the slogan “The Republic is a big prison,” they called for the release of imprisoned opposition leaders, including Rashd Gannuch, the head of Ennada, a self-styled “Muslim Democrat” party, and Abeer Musi, the leader of the Liberal Constitutional Party.
They are among many politicians, lawyers, activists and journalists facing long sentences under anti-terrorism and conspiracy law. Others fled the country in the West seeking asylum.
On July 25, 2021, SAIED suspended Parliament, rejected the Prime Minister, called an emergency, launched a statutory ruling, ordered a massive arrest and politically motivated trial to silence the dissent.
While some cheered on his efforts, critics called The Move a coup and said the event marked the beginning of Tunisian descent into authoritarianism.
The protesters also chanted slogans such as “There is no fear, no fear… People belong to the people” and “People want the government to fall apart.”
“Our first goal is to fight tyranny, restore democracy and demand the release of political detainees,” Monia Ibrahim, wife of imprisoned politician Abdelhamid Jerasi, told Reuters.
The prison is “crowded” with Saeed opponents, activists and journalists, said Saib Soab, the son of Saeed’s important voice, a prison lawyer, Ahmed Soab.
“Tunisia has become an outdoor prison. Even those who are not behind bars live in a state of temporary freedom and are constantly at risk of arrest for some reason,” he told Reuters.
In 2022, Said dissolved the independent Supreme Judicial Council and dismissed dozens of judges. This is a move aimed at solidifying the rules for the opposition. Said said he would not interfere with the judiciary, but no one is beyond accountability, regardless of their name or position.
In 2023, Said said that politicians were “traitors and terrorists” and that judges who acquit them were their accomplices.
July 25th is also the anniversary of the 1957 declaration of Tunisia as a republic. It then became the cry of a supported “July 25th Movement” rally, pushing for crackdowns on the unpopular political class of most of the country.
Former government minister and member of Ennahada, Samir Dilu, said that Said had changed the meaning of the day forever. “The 25th of July was used to mark the establishment of the Republic. Now it marks its dismantling. The absolute power is absolute corruption,” he said.
