THE AFRICA TIMES | TUNISIA —
Thousands of protesters rallied in Tunisia. They demanded an end to injustice and the crackdown on activists.
Activists marched in Tunis. They wore black shirts and called for the ouster of President Kais Saied’s administration.
Protesters chanted slogans against the president. They declared their defiance, asserting the people’s ownership of the streets. Furthermore, they condemned the repression of activists.
Protest Details
The protest followed a court ruling. It sentenced Ahmed Souab, a Tunisian critic, to five years in prison.
Protesters accused Saied. They alleged he was using the judiciary and police against citizens.
Ezzedine Hazgui, the father of a jailed politician, spoke out. He stated that Tunisia had become an “open prison” under the president. He vowed that they “will never give up.”
Cases of Imprisonment
Earlier this month, Jawhar Ben Mbark’s lawyers reported an assault. They alleged prison authorities assaulted him to end his hunger strike.
Ben Mbarek was detained in 2023. He received an 18-year sentence for allegedly conspiring against the president.
The activist denied the charges against him. He maintained that they were fabricated.
Ben Mbarek is one of several jailed opposition leaders. They have launched hunger strikes to protest their detention for criticizing the president and his policies.
Opposition Leaders
Rached Ghannouchi, head of the Ennahda party, is another prominent opposition leader. The 84-year-old politician received a 14-year prison sentence in July.
The sentence was another in a series of jail terms. These terms were related to different cases.
Authorities sentenced at least 18 politicians and officials. They were charged with conspiring against state security.
According to an Arab Barometer report, trust in the government remains low. Only 36 percent express confidence, a 5-point drop since 2021.
