Thousands of people rallied in Tunis on Saturday, demanding an end to what they describe as President Kais Saied’s growing repression and the jailing of critics. Dressed in black and carrying whistles and red ribbons, protesters marched through the capital chanting “the people want the fall of the regime” and “the street belongs to the people,” accusing the president of steering the country toward authoritarian rule.
Demonstrators held signs reading “Enough repression” and “Not my president” as activists, NGOs and various political groups united under the slogan “against injustice.” Their anger has intensified in recent weeks following the five-year prison sentence handed to former judge Ahmed Souab, a vocal critic of the judiciary’s politicisation.
Despite this rare show of unity, Tunisian journalist Said Zouari told Al Jazeera that the government appears unmoved, saying the protests have made “no echo” in the presidential palace.
Human rights groups say dozens of opposition figures, journalists, lawyers and businesspeople have been arrested on vague security charges, while critics accuse Saied of using state institutions to silence dissent. They warn that freedoms gained after the 2011 revolution—when Tunisians toppled longtime ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali—are rapidly eroding.
Organisers of the march say the pressure on civil society has reached a breaking point. Some detainees, including constitutional law professor Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, are currently on hunger strike to protest what they call politically motivated arrests. Families of jailed activists, including Monia Brahim, say their loved ones are being punished for standing by their principles.
The protests come amid worsening economic hardship and a wave of demonstrations across the country. Journalists also recently rallied against restrictions on press freedom and the suspension of several civil society groups.
Kais Saied, elected in 2019, has faced mounting criticism since he suspended parliament in 2021 and concentrated power in his office. Courts have since issued jail sentences against several political figures, including Ennahdha party leader Rached Ghannouchi, whose supporters say the cases are politically driven.
Even some of Saied’s former allies have been targeted. Nadia Akacha, his ex–chief of staff, was sentenced to 35 years in prison in absentia. Rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch warn that Tunisia is experiencing its most severe crackdown in years, accusing the government of using antiterrorism and cybercrime laws to stifle free expression.
Saied denies any authoritarian shift, insisting he is rooting out “traitors” and protecting the country. Protest organisers, however, say Tunisians are fed up and want their democratic rights restored.
