Hundreds of Tunisians demand release of Saied’s opponents
Hundreds protested in the Tunisian capital on April 9th for the release of about 20 opponents of President Kais Saied arrested since February. reports AFP.
Since early February, authorities in the North African country have arrested more than 20 political opponents and personalities including politicians, former ministers, businessmen, trade unionists and the owner of Tunisia’s most popular radio station, Mosaique FM.
Local and international rights groups have criticised the arrests.
At Sunday’s rally, Samir Ben Amor, an official with the Al-Joumhouri (Republican) party, called for a “national dialogue in order to draw up a roadmap to save Tunisia and return to the democratic path”.
Saied, who has seized almost total power since he froze parliament and sacked Tunisia’s government in July 2021, claims those arrested were “terrorists” involved in a “conspiracy against state security”.
British-based Amnesty International last month said authorities should release the detainees arrested on “unfounded accusations”.
The political situation in Tunisia comes alongside mounting debt and rising prices worsened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned last month that Tunisia urgently needs to reach a deal with the International Monetary Fund, adding to dire European Union warnings about the country’s future.
