Hundreds of Tunisians protested against President Kais Saied's authoritarian rule, denouncing the country as an "open-air prison." The demonstrations marked four years since Saied's power grab on July 25, 2021, when he dissolved parliament and began ruling by decree, leading to mass arrests and politically motivated trials. Protesters criticized the regime for its oppressive measures and demanded the release of jailed leaders and activists. Amid fears of further arrests and repression, calls for democracy echoed throughout the capital, highlighting the deteriorating political landscape.
Tunisians flooded the streets to protest President Kais Saied's increasingly authoritarian rule, as they chanted "The people want the fall of the regime." Protesters criticized the "authoritarian regime" for turning the country into an "open-air prison." The demonstrators demanded the release of jailed opposition leaders, journalists, and activists. Four years ago, on July 25, 2021, Saied dissolved the parliament, removed the prime minister, and began ruling by decree, a move critics branded as a coup.
Tunisia has slid into authoritarian rule under Saied, marked by mass arrests and politically driven trials aimed at crushing dissent. Rallying under the banner "The Republic is a large prison," the protesters, led by women, expressed their outrage.
A 2024 report by rights group Amnesty International stated that Tunisian authorities are using vague legal charges to arrest critics of the government. Monia Ibrahim, wife of jailed politician Abdelhamid Jelassi, emphasized the protest's goal to restore democracy.
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