Saturday, October 28, 2023

Tunisian opposition rallies against president despite protest ban

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In Tunisia, hundreds of opposition supporters have taken to the streets to demand the release of more than 20 prominent figures who have been arrested in recent weeks for opposing President Kais Saied. Despite a protest ban, up to 1,000 protesters pushed through a police barrier to rally on Sunday in central Tunis. The National Salvation Front coalition, which includes Tunisia’s biggest party, the Ennahdha, and the Stop the Coup protest movement, is demanding that President Saied step down. The recent arrests of several of the Front’s top leaders have sparked outrage and accusations of a coup against Saied.

Former member of the Tunisian parliament, Saida Ounissi, told Al Jazeera that what makes the recent protests unique is “the popularity of the movement”. She noted that this is the second day of protests and that there are many average citizens protesting and facing the threat of oppression by going out to the streets and calling for freedom. The protest is being watched to see how far the National Salvation Front and its constituent parts can mobilise supporters in public after the arrests, and how much force the police are willing to use against them.

Saied has defended his actions, stating that they were legal and necessary to save Tunisia from chaos. He has called his enemies criminals, traitors and “terrorists”, urging the authorities to take action against them. However, opposition to Saied is fragmented along ideological and political lines that were drawn during the period of democratic government after the 2011 revolution which triggered the Arab Spring.

The recent arrests have targeted not only political leaders but also the head of Tunisia’s main independent media outlet, two judges, a labour union official and a prominent businessman. This shows that the police are ready to target critics of Saied from across the political spectrum. On Saturday, the powerful UGTT labour union and allied parties staged their own protest, bringing many thousands of supporters onto the streets against Saied in what appeared to be the biggest demonstration against him so far.

The situation in Tunisia is complex and multi-faceted. The country has struggled with political instability since the 2011 revolution, with multiple governments failing to address economic problems and social unrest. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these issues, leading to widespread frustration and anger among Tunisians. The recent protests and arrests are a reflection of this discontent and highlight the challenges facing Tunisia as it seeks to establish a stable and democratic government.

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