In Tunisia, demonstration against Kais Saied and presidential election “masquerade”

Hundreds of protesters demonstrated on Friday, October 4, in Tunisia to denounce “trampled freedoms” in the cradle of the Arab Spring since the coup d’état of President Kais Saied, who seeks a new five-year term on Sunday.

“Neither fear nor terror, the power is in the hands of the people”chanted the protesters, of whom around 800 marched down Tunis’ main avenue, according to journalists from Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Tunisia is preparing to elect its new president on Sunday in a climate of tension for a civil society that denounces increasing attacks on rights and freedoms since Saied, democratically elected in 2019, assumed full power in the summer of 2021.

Since spring 2023, dozens of opponents, including prominent figures, have been arrested on serious charges of “plot against state security”.

“The street is still active”

Trade unionists, lawyers and political commentators are also imprisoned under a controversial law on “fake news”. The associations also complain about increased controls on the foreign financing they receive.

According to Human Rights Watch, “Currently more than 170 people are detained for political reasons or for exercising their fundamental rights”. “The streets are still active to denounce attacks on freedoms and human rights two days before the elections”stressed Bassem Trifi, president of the Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH). “We go out to denounce the violation of freedoms, of democracy, of the conquests of the Revolution, in particular freedom of expression and freedom of associative work”he added.

In a show of force, police mobilized riot units and water tankers to monitor the parade.

Protesters, including many young human rights activists and artists, called for a boycott of the presidential election. “masquerade” Sunday. For Leila Chebbi, actress, “Kais Saïed trampled on freedoms”. “I boycott elections that break the law and are not legitimate”.

The protesters called President Saied a “pharaoh manipulator of the law” after a candidate selection process – initially only three of 17 – criticized for the difficulty of obtaining endorsements, the imprisonment of potential candidates and the overthrow of other serious contenders.

“Country of repression and dictatorship”, “The electoral celebration became a coup d’état”we could read on the protesters’ signs. “Freedom, freedom”many asked “fall of the regime”emblematic motto of the popular uprising and the Revolution that overthrew the dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.