Hundreds of opposition supporters disregarded a demonstration ban in Tunisia and demanded the release of more than 20 prominent opponents of the government detained in recent weeks. Before the protestors burst over a police barricade in central Tunis on Sunday, authorities informed them over the loudspeaker that their demonstration was unlawful but that they would not be stopped by force. About to 1,000 protestors then forced their way past the perimeter to Habib Bourguiba Avenue, where most rallies are held.
The National Salvation Front alliance includes Tunisia’s largest party, Ennahdha, the Stop the Coup protest movement, and a number of smaller political groups calling for the resignation of President Kais Saied. The National Salvation Front and its constituent groups are being watched to see how far they can mobilize followers in public following the arrests, and how much force the police are ready to use against them. Former Tunisian parliamentarian Saida Ounissi told Reporters that the “popularity of the movement” distinguishes the present protests from previous antigovernmental demonstrations. “Today is the second day of protests, and we are amazed by the amount of ordinary folks who are demonstrating and fighting persecution by taking to the streets and demanding freedom,” she added. In recent weeks, some of the Front’s leading officials have been imprisoned and charged with plotting against state security as part of a crackdown on prominent critics of Saied. The Tunis governor denied authorization for the demonstration on Sunday earlier this week. The front accuses Saied of staging a coup by acquiring vast powers in 2021, shutting down the elected parliament, and imposing rule by decree before crafting a new constitution, which he approved in a low-turnout referendum last year. Saied claims his actions were legitimate and essential to preserve Tunisia from chaos, and he has labelled his opponents as criminals, traitors, and “terrorists,” demanding authorities to prosecute them.
The recent arrests also included the head of Tunisia’s primary independent media outlet, two judges, a labor union official, and a prominent businessman, demonstrating that the police were willing to pursue Saied detractors from all political parties. Opposition to Saied, on the other hand, is divided along ideological and political lines created during the time of democratic administration following the 2011 revolution that ignited the Arab Spring. The strong UGTT labor union and affiliated parties launched their own protest on Saturday, drawing thousands of people onto the streets against Saied in what looked to be the largest rally against him thus far.