By David Kode, Advocacy and Campaigns Lead at CIVICUS
In the space of less than three weeks, Tunisian President Kais Saied has rounded up and arrested at least thirteen people from different walks of life who share one thing in common: they have all publicly criticized the consolidation of power by the president. Those detained are lawyers, judges, activists, former members of parliament, and members of different political formations. Some of those arrested include Ayachi Hammani, a human rights lawyer who has been accused of spreading false information; and also a journalist and director of the privately owned radio station, Mosaïque FM, who was summoned for questioning by the counterterrorism brigades. The recent arrests have been preceded by a series of actions that started in July 2021 by President Saied to consolidate his grip on power and to forge a so-called ‘new Republic.’
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