Tunisians protest against President Kais Saied's authoritarian rule on July 25 anniversary
On July 25, 2021, Saied suspended parliament, dismissed his prime minister and invoked a state of emergency to begin ruling by decree. Though some cheered his efforts, critics called the moves a coup and said the events marked the beginning of Tunisia's descent toward authoritarianism.
Crowds on Friday marched through the capital chanting 'no fear, no terror, power to the people,' carrying portraits of political prisoners and a cage that organizers said represented the state of political life in Tunisia.
The country's most prominent opposition figures are behind bars, including Rached Ghannouchi, the head of the Islamist Ennahda party, and Abir Moussi, leader of the right-wing Free Destourian Party.
Women led much of the chanting, demanding the release of imprisoned opposition figures from across the political spectrum, including Moussi and attorney Sonia Dahmani.
The two are among those who have been imprisoned since Saied's power grab as Tunisia's once-vibrant civil society has gradually been suppressed. Activists, journalists, dissidents and opposition figures have faced jail time, including many who have been charged with undermining state security.
July 25 also marks the anniversary of Tunisia's declaration as a republic in 1957. It later became the rallying cry of the pro-Saied 'July 25 Movement,' which pushed for a crackdown on the country's largely unpopular political class.
Samir Dilou, a former government minister and member of Ennahda, said Saied had forever changed the day's meaning. 'July 25 used to mark the Republic's founding. Now, it marks its dismantling. Absolute power is absolute corruption," he said.
Tunisia's political turmoil has unfolded against a backdrop of economic hardship and deepening public disillusionment.
Amnesty International in a report last June wrote that the country's authorities have intensified their crackdown on opposition voices and used vague legal justifications to target marginalized groups.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
'Dubious sources': MEA on UK report accusing India of 'transnational repression'
India on Friday strongly dismissed a British parliamentary committee report that named it among countries allegedly involved in "transnational repression" in the United Kingdom, calling the allegations "baseless" and rooted in dubious, anti-India sources. Some of the details related to India cited in the report was provided by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a pro-Khalistan organisation banned in India (AFP) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) asserted that the report's references to India, released by the UK Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights on July 30, were based on "unverified" inputs from banned or discredited organisations. "We have seen the references to India in the report and categorically reject these baseless allegations," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in response to media queries. He further stated that, 'These claims stem from unverified and dubious sources, predominantly linked to proscribed entities and individuals with a clear, documented history of anti-India hostility.' The report, titled 'Transnational Repression in the UK', listed India alongside countries such as China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and others accused of targeting dissidents, journalists, and activists on British soil. Some of the details related to India cited in the report was provided by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a pro-Khalistan organisation banned in India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and other UK-based Sikh groups. 'The deliberate reliance on discredited sources calls into question the credibility of the report itself,' Jaiswal added. India has consistently raised concerns with UK authorities about the activities of extremist groups based in the UK that promote separatist agendas, particularly those advocating for Khalistan, which India considers a threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
'Unverified and dubious': India dismisses UK parliamentary report on transnational repression
India on Friday rejected a British parliamentary committee report accusing India of involvement in transnational repression (TNR) activities in the UK, calling the allegations 'baseless' read more India on Friday rejected a British parliamentary committee report accusing India of involvement in transnational repression (TNR) activities in the UK, calling the allegations 'baseless.' 'We have seen the references to India in the report and categorically reject these baseless allegations. These claims stem from unverified and dubious sources, predominantly linked to proscribed entities and individuals with a clear, documented history of anti-India hostility. The deliberate reliance on discredited sources calls into question the credibility of the report itself,' MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a report published on July 30, the Joint Committee on Human Rights said that it has received evidence alleging that Bahrain, China, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of having conducted acts of transnational repression on the UK soil. The report alleged that some foreign governments are employing threats, surveillance, or coercion to intimidate critics, activists, or dissidents in the UK. In India's case, it specifically cited the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). During his recent visit to the UK, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked his British counterpart Keir Starmer for condemning the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and stressed that extremist ideologies must not be allowed to exploit democratic freedoms. At a joint press briefing on July 24, PM Modi said, 'We are united in the belief that there is no place for double standards in the fight against terrorism… Those who misuse democratic freedoms to undermine democracy itself must be held to account.' His remarks came amid rising concern over the activities of Khalistani extremists in the UK, who have previously targeted the Indian High Commission in London. Earlier this year, a protester breached security during an event attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at Chatham House in London. In March 2023, New Delhi lodged a strong protest after Khalistani elements vandalised the Indian mission, prompting questions over the lack of British security presence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
Dubious Sources...Documented History Of Anti-India Hostility: India Slams UK Report
India on Friday slammed a report by the United Kingdom Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR), which accused New Delhi of Transnational Repression in Britain. In response to queries regarding references to India in a UK Parliamentary Committee report, the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said that the reference was based on unverified and dubious sources. "We have seen the references to India in the report and categorically reject these baseless allegations. These claims stem from unverified and dubious sources, predominantly linked to proscribed entities and individuals with a clear, documented history of anti-India hostility," said the MEA. The MEA further added, "The deliberate reliance on discredited sources calls into question the credibility of the report itself." A report by the UK Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR), titled Transnational Repression in the UK, has alleged that several foreign governments—including India—have engaged in efforts to threaten, monitor, or silence individuals and communities within the United Kingdom. The document cites evidence implicating countries such as China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and India, among others, in activities described as forms of transnational repression (TNR). India was one of 12 nations identified in the report based on evidence submissions received by the committee. Notably, the section referring to India relies on material submitted by Sikhs for Justice, a pro-Khalistan advocacy group that has been designated an "unlawful association" under India's Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Compiled by a cross-party panel of Members of Parliament, the report accuses certain foreign governments of operating in ways that suppress free expression, restrict movement, and generate fear among diaspora communities in the UK. It also highlights a 48% increase in MI5 investigations into state-linked threats since 2022, signaling growing concern over foreign interference on British soil.
