Latest news with #Kais Saied


Al Jazeera
5 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Tunisia an ‘open-air prison', say protesters at anti-President Saied march
Hundreds of Tunisian activists have protested against President Kais Saied, calling his rule since 2021 an 'authoritarian regime' that has turned the country into an 'open-air prison'. The protesters marched in capital Tunis on Friday, marking four years since Saied made moves to consolidate his one-man rule in a country once known as the birthplace of the Arab Spring pro-democracy uprisings. Chanting the slogan, 'The Republic is a large prison,' they demanded the release of jailed opposition leaders, including Rached Ghannouchi, head of Ennahdha, the self-styled 'Muslim Democrat' party, and Abir Moussi, leader of the Free Constitutional Party. They are among dozens of politicians, lawyers, activists and journalists facing lengthy prison sentences under anti-terrorism and conspiracy laws. Others have fled the country, seeking asylum in Western countries. On July 25, 2021, Saied suspended parliament, dismissed his prime minister and invoked a state of emergency to begin ruling by decree, ordering mass arrests and politically motivated trials to silence dissent. Though some cheered his efforts, critics called the moves a coup and said the events marked the beginning of Tunisia's descent towards authoritarianism. Protesters also chanted slogans such as 'No fear, no terror … streets belong to the people' and 'The people want the fall of the regime' as they carried portraits of political prisoners and a cage that organisers said represented the state of political life in Tunisia. 'Our first aim is to battle against tyranny to restore the democracy and to demand the release of the political detainees,' Monia Ibrahim, wife of imprisoned politician Abdelhamid Jelassi, told the Reuters news agency. Prisons are 'crowded' with Saied's opponents, activists, and journalists, said Saib Souab, son of Ahmed Souab, the imprisoned lawyer who is a critical voice of Saied. 'Tunisia has turned into an open-air prison … Even those not behind bars live in a state of temporary freedom, constantly at risk of arrest for any reason,' he told Reuters. In 2022, Saied also dissolved the independent Supreme Judicial Council and sacked dozens of judges, a move the opposition said was aimed to cement the one-man rule. Saied said he does not interfere in the judiciary, but no one is above accountability, regardless of their name or position. In 2023, Saied said the politicians were 'traitors and terrorists' and that judges who would acquit them were their accomplices. 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 Ennahdha, 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.


Arab News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Tunisians protest aginst President Saied, call country an ‘open-air prison'
TUNIS: Hundreds of Tunisian activists protested in the capital on Friday against President Kais Saied, denouncing his rule as an 'authoritarian regime' that has turned the country into an 'open-air prison'. Under the slogan 'The Republic is a large prison,' protesters marched along Habib Bourguiba Avenue. They demanded the release of jailed opposition leaders, journalists, and activists. The protest marked the fourth anniversary of Saied's power grab. In 2021, he dissolved the elected parliament and started ruling by decree, a move the opposition called a coup. They chanted slogans such as 'no fear, no terror ... streets belong to the people' and 'The people want the fall of the regime'. The protesters said Tunisia under Saied has descended into authoritarianism, with mass arrests and politically motivated trials silencing dissent. 'Our first aim is to battle against tyranny to restore the democracy and to demand the release of the political detainees,' Monia Ibrahim, wife of imprisoned politician Abdelhamid Jelassi, told Reuters. In 2022, Saied dissolved the independent Supreme Judicial Council and sacked dozens of judges, a move the opposition said was aimed to cement one-man rule. Saied said he does not interfere in the judiciary, but no one is above accountability, regardless of their name or position. Most prominent opposition leaders are in prison, including Rached Ghannouchi, head of the Islamist Ennahda party, and Abir Moussi, leader of the Free Constitutional Party. They are among dozens of politicians, lawyers, and journalists facing lengthy prison sentences under anti-terrorism and conspiracy laws. Others have fled the country, seeking asylum in Western countries. In 2023, Saied said the politicians were 'traitors and terrorists' and that judges who would acquit them were their accomplices. 'Prisons are crowded with Saied's opponents, activists, journalists,' said Saib Souab, son of Ahmed Souab, the imprisoned lawyer Ahmed Souab who is a critical voice of Saied. 'Tunisia has turned into an open-air prison. ... Even those not behind bars live in a state of temporary freedom, constantly at risk of arrest for any reason.,' he added.


Arab News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Tunisia leader shows Trump adviser images of starving Gaza children
TUNIS: Tunisian President Kais Saied presented US counterpart Donald Trump's senior Africa adviser with photographs of starving children in Gaza, official video of their meeting posted late Tuesday told US envoy Massad Boulos, who is also the father-in-law of Trump's daughter Tiffany, that 'it is time for all of humanity to wake up and put an end to these crimes against the Palestinian people.''I believe you know these images well,' Saied was seen telling the envoy as he showed a photograph of what he described as 'a child crying, eating sand in occupied Palestine.'Saied showed Boulos several more images, saying that Palestinians in Gaza were subjected to crimes against is facing mounting international pressure over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory, where more than two million people have endured 21 months of devastating conflict.'It is absolutely unacceptable,' Saied was heard saying as Boulos stood silently, occasionally nodding. 'It is a crime against all of humanity.'More than 100 aid organizations warned on Wednesday that 'mass starvation' was spreading across the Gaza Strip and that their own colleagues were suffering acutely from the head of Gaza's largest hospital said on Tuesday that 21 children had died from malnutrition and starvation in the Palestinian territory in the previous three says humanitarian aid is being allowed into Gaza and accuses Hamas of exploiting civilian suffering, including by stealing food handouts to sell at inflated prices or shooting at those awaiting his visit to Tunisia, Boulos flew on to the Libyan capital Tripoli on Wednesday, Tunisian media reported.


France 24
21-07-2025
- Politics
- France 24
DRC and M23 rebels sign ceasefire deal
Also, in Tunisia in may 2024, just two months after giving birth for the second time... the Tunisian activist Cherifa Ria-hi was detained for harbouring illegal immigrants. More than a year later, she remains behind bars without charge. She has now become a symbol of what rights groups say is increasing repression of civil society by President Kais Saied... who has been ruling with unchecked power since disolving pariliament four years ago. Laurent Berstecker has more details. Finally, in Senegal Tangy and rich in vitamin C, Madd is much more than just a wild fruit in southern Senegal. Eaten fresh or processed, it's a crucial source of income for thousands of families who live off its harvest in the region of Casamance. Thanks to a 2024 Protected Geographical Indication Madd is becoming more widely available. Backed by the World Intellectual Property Organization, the UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation and The French Development Agency, this classification brings new hope to an entire community. In the village of Thiobon - a village over 450 kilometers south of Dakar - are those sustaining this sector.


Zawya
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Tunisia: President Saied urges measures against environmental violations
Tunis – President Kais Saied on Thursday gave instructions to take urgent measures, in coordination with all relevant departments, to put an end to the ongoing and flagrant environmental violations that have persisted for years, and to protect the coastal strip across all regions of the country, pending the adoption of a new strategy aimed at definitively ending the squandering of public funds and all forms and sources of environmental pollution. During a meeting with Environment Minister Habib Abid, the President recalled that a healthy environment is a human right, as quoted as saying in a Presidency of the Republic press release. 'The State, under the Constitution, is obligated to guarantee the right to a sound and balanced environment, to contribute to climate safety, and to provide the necessary means to eliminate environmental pollution.' Saied paid an unannounced visit late Wednesday night to Monastir governorate to assess the environmental situation in the Gulf of Monastir. He visited the beach in the delegation of Ksibet El Mediouni, which recently witnessed an environmental disaster, where he spoke with several citizens who expressed their discontent over the catastrophic environmental conditions. Following that, the President went to the water pumping station in the city of Lamta, then to the city of Sayada, before heading at dawn to the wastewater discharge sites in the areas of El Amoud and M'Riguib in the delegation of Menzel Temime, and to the Ain Garnez area in the delegation of Kelibia in Nabeul governorate. MP for the delegations of Kelibia and Hammam El Ghzez Fadhel Ben Turkia told reporters on Thursday that the Head of State observed during his visit to Kelibia, specifically to Oued El Hajar, the 'catastrophic environmental situation in the wadi, which has become a dumping ground for waste, garbage, and polluted water discharged by nearby factories.' He explained that Oued El Hajar has become a serious environmental problem, particularly as its waters flow directly into the beach of Ain Grinz, 'which is likely to be declared off-limits for swimming due to its disastrous environmental condition.' He pointed out that the environmental situation now poses a real threat to the region, which is considered one of Tunisia's most beautiful tourist destinations. © Tap 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (