In Tunisia, a demonstration against Kaïs Saïed and a “masquerade” presidential election

Hundreds of demonstrators demonstrated on Friday October 4 in Tunisia to denounce “freedoms trampled” in the cradle of the Arab Spring since a coup by President Kaïs Saïed, who is seeking a new five-year term on Sunday.

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

Tunisia is preparing to choose its new president on Sunday in a tense climate for a civil society which has denounced increasing attacks on rights and freedoms since Mr. Saïed, democratically elected in 2019, seized full powers in the summer 2021.

Since the spring of 2023, dozens of opponents, including leading 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”. Associations also complain of increased controls on the foreign funding they receive.

Selon Human Rights Watch, “more than 170 people are currently 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”underlined Bassem Trifi, president of the Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH). “We came out to denounce the violation of freedoms, of democracy, of the achievements of the revolution, in particular freedom of expression and freedom of associative work”he added.

In a show of force, police mobilized anti-riot units and water trucks to guard the parade.

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

Protesters called President Saïed a “pharaoh manipulator of the law” after a selection process for candidates – only three out of 17 initially – criticized for difficult-to-obtain sponsorships, the imprisonment of potential candidates and the ousting of other serious contenders.

“Country of repression and dictatorship”, “Election celebration transformed into a coup d’état”could we read on protesters’ signs. “Freedom, freedom”many called for “fall of the regime”the flagship slogan of the popular uprising and the revolution that brought down dictator Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.