In Tunisia, hundreds of demonstrators denounce “trampled freedoms” before the presidential election

Hundreds of people demonstrated in Tunisia on Thursday October 3 to denounce “freedoms trampled” since the coup in 2021 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 an AFP count on site.

Civil society denounces growing attacks on rights and freedoms, while dozens of opponents, including leading figures, have been arrested since spring 2023 for serious accusations of “plot against state security”. Trade unionists, lawyers and political commentators are also imprisoned under, in particular, a controversial law on “fake news”. Associations also complain of increased controls on the foreign funding they receive. According to Human Rights Watch, “more than 170 people are currently detained for political reasons or for exercising their fundamental rights”.

On Thursday, in a show of force, police mobilized anti-riot units and water trucks to monitor 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 demonstrator signs.