Thousands of Tunisians took to the streets on Friday to protest against President Kais Saied, accusing him of attempting to rig the upcoming presidential election by detaining and intimidating his rivals. The massive march, one of the largest in two years, demonstrated the growing opposition to Saied’s rule, which began in 2021 when he started governing by decree, a move critics describe as a coup.
The protesters chanted slogans such as “Out with dictator Saied” and “No fear, no terror, streets belong to the people,” expressing their discontent with the president’s actions. The electoral commission, whose members were appointed by Saied, has been accused of using alleged irregularities to eliminate prominent candidates from the race. Despite a court order to reinstate them, the commission refused, leaving only three candidates in the running: Saied, Zouhair Maghzaoui, and Ayachi Zammel.
Zammel, one of the remaining candidates, was jailed 10 days ago on charges of falsifying voter signatures, which he claims were manufactured by Saied. He faces 25 court cases related to the issue and may be forced out of the race. The protesters demanded Zammel’s release, as well as that of all political prisoners, activists, and journalists detained for criticizing Saied.
Bassam Trifi, the head of the Human Rights League, emphasized the importance of defending freedoms and rights, which are “at real risk.” He urged the electoral commission to respect the court ruling and end restrictions against candidates, warning that failure to do so would result in an undemocratic election.
Major political parties, many of whose leaders are currently in prison, argue that Saied’s rule has eroded the democratic gains made during Tunisia’s 2011 revolution. The protesters’ demands for a fair and transparent election process highlight the ongoing struggle for democracy and human rights in Tunisia.
