Thousands of Tunisians protest to demand release of political detainees

By Maroua Sahli and Gulsen Topcu

TUNIS, Tunisia (AA) – Thousands of Tunisians demonstrated in the capital Tunis on Thursday demanding the release of politicians arrested on charges of "conspiring against the security of the state.”

The National Salvation Front, a coalition of five Tunisian parties opposing President Kais Saied, held a demonstration in front of the Tunisian National Theater on Habib Bourguiba Street.

Slogans such as "Freedom for Political Detainees" were chanted during the protest.

One of the leaders of the Ennahda Movement said they demand the release of political prisoners and would work to make their voices heard.

In February, Tunisian authorities launched a wide arrest campaign against critics of Saied, accusing them of being part of a conspiracy against state security.

Tunisia has been in the throes of a deep political crisis that has aggravated the country's economic conditions since 2021, when Saied ousted the government and dissolved parliament.

Since then, Saied held a referendum to draft a new constitution last July and parliamentary elections in December.

While the Tunisian leader insists that his measures were meant to save the country, critics have accused him of orchestrating a coup.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar