Dozens of opposition activists arrested in Tunisia

Presidential election

Amnesty: Dozens of opposition activists arrested in Tunisia

Elections will take place in Tunisia at the beginning of October. The government is taking tough action against opponents. According to human rights activists, several people were arrested.

According to human rights activists, the Tunisian authorities have arrested dozens of opposition figures. The human rights organization Amnesty International said there were 97 members of the moderate Islamist Ennahda party. It was said that she was being investigated for “conspiracy”. The arrests took place last Thursday and Friday.

Before the presidential election, the Tunisian authorities carried out a “clear attack on the pillars of human rights and the rule of law,” criticized Secretary General Agnès Callamard. It is a “blatant step backwards in human rights”. Amnesty International called on the Tunisian authorities to immediately release all those “detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights.”

The election in the Mediterranean country is scheduled to take place on October 6th. More than a dozen potential candidates for the highest office have been convicted in advance, some of them serving prison sentences. Others were banned from running for public office. Ennahda party leader Rached Ghannouchi is also already in prison. In addition to incumbent Kais Saied, only two other candidates are allowed to run, one of whom was also arrested.

Saied came to office in 2019 and has gradually expanded his power since 2021, including through the dissolution of parliament and a controversial new constitution. Observers have increasing doubts that the election can be held freely and fairly. Critics accuse Saied of leading the country into an autocracy.