Tunisian Protesters Decry Saied’s Rule as "Open-Air Prison" on Coup Anniversary

 Hundreds of Tunisians took to the streets of the capital on Friday to denounce what they described as President Kais Saied’s increasingly authoritarian rule, marking the fourth anniversary of his 2021 power grab.

Under the banner “The Republic is a Large Prison,” demonstrators marched down Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis, demanding the immediate release of jailed opposition figures, journalists, and civil society activists. The protests reflect mounting public anger over what critics describe as Saied’s systematic dismantling of Tunisia’s democratic institutions.

Protesters chanted slogans including, “No fear, no terror — the streets belong to the people,” and “The people want the fall of the regime.” Many accused the government of weaponizing the judiciary and anti-terror laws to suppress dissent.

“Our first aim is to battle against tyranny, restore democracy, and demand the release of political detainees,” said Monia Ibrahim, wife of imprisoned opposition politician Abdelhamid Jelassi, in a statement to Reuters.

Since assuming near-absolute power in 2021 by suspending the elected parliament and ruling by decree — a move widely condemned as a coup — Saied has overseen a sweeping crackdown on dissent. In 2022, he dissolved the independent Supreme Judicial Council and dismissed dozens of judges, a decision the opposition said was intended to further entrench his one-man rule.

While Saied maintains that he does not interfere in judicial affairs, stating that “no one is above the law,” critics argue that the courts have been politicized under his administration.

Several high-profile opposition leaders are currently imprisoned, including Rached Ghannouchi, the head of the Ennahda party, and Abir Moussi of the Free Constitutional Party. Dozens of others — including lawyers, journalists, and human rights defenders — face prosecution under Tunisia’s controversial anti-terror and conspiracy statutes. Many more have sought asylum abroad.

In a 2023 statement, Saied labeled his political opponents “traitors and terrorists,” asserting that any judge who acquitted them would be complicit.

“Tunisia has become an open-air prison,” said Saib Souab, son of jailed lawyer and government critic Ahmed Souab. “Even those not behind bars live in a state of temporary freedom — always under threat of arrest for any reason.”

As public frustration grows and international criticism intensifies, Tunisia’s democratic future appears increasingly uncertain under Saied’s leadership.