Tunisia has taken a decisive turn towards further restricting civil society as the presidential elections approach. Amnesty International has raised alarm over the arrest of 97 opposition members, primarily from the Ennahda group, on September 12 and 13. The arrests, couched under conspiracy and counter-terrorism charges, highlight a growing pattern of repression, according to Amnesty International. Detailed in an official statement, the crackdown reflects a broader attack on political dissent. Tunisian authorities are alleged to have increasingly restricted media freedom, muzzling independent journalists, human rights defenders, and NGOs.
Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, emphasized that this pre-election assault undermines both human rights and the rule of law. She asserted that Tunisian authorities are failing to uphold international human rights obligations amidst ongoing political turmoil.
This latest wave of repression is not an isolated event. Earlier, the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) defied a court ruling to reinstate three disqualified presidential candidates. Instead, only President Kais Saied, Zouhair Magzhaoui, and Ayachi Zammel were approved to run. This move has drawn significant criticism, with Amnesty International claiming it jeopardizes judicial independence. Further details of ISIE’s actions can be found in their latest ruling.
On the ground, the growing authoritarian measures have sparked resistance. Multiple human rights organizations formed an international committee aimed at advocating for civil liberties in Tunisia. They called for transparent elections and the immediate release of politically imprisoned individuals. These developments coincided with thousands protesting in the streets against what they perceive as a rise in authoritarianism since President Saied took office in 2021. A detailed report of these protests can be viewed here.
Human Rights Watch has sustained criticism of the president’s increasing consolidation of power. In its 2023 review, the organization noted that Saied continued to eliminate nearly all checks and balances on his executive authority. This sentiment is echoed by Freedom House, which in its 2024 report, rated Tunisia as only “partly free”. The country was assigned a freedom status score of 51 out of 100, reflecting the deteriorating state of democracy and human rights.