The demonstrations, involving journalists, doctors, bank employees, and public transport workers, are spreading across the country, with participants denouncing the president for consolidating total control over the nation.

Protesters dressed in black to express anger and grief, chanting: “Enough of injustice. No fear, no terror, the streets belong to the people.”

This highlights the severity of Tunisia’s political and economic crisis and poses a significant challenge to Saied, who seized power in 2021.

Opposition parties, civil society organizations, and journalists all accuse Saied of using the judiciary and police to suppress dissent.

Last month, three prominent human rights organizations announced that authorities had suspended their activities over alleged foreign funding.

Amnesty International said that the crackdown on human rights groups has reached critical levels, with some NGOs being shut down and others having their assets frozen, undermining their operations.

Opponents argue that Saied has destroyed the independence of the judiciary. In 2022, he dissolved the Supreme Judicial Council and dismissed many judges—actions condemned by rights groups and political parties as a coup d’état.