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Tunisians protested on Tuesday in the capital on the 14th anniversary of the uprising that sparked the Arab Spring revolts across the region, calling to release jailed political figures.
The dozens-strong march in Tunis, organised by a political coalition that includes staunch opponents of current President Kais Saied, commemorated the day in 2011 when dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was ousted.
The protesters expressed their anger at Saied’s administration, accusing the judiciary of acting on the government’s “orders” and demanding an end to a crackdown on the president’s political opponents.
Though fewer than in similar gatherings in previous years, the demonstrators on Tuesday were faced with a heavy police presence, according to an AFP journalist.
Many carried pictures of detained opposition figures, including former prime minister Ali Larayedh of the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party, part of the National Salvation Front (FSN) that called the rally.
Larayedh, who has denied wrongdoing, is held on charges linked to sending jihadists to Syria.
Other prominent detainees include Rached Ghannouchi, the 83-year-old leader of Ennahdha, and Jawhar Ben Mbarek, co-founder of the FSN who faces charges of plotting against state security.
Saied, re-elected in October in a vote marked by low turnout, made a sweeping power grab in 2021 which sparked accusation from critics and rights groups of an “authoritarian drift”.
He also moved the official commemoration of the 2011 revolution to December 17 — the day in 2010 when street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi self-immolated, sparking the uprising.
Many Tunisian activists and protesters still commemorate the revolution on January 14, the day Ben Ali fled Tunisia.
Chaima Issa, an opposition figure and FSN member once imprisoned under Saied, said she would allow that day to be forgotten.
“January 14 is not an easy date to erase,” she said.
Human Rights Watch has said that over 170 people are detained in Tunisia on charges with political motives.
Many of Saied’s critics are being prosecuted under a law introduced by presidential decree to punish “spreading false news” with up to 10 years in prison.
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On the 11th anniversary of the Tunisian Revolution, thousands of Tunisians took to the streets to demand the release of political prisoners. The rally, organized by human rights groups and political activists, aimed to draw attention to the plight of those who have been detained for their political beliefs.
Among the demands of the protesters were calls for the government to release all political prisoners, end arbitrary detentions, and respect the rights of freedom of expression and assembly. They also called for an end to the use of torture and ill-treatment in detention centers.
The Tunisian Revolution, which began on December 17, 2010, led to the ousting of long-time dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and sparked a wave of uprisings across the Arab world. However, many Tunisians feel that the promises of the revolution have not been fully realized, with political repression and economic hardship still prevalent in the country.
As the protesters marched through the streets of Tunis, chanting slogans and waving banners, they were met with a heavy police presence. Despite the risks, they remained steadfast in their demand for justice and freedom for all political prisoners.
The rally served as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for democracy and human rights in Tunisia, and a call to action for the government to uphold its commitment to the principles of the revolution. Only time will tell if their voices will be heard and their demands met.
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Tunisians rally, political prisoners, release, uprising anniversary, Tunisia protests, human rights, democracy, activism, social justice, North Africa, Arab Spring, revolution
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