Tunisia arrests more prominent critics of President Saied

Detentions come amid a wave of arrests focusing on politicians and different critics of the federal government.

Tunisian police have arrested two extra outstanding opponents of President Kais Saied and the pinnacle of a radio station that has broadcast criticism of the president.

The detentions on Monday come amid a wave of arrests focusing on politicians and different critics of the federal government.

Police raided the home of Noureddine Bhiri, a senior official within the largest opposition social gathering Ennahdha and a outstanding critic of Saied, and took him away, his lawyer Samir Dilou advised Reuters information company.

“The police stormed Noureddine Bhiri’s home, assaulted his spouse, and arrested him,” Dilou stated.

Bhiri was held for 2 months final yr, accused of serving to armed fighters journey to Syria through the ISIL (ISIS) offensive, expenses he and Ennahdha denied.

Ennahda condemned the “kidnapping of Saied’s opponents”, saying in a press release that “the growth of the coup authority in harassing opposition figures, journalists, businessmen and commerce unionists is proof of confusion and incapability to face crises”.

Authorities additionally raided the home of Mosaique FM head Noureddine Boutar and arrested him after looking out his house, his lawyer Dalila Ben Mbarek stated.

Political activist and lawyer Lazhar Akremi was additionally arrested, attorneys and opposition activists stated.

Since Saturday, police have detained quite a few figures who’ve voiced opposition to Saied or sought to mobilise protests towards him.

They included a outstanding enterprise chief with shut ties throughout the political spectrum, a former finance minister, one other former senior Ennahdha official, two judges and a former diplomat. Legal professionals stated they have been arrested on suspicion of assaulting state safety.

Neither the police, inside ministry nor the prime minister’s workplace have publicly commented on the arrests.

In July 2021, Saied shut down parliament, dismissed the federal government and moved to rule by decree earlier than rewriting the structure, strikes his critics referred to as a coup that pulled aside the democracy constructed after a 2011 revolution.

Saied has denied a coup, saying his strikes have been authorized and obligatory to avoid wasting Tunisia from chaos. State tv has largely stopped broadcasting interviews with critics of the president.