Tunisians Rise Up: Mass Protests Against Government Repression, Economic Woes
Image Source: Internet
Tunis, the capital city of Tunisia, witnessed a massive protest on Saturday, as thousands of citizens gathered to express their discontent with the government's handling of the country. The demonstration, one of the largest in recent months, was organized by the committee defending jailed lawyer Ahmed Souab and aimed to bring attention to the jailing of government critics, the curtailing of liberties, and the economic conditions in the North African nation. At least 2,000 people, including activists and political party members, participated in the rally, which made symbolic stops in front of the headquarters of the Tunisian Chemical Group and the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists. The protesters, dressed in black and wearing red ribbons, chanted slogans such as "Freedom, freedom!" and demanded the release of dozens of opposition figures, journalists, lawyers, and humanitarian workers who have been jailed in recent years. Many of those detained have been held on charges of plotting against President Kais Saied or for spreading false news under a law enacted by Saied in 2022. The protesters also echoed chants from the Arab Spring uprising that toppled long-time ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, calling for the fall of the current regime. "We've had enough of this president and the group around him," said Nejia Adjmi, a 63-year-old retired pastry chef. "The country is in misery, we can't buy anything, the country is collapsing, the hospitals are in bad shape. We can't even express ourselves on social media anymore.
