Tunisia: On the anniversary of a controversial political turning point, angry voices echoed through the heart of Tunis as hundreds of protesters took to the streets on July 25, calling for the end of President Kais Saied’s increasingly autocratic rule. Demonstrators chanted powerful slogans like “The Republic is a large prison” and “The people want the fall of the regime,” underscoring growing public frustration over what they describe as the death of democracy in Tunisia.
The protest marked the fourth year since President Saied unilaterally suspended the democratically elected parliament, dismissed the prime minister, and granted himself emergency powers in 2021. Many citizens and political observers have since viewed these moves as the dismantling of the country's post-revolution democratic gains. The date, once remembered as the Republic Day, now symbolizes the consolidation of executive power and the steady erosion of Tunisia’s democratic institutions.
Protesters marched down Habib Bourguiba Avenue long considered the symbolic epicenter of Tunisian political expression demanding the release of political prisoners, the reinstatement of judicial independence, and a return to constitutional democracy. Families of detained activists, political leaders, and journalists joined in, calling attention to a rising wave of arbitrary arrests that critics claim are meant to silence dissent.
Among the imprisoned figures is Rached Ghannouchi, head of the Ennahda party and a key opposition voice, and Abir Moussi, leader of the Free Constitutional Party. Both remain behind bars under charges that many international observers believe to be politically motivated. Demonstrators argued that President Saied’s administration has used conspiracy and anti-terror laws as tools to quash legitimate political activity and stifle media freedom.
The government has also been accused of dismantling judicial independence, particularly after Saied dissolved the Supreme Judicial Council in 2022. Since then, there have been widespread reports of executive interference in court proceedings and increased targeting of judges who issue rulings unfavorable to the regime.
Despite the government's denials of repression, the message from the streets was clear. “We are here to oppose tyranny,” declared Monia Ibrahim, the wife of detained political figure Abdelhamid Jelassi. “We want the release of all political detainees and the return of our democratic path.”
The protest, though relatively peaceful, was heavily monitored by police. Civil society groups warn that further crackdowns are likely unless the international community takes a firmer stance against the ongoing democratic backsliding in Tunisia. As the country faces a deepening economic crisis and growing political polarization, protesters vowed to continue resisting until the dream of the 2011 revolution is reclaimed.
Tunisia, once celebrated as the sole democratic success of the Arab Spring, now teeters on the edge of authoritarianism. Friday’s protests served as a stark reminder that its citizens are not willing to let their freedoms be taken without a fight.