Tunisian police arrested lawmaker Ahmed Saidani on Wednesday, amid growing concerns of a crackdown on critics of President Kais Saied.
Saidani had recently mocked Saied on Facebook, calling him the “supreme commander of sewage and rainwater drainage” and questioning his achievements.
Saidani, elected in 2022, had become a vocal critic of Saied, accusing him of monopolizing decision-making and avoiding responsibility. Saied has ruled by decree since 2021, with opposition describing it as a coup.
Many opposition leaders, journalists, and critics have been imprisoned, with activists labeling Tunisia an “open-air prison”.
Saied denies being a dictator, claiming to enforce law and “cleanse” the country. Saidani’s arrest raises questions about Tunisia’s democratic trajectory.
