Tunisian police arrested lawmaker Ahmed Saidani on Wednesday, two of his colleagues stated, in what seemed to be a part of an escalating crackdown on critics of President Kais Saied.
Saidani has not too long ago grow to be recognized for his fierce criticism of Saied.
On Tuesday, he mocked the president in a Fb submit, describing him because the “supreme commander of sewage and rainwater drainage,” blasting what he stated was the absence of any achievements by Saied.
Saidani was elected as a lawmaker on the finish of 2022 in a parliamentary election with very low voter turnout, following Saied’s dissolution of the earlier parliament and dismissal of the federal government in 2021.
Saied has since dominated by decree, strikes the opposition has described as a coup.
Most opposition leaders, some journalists and critics of Saied, have been imprisoned since he seized management of most powers in 2021.
Activists and human rights teams say Saied has cemented his one‑man rule and turned Tunisia into an “open‑air jail” in an effort to suppress his opponents.
Saied denies being a dictator, saying he’s imposing the legislation and in search of to “cleanse” the nation.
As soon as a supporter of Saied’s insurance policies in opposition to political opponents, Saidani has grow to be a vocal critic in latest months, accusing the president of in search of to monopolize all decision-making whereas avoiding accountability, leaving others to bear the blame for issues.
Final week, Saidani additionally mocked the president for “taking over the passion of taking photographs with the poor and destitute,” sarcastically including that Saied not solely has options for Tunisia however claims to have international approaches able to saving humanity.
Beneath Tunisian legislation, lawmakers get pleasure from parliamentary immunity and can’t be arrested for finishing up their duties, though detention is allowed if they’re caught committing a criminal offense.
