Hundreds gathered in Tunisia’s capital on Saturday to demand the release of Abir Moussi, a prominent critic of President Kais Saied, who has been jailed for over a year. The demonstrators, shouting “freedom for Abir” and “we are opponents, not traitors,” gathered in central Tunis to show their support for the 49-year-old leader of the Free Destourian Party.
Abir Moussi, who was arrested in October 2023 outside the presidential palace, has been in custody ever since. Her party claims she was trying to lodge appeals against Saied’s decrees at the time of her arrest. She faces charges including seeking to change the form of the state after criticising the president’s consolidation of power.
Moussi, who had aspirations to run in last year’s presidential election, was sentenced to 16 months in prison in November for spreading “false news” after criticising the electoral authority. Her supporters, including party member Thameur Saad, argue that her conviction undermines Tunisia’s claim to democracy.
Since Saied’s power grab in 2021, he has governed by decree, and Moussi’s jailing follows a pattern of silencing political opponents. Her supporters view her continued detention as a symbol of the growing repression under Saied’s leadership.
