Tunisian police arrested prominent opposition figure Shaima Issa during a protest in the capital, Tunis, on Saturday (29) to serve a 20-year prison sentence, according to her lawyer.
An appeals court on Friday handed down sentences of up to 45 years to opposition leaders, businessmen and lawyers on charges of conspiring to overthrow President Kais Saied, in what critics described as a sign of the government’s growing authoritarianism.
During the protest, shortly before Issa’s arrest, she and two other convicted politicians called on the divided opposition to unite and intensify demonstrations against Saied.
“They will arrest me soon,” Issa told Reuters. “I say to Tunisians: continue to protest and reject tyranny. We are sacrificing our freedom for you.” She described the accusations as unfair and politically motivated.
The arrest of Najib Chebbi, leader of the National Salvation Front, the main opposition to Saied, is also expected in the coming days.
“We will only gain freedom through unity,” Chebbi, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison, told Reuters during the rally.
Opposition leader Ayachi Hammami, who was sentenced to five years in prison, said, “We are ready for prison and we are not afraid.” He added, “I hope that the youth will expand their protests until the authorities reconsider them, otherwise they will be swept away by the will of the people.”
Saeed says that he is fighting traitors, corrupt people, and mercenaries. He accuses civil society organizations of receiving foreign funding with the aim of interfering in Tunisian affairs.
Forty people were charged in this case, which is one of the largest political trials in Tunisia’s modern history. Of this total, 20 fled abroad and were sentenced in absentia.
The sentences ranged from five to 45 years, according to a court document seen by Reuters.
Rights groups said the decision represented an escalation in Saied’s crackdown on opposition since he assumed extraordinary powers in 2021. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International called for the rulings to be immediately overturned.
In recent years, critics of the president, journalists and activists have been arrested, and independent NGOs have been suspended.