Kais Saied faces criticism for cracking down on opposition and rights groups amid Tunisia’s worsening unrest and political purge.
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has been acquitted of charges including spreading false information and harming national security after 52 days in Kuwaiti detention and has left Kuwait, his legal team and rights groups have said. His arrest had highlighted an expanding crackdown on social media and press coverage in Gulf states since the US-Israel strikes on Iran began in late February.
Tunisia has continued to restrict civil society organizations and arrest critics since President Kais Saied's power consolidation. Recent measures include suspending NGOs and detaining journalists, reflecting a broader crackdown on freedoms and opposition since 2021. These actions threaten Tunisia's democratic progress.
Rached Ghannouchi, the 84-year-old Tunisian opposition figure and Ennahdha leader, has been transferred to hospital after a sharp health deterioration. Ennahdha asserts he is being held arbitrarily and calls for his immediate release amid a broader crackdown on dissent that has drawn international attention.
A Paris investigating judge will examine the 2018 death of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, following complaints by DAWN, Trial International and RSF. The court overturns admissibility hurdles and orders a formal inquiry into torture and enforced disappearances.
Protesters in Tunisia have called for an end to one-man rule, criticizing the government’s economic handling and alleged use of judiciary and police to silence critics. Rights groups warn of a widening crackdown on dissent as shortages and inflation strain public services.