Hundreds of Tunisians participated in an anti-government protest in the capital Tunis on Friday following a series of arrests of lawyers and journalists.
The demonstration, which began at the headquarters of the Tunisian National Journalists Union (SNJT) and headed towards the Ministry of Interior, was organised by civil society organisations and political activists who decried Tunisian President Kais Saied’s targeting of dissident voices.
Protesters shouted slogans against the Tunisian government and what they described as police violence.
Demonstrators also called out French President Emmanuel Macron and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for alleged interference in Tunisian affairs, calling Mr Saied a gatekeeper to their anti-migrant policies.
Chaima Jebali, one of the rally's organisers, said protesters wanted to send a message to authorities that they “will not stand down and cannot accept the ongoing arrests as well as the government’s economic and social policies”.
“We decided to go to the streets again because we felt that there is a targeting of the liberties that we thought we would not have to defend again years after the Tunisian revolution,” she told The National.
Ms Jebali said the continuing attacks against political rights and freedom of expression are unacceptable.
“This is not the first protest we will organise and is only the beginning … Our endeavour is peaceful and calls for social, political and economic rights,” she said.
Among the protesters were familiar faces that have been present at other major demonstrations in the post-revolutionary period, during the rule of the Ennahda party.
Over the past 13 years, several youth groups were created during a time when Tunisia was hit by a wave of police violence as well as alleged corruption in state institutions.
According to journalist Miriam Mtiraoui, who works with public news agency TAP, Tunisian journalists have been one of the most heavily targeted groups in the government’s recent crackdown on rights and freedoms.
“There are ongoing restrictions on freedoms – if we write a certain social media post we could find ourselves facing baseless allegations,” she said.
“There is a visible regression in terms of the rights that we have acquired following the revolution and this is even indicated by numbers, especially Tunisia’s press freedom [index] ranking.”
According to the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, out of 180 countries, Tunisia sits at number 118, plummeting from number 73 in 2011.
“Due to this situation, we could describe Kais Saied as an oppressor and someone who has taken over all branches of authorities, and is now attempting to take over the fourth power [the media],” Mtiraoui told The National.
“We have fought against this policy of taming voices for years and as journalists we will keep writing articles that denounce such behaviour and we should stay strong and not stand down because we are the reflecting mirror of our society and a guarantee for freedom of speech.”
We should stay strong and not stand down because we are the reflecting mirror of our society and a guarantee for freedom of speech
Miriam Mtiraoui,
Tunisian journalist
In the past two weeks, a number of outspoken figures including journalists, lawyers and activists have been jailed based on Tunisia’s Decree 54, which was issued by Mr Saied in September 2022, aimed at stopping the spread of false information and rumours online.
The decree states that anyone found to have used information networks to “promote [or] publish … false news” to harm public security and national defence could face a five-year prison sentence and a fine of 50,000 Tunisian dinars ($15,600).
Since its issuance, the decree has been used to prosecute those who have used either mainstream media outlets or social networks to criticise Mr Saied or his government.
Based on the decree, on Wednesday, prominent Tunisian journalists Mourad Zghidi and Borhen Bsaies were sentenced to a year in prison after being convicted of the spread of misinformation and defamation.
Prosecutors took aim at the journalists for critical statements they made on privately-owned radio station IFM as well as social media posts.
Tunisian police this month also detained outspoken lawyer and commentator Sonia Dahmani, after prosecutors issued a warrant for her arrest over comments she made on a radio show.
Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai – they won here in 2013 – they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella – the nominated gloveman here – can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
MATCH INFO
New Zealand 176-8 (20 ovs)
England 155 (19.5 ovs)
New Zealand win by 21 runs
START-UPS%20IN%20BATCH%204%20OF%20SANABIL%20500'S%20ACCELERATOR%20PROGRAMME
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The biog
Title: General Practitioner with a speciality in cardiology
Previous jobs: Worked in well-known hospitals Jaslok and Breach Candy in Mumbai, India
Education: Medical degree from the Government Medical College in Nagpur
How it all began: opened his first clinic in Ajman in 1993
Family: a 90-year-old mother, wife and two daughters
Remembers a time when medicines from India were purchased per kilo
Tickets
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Results
57kg quarter-finals
Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Hamed Al Matari (YEM) by points 3-0.
60kg quarter-finals
Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) RSC round 2.
63.5kg quarter-finals
Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Shamlan A Othman (KUW) by points 3-0.
67kg quarter-finals
Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Ahmad Ondash (LBN) by points 2-1.
71kg quarter-finals
Ahmad Bahman (UAE) defeated Lalthasanga Lelhchhun (IND) by points 3-0.
Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Seyed Kaveh Safakhaneh (IRI) by points 3-0.
81kg quarter-finals
Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Ahmad Hilal (PLE) by points 3-0
The biog
Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages
Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”
Favourite food: “I'm a vegetarian, so I can't get enough of salad.”
Favourite film: “I love watching documentaries, and am fascinated by nature, animals, human anatomy. I love watching to learn!”
Best spot in the UAE: “I fell in love with Fujairah and anywhere outside the big cities, where I can get some peace and get a break from the busy lifestyle”
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Walls
Louis Tomlinson
3 out of 5 stars
(Syco Music/Arista Records)
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Naga
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Second Test, Day 2:
South Africa 335 & 75/1 (22.0 ov)
England 205
South Africa lead by 205 runs with 9 wickets remaining
Scoreline
Swansea 2
Grimes 20' (pen), Celina, 29'
Man City 3
Silva 69', Nordfeldt 78' (og), Aguero 88'
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
How they line up for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix
1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2 Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
3 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
4 Max Verstappen, Red Bull
5 Kevin Magnussen, Haas
6 Romain Grosjean, Haas
7 Nico Hulkenberg, Renault
*8 Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull
9 Carlos Sainz, Renault
10 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
11 Fernando Alonso, McLaren
12 Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren
13 Sergio Perez, Force India
14 Lance Stroll, Williams
15 Esteban Ocon, Force India
16 Brendon Hartley, Toro Rosso
17 Marcus Ericsson, Sauber
18 Charles Leclerc, Sauber
19 Sergey Sirotkin, Williams
20 Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso
* Daniel Ricciardo qualified fifth but had a three-place grid penalty for speeding in red flag conditions during practice
The Lowdown
Kesari
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Anubhav Singh
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
THREE
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Nayla%20Al%20Khaja%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Jefferson%20Hall%2C%20Faten%20Ahmed%2C%20Noura%20Alabed%2C%20Saud%20Alzarooni%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
