Tunisia’s President Kais Saied has been cracking down on political dissent since his power grab in July 2021. More than 20 politicians and dozens of journalists and critics have been detained on charges of “conspiring” against the state. The most unusual set of accusations has involved former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who recently passed away at the age of 100.
Initially, Saied had popular support for his actions, with people cheering his anti-corruption message. However, rights groups warned that opponents were being arrested on false charges, leading to doubts about the credibility of the accusations.
Some of the charges brought against Saied’s opponents included espionage, conspiring against the state and terrorism, and corruption. These charges were seen as politically motivated and part of a broader campaign to eliminate potential rivals. The Tunisian public has also come to realize that Saied’s accusations against opponents are fabricated.