At the call of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), thousands of Tunisians took to the streets to protest against the detention and arrest of dozens of dissidents, including politicians, judges, and journalists, since the beginning of February. The protesters chanted “Said is a coward, the union is not afraid”, “freedom” and “end the police state” while holding banners that read “No to one-man rule” and “Stop the attacks on the union” in the capital.
“There is no national unity in Tunisia. That is why we call on the members of the civil and democratic society to unite for the options around which we have gathered. We reject the intimidations and the night raids on politicians’ homes. Said threatens parties, civil society, trade unions, and everyone here. Tunisians are here to say that we cannot accept dictatorship. We will not accept the suppression of freedom; there will be no tyranny in Tunisia. We salute the imprisoned politicians in Mornaguia prison,” said Noureddine Taboubi, Secretary General of the UGTT.
Tunisian President Kays Said had dismissed the prime minister on the grounds that “the country was in danger”, disempowered the parliament, expanded his powers with the decree he signed, and taken the executive branch under his control.