Tunisian authorities apprehend a parliament member who ridiculed the president

Tunisian police on Wednesday apprehended lawmaker Ahmed Saidani, according to two of his colleagues, in what seems to be a growing effort to suppress dissent against President Kais Saied.

Saidani has recently gained recognition for his strong criticism of Saied. On Tuesday, he ridiculed the president in a Facebook post, referring to him as the “supreme commander of sewage and rainwater drainage,” criticizing what he claimed was a lack of any accomplishments by Saied.

Saidani was elected as a lawmaker at the end of 2022 during a parliamentary election characterized by very low voter turnout, which followed Saied’s dissolution of the previous parliament and the dismissal of the government in 2021.

Saied has since governed through decrees, actions that the opposition has characterized as a coup.

Since Saied took control of most powers in 2021, many opposition leaders, journalists, and critics have been imprisoned.

Activists and human rights organizations assert that Saied has solidified his authoritarian rule, transforming Tunisia into a “open-air prison” to stifle dissent. Saied rejects the label of dictator, asserting that he is upholding the law and aiming to “cleanse” the nation.

Initially a supporter of Saied’s policies towards political opponents, Saidani has recently emerged as a vocal critic, accusing the president of attempting to monopolize decision-making and evading responsibility, thereby placing the burden of problems on others.

Last week, Saidani ridiculed the president for “taking up the hobby of taking photos with the poor and destitute,” sarcastically noting that Saied not only possesses solutions for Tunisia but also asserts he has global strategies that can save humanity.

According to Tunisian law, lawmakers are granted parliamentary immunity, which protects them from arrest while performing their official duties. However, they may be detained if they are apprehended in the act of committing a crime.