Tunis, Tunisia – November 29, 2025 – Tunisian police have arrested prominent opposition figure Chaima Issa during a protest in the capital, Tunis, following a wave of jail sentences handed down to opposition leaders, businessmen, and lawyers accused of conspiring to overthrow President Kais Saied.

Issa, a well-known critic of Saied’s government, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by an appeals court on Friday, part of a broader crackdown on political dissent that has drawn international condemnation.

“They will arrest me shortly,” Issa told Reuters moments before her detention. “I say to the Tunisians, continue to protest and reject tyranny. We are sacrificing our freedom for you.”

Context: Saied’s Crackdown on Opposition

The arrests come amid a broader wave of political repression in Tunisia. On Friday, the appeals court handed down sentences of up to 45 years to opposition leaders, businessmen, and lawyers accused of plotting against the president. Notable cases include:

• Najib Chebbi, head of the opposition National Salvation Front, sentenced to 12 years.
• Ayachi Hammami, prominent opposition figure, sentenced to five years.

Human Rights organizations have denounced the proceedings. Human Rights Watch called the trial a “travesty of justice,” citing it as politically motivated and lacking credible evidence. Amnesty International described the verdicts as “an appalling indictment of the Tunisian justice system,” warning of an ongoing campaign to silence dissent and erode fundamental rights.

Background: Tunisia’s Political Turmoil

Since July 2021, President Kais Saied has concentrated executive power, suspending parliament and ruling by decree during what he described as a necessary move to end political chaos and corruption. Saied’s actions were later consolidated under a new constitution ratified in a controversial 2022 referendum, which opponents widely boycotted.

The president has also implemented a “fake news” law, which has been used to prosecute media figures, lawyers, and critics who oppose his government. Supporters argue that these measures are necessary to stabilize the country, while critics accuse Saied of authoritarian overreach.

International Response

Global rights organizations have expressed concern over Tunisia’s political trajectory. Both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have highlighted the instrumentalization of the judiciary to target political opponents.

The crackdown has also sparked ongoing protests in Tunis and other cities, with citizens demanding the restoration of democratic freedoms and the release of imprisoned opposition figures.

Chaima Issa described her imprisonment as “unjust and politically motivated,” vowing that her detention would not deter the Tunisian people’s calls for freedom and accountability.