Demonstrators gathered in central Tunis under the slogan “The people are hungry and prisons are full,” calling for an end to what they described as one-man rule and denouncing arrests targeting politicians, journalists and civil society figures.

Protesters said authorities were using the judiciary and security apparatus to suppress dissent while economic conditions continued to deteriorate. Tunisia has faced sluggish economic growth, rising consumer prices, shortages of medicines and some food products, financing constraints and mounting pressure on state services.

The latest demonstration reflects growing domestic criticism of Saied, who dissolved parliament in 2022 and expanded presidential powers by governing through decrees in moves opponents and rights organizations say undermined the democratic system established after Tunisia’s 2011 uprising.

Saied has repeatedly rejected accusations of authoritarianism, saying his measures are necessary to combat corruption and prevent political paralysis and instability.

Tunisia’s legal and media sectors have also intensified criticism of the government in recent weeks. The national bar association has called for strikes over concerns regarding judicial independence, while the journalists’ union has announced protests against the detention of journalists and what it describes as increasing restrictions on press freedom.

Authorities deny accusations of political repression and say legal actions taken against critics are carried out in accordance with the law.

Tunisia’s economic difficulties have been compounded by financing pressures and delays in implementing reforms sought by international lenders, while unemployment and declining purchasing power continue to fuel public frustration.

Local media reported Abdelli was charged with insulting state officials and offending public morals.

The decision comes amid heightened criticism from the performer toward Kais Saied, whom he has mocked in recent satirical content.Speaking from Paris, where he now resides, Abdelli said the verdict was intended to intimidate artists and suppress critical voices.

“This ruling is aimed at intimidating artists, silencing free and critical voices. It is a political verdict,” he said, adding that being sentenced over his work reflected broader concerns about freedom of expression.A court spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.

Abdelli, 56, has long been known for his political satire and caricatured portrayals of Tunisia’s leaders. His performances gained prominence after the Tunisian Revolution, which led to expanded civil liberties following the ousting of former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

However, rights groups say freedoms have eroded since 2021, when Saied consolidated power and began ruling by decree. Critics argue that these measures have weakened democratic institutions and enabled prosecutions targeting journalists, activists and opposition figures.

In recent years, several opposition leaders, along with journalists and business figures, have been detained on charges including conspiracy against state security, corruption and money laundering.Saied has rejected accusations of authoritarianism, saying that freedoms remain guaranteed while emphasizing that no individual is above the law regardless of their status.

The case underscores ongoing tensions in Tunisia over the boundaries of free expression and the role of satire in political discourse more than a decade after the uprising that triggered the wider Arab Spring.

Tunis (AFP) — Thousands of Tunisians demonstrated Saturday in the capital Tunis, denouncing a power grab by President Kais Saied and demanding accountability for the country’s long-running economic crisis, AFP correspondents said.