Ghannouchi’s party and his supporters believe his conviction is politically motivated and part of President Kais Saied’s attempts to silence opposition in the country 

A number of opposition leaders have been arrested and faced persecution since President Kais Saied took over virtually all power in the country in July 2021

On March 4 and 5, thousands of Tunisians took to the streets against President Kais Saied’s government, protesting the repression of the opposition and the economic woes faced by the people

Large protests were organized by political parties and trade unions on Saturday and Sunday against the crackdown on the opposition and economic woes. Calls have been given for for more people’s actions in the coming days

Preliminary numbers indicate a very low voter turnout in the referendum which was held amid boycott and protests by major opposition groups

Tunisia witnessed numerous protests on Sunday, June 19. The country’s largest trade union UGTT observed a national strike last week, while judges have decided to extend their strike for a third consecutive week

The judges’ strike adds to the growing number of public actions against President Kais Saied’s rule by decrees and his reforms to politics and administration in Tunisia

Several opposition parties have already indicated that they will not participate in any constitutional referendum or elections based on a new set of rules drawn up unilaterally by the president

Just hours after the suspended parliament passed the symbolic vote by a majority, the president dissolved the body

57-year-old Ridha Bouziane died in hospital five days after he was injured during protests against the government of president Kais Saied in Tunis on January 14

The constitutional referendum is scheduled to be held on July 25, 2022, exactly a year after president Kais Saied took control of all executive and legislative powers in Tunisia through a series of exceptional measures. Critics and opposition political parties have called his actions a “presidential coup”

The waste crisis which has been ongoing for several months was further aggravated by the reopening of a controversial landfill by the authorities in defiance of court orders, giving rise to environmental and public health concerns