A Tunisian anti-terrorism judge has ordered the detention of prominent lawyer Ahmed Souab, a vocal critic of President Kais Saied, following his arrest earlier this week. Souab, who is a retired administrative judge and a member of the legal defense team for opposition leaders recently sentenced on conspiracy charges, was detained after commenting that judges were under political pressure. He stated that “knives are not on the necks of detainees, but on the neck of the judge issuing the ruling,” which was interpreted by the court as a threat to judges. His lawyers argue that the statement referred to the significant political pressure judges face .
The arrest has sparked widespread protests across Tunisia, with activists and civil society groups condemning the move as an escalation of the government’s crackdown on dissent. Protesters have taken to the streets demanding Souab’s release and criticizing the increasing suppression of political opposition and civil liberties under President Saied’s regime
Souab’s detention follows a mass trial in which dozens of opposition figures were sentenced to lengthy prison terms on charges including “conspiracy against state security” and “belonging to a terrorist group.” Critics have labeled the trial politically motivated and an attempt to silence dissent .
The European Union and the United Kingdom have expressed concern over the wave of imprisonment of civil society figures, journalists, and political activists in Tunisia, calling for clarifications from the Tunisian government
