Tunisian protesters took to the streets of the capital on Friday in large numbers, criticising President Kais Saied’s leadership and describing the country as an “open-air prison” under his administration.

Under the banner “The Republic is a large prison,” the demonstrators marched along Habib Bourguiba Avenue, calling for the release of political prisoners, journalists, and activists.

The protest was held on the fourth anniversary of Saied’s decision to dissolve parliament in 2021 and begin ruling by decree—a move widely condemned by the opposition as a coup.

Chants of “no fear, no terror ... streets belong to the people” and “The people want the fall of the regime” echoed through the avenue as the crowd voiced their anger at what they described as Saied’s tightening grip on power.

Protesters accused Saied of pushing Tunisia into authoritarianism by using arrests and legal persecution to suppress opposing voices.

Many opposition leaders have either been jailed or fled the country, facing charges under anti-terror and conspiracy laws.

"Our first aim is to battle against tyranny to restore democracy and to demand the release of the political detainees," said Monia Ibrahim, the wife of jailed opposition figure Abdelhamid Jelassi.

In 2022, Saied disbanded the independent Supreme Judicial Council and dismissed dozens of judges, a step the opposition said was meant to consolidate control over the judiciary.

Although the president insisted that he does not interfere with judicial processes, he stated that “no one is above accountability, regardless of their name or position.”

Prominent politicians behind bars include Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of the Ennahda party, and Abir Moussi, head of the Free Constitutional Party.

Both have been detained along with several lawyers, journalists, and civil society leaders who are now facing long sentences.

Others have escaped Tunisia and sought asylum in Western countries to avoid arrest. In 2023, Saied labelled the opposition politicians “traitors and terrorists” and accused judges willing to acquit them of being their collaborators.

"Prisons are crowded with Saied's opponents, activists, journalists," said Saib Souab, the son of imprisoned lawyer Ahmed Souab, a vocal critic of the regime.

"Tunisia has turned into an open-air prison. Even those not behind bars live in a state of temporary freedom, constantly at risk of arrest for any reason," he added.