Tunisia Arrests Opposition Figure in Widening Crackdown

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Jonathan Wolfe and Aida AlamiDecember 3, 2025 at 10:12 PM

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Tunisian police arrested Ayachi Hammami, a prominent opposition figure and human rights lawyer, on Tuesday. This arrest follows an appeals court sentencing him to five years in prison last week for alleged terrorism and conspiracy against state security. Hammami's sentencing is part of a broader case involving around 40 individuals, including opposition leaders, lawyers, and journalists, who were initially convicted in April. Human Rights Watch and other rights groups have condemned the charges as baseless and politically motivated, citing a backsliding towards authoritarianism under President Kais Saied. Hammami has denounced his imprisonment as a political decision and announced a hunger strike in protest. Tunisia, the birthplace of the Arab Spring, has been witnessing an increasing crackdown on dissent under Saied's rule.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Human Rights Watch ×280% Kais Saied ×280% Ayachi Hammami ×4100% Tunisia ×4100%

Keywords

ayachi hammami 100% political repression 90% tunisia 90% authoritarianism 80% human rights 80% political prisoners 70% crackdown on dissent 70% kais saied 60% arab spring 60% state security 50%