Tunisia Arrests MP After Mocking President Kais Saied Says Lawmakers

Tunisian police arrested a sitting member of parliament on Tuesday after he publicly mocked President Kais Saied, two lawmakers said, highlighting growing pressure on political critics of the country’s leadership.

The lawmaker, Ahmed Saidani, was detained a day after he posted comments on social media ridiculing Saied and accusing him of failing to address the economic crisis and worsening social conditions facing the country. His arrest was first reported by Reuters, citing parliamentary sources.

Saidani was elected in the 2022 parliamentary elections that followed Saied’s overhaul of Tunisia’s political system. He had initially backed the president’s actions but later became an outspoken critic, frequently using social media to challenge what he described as the concentration of power in the presidency.

• Tunisia arrests MP Ahmed Saidani after mocking President Kais Saied
• Arrest of Tunisian MP raises concerns over freedom of expression
• Tunisia's crackdown on dissent grows with MP's arrest after criticism of Saied

In one post shared shortly before his arrest, Saidani mocked Saied’s leadership style and questioned his record on governance and public services. Lawyers were not immediately available to comment, and the interior ministry did not issue an official statement on the reasons for the arrest or the charges under consideration.

Members of parliament in Tunisia enjoy legal immunity, but the law allows arrests if an offence is deemed to have been committed publicly. Lawmakers familiar with the case said authorities relied on this provision to justify the detention, prompting renewed debate over freedom of expression.

Opposition figures and human rights groups say the arrest reflects a broader crackdown on dissent since Saied dissolved the previous parliament in 2021, dismissed the government, and began ruling by decree. Since then, several politicians, journalists, and activists have been detained or prosecuted on charges including defamation and alleged threats to state security.

Saied rejects accusations of authoritarianism, arguing that his measures are necessary to fight corruption and stabilise the country. Critics counter that arrests of opponents undermine democratic gains made after the 2011 uprising.

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The detention of a sitting lawmaker is likely to deepen concerns that political space in Tunisia continues to narrow.