On Saturday, a dozen UGTT members protested in different eight cities against President’s guidelines, blaming him for trying to restrict fundamental freedoms such as trade union rights.
After the union’s criticism of the recent arrests of various anti-government personalities, including politicians, a journalist, two judges, and a top UGTT official, the rallies in eight cities signaled an intensification of its conflict with Saied.
The U.N. Human Rights Office has requested the immediate release of the detainees as a result of the coordinated arrests, which have stoked concerns of a wider crackdown on dissent.
During the protests on Saturday, thousands of demonstrators in the southern city of Sfax waved national flags and banners bearing the phrases “Cowardly Saied, the union is not afraid” and “Stop the onslaught on union liberties.”