Tunisian security forces have clashed with protesters in the capital city of Tunis and the southern town of Jebiniana following a series of controversial deaths linked to police operations. In Ettadhamen, a working-class suburb of the capital, police deployed tear gas on Thursday to disperse angry crowds after a man detained on drug-related suspicions died in custody.

The deceased man’s family alleged that he perished as a direct consequence of police brutality and excessive force during his arrest, demanding full transparency and accountability for the officers involved. Conversely, state-aligned media outlets claimed that the individual supposedly died after swallowing illicit substances, a narrative met with widespread skepticism by local residents.

Protesters responded by erecting roadblocks, igniting tires, and hurling stones at law enforcement personnel. Security forces countered with tear gas barrages while attempting to secure a local National Guard station. Meanwhile, in Sfax governorate, similar unrest flared up after another civilian reportedly died during a police pursuit, while local students organized strikes over emergency response failures.

These sudden flare-ups coincide with a severe socio-economic and political crisis plaguing the North African nation, exacerbating fears of widespread civil unrest as public anger mounts over plummeting living standards and failing public infrastructure. Thousands of citizens recently participated in massive demonstrations against President Kais Saied, accusing his administration of dismantling democratic norms.

Adding to the authoritarian climate, a Tunisian military court reportedly sentenced opposition politician Olfa Hamdi to four years in prison on charges of conspiring against state security and inciting military disobedience. The controversial ruling marks the latest escalation by Saied’s regime against political dissidents and critics of the state.

Source: www.aljazeera.com