Tunisia president urges security to handle protests according to the law

Tunisian President Kais Saied yesterday directed the heads of the security apparatus to handle demonstrations “according to the law”, and commit to respecting the rights of citizens to peaceful protests and freedom of expression.

This came during a meeting between Saied, Acting Interior Minister, Ridha Gharslawi, Sami Al-Hichri, Director General of National Security, and Mourad Hussein, Director General of Public Security, according to a statement issued by the Tunisian Presidency.

Saied’s statement came a day after security forces used “excessive force” to disperse a protest in the centre of the capital that demanded revealing the names of those involved in political assassinations over the past few years, according to local media.

The statement indicated that Saied “stressed the necessity of dealing with the demonstrators according to the law and committing to respecting the rights of citizens to peaceful protests and freedom of expression.”

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