Thousands rally in Tunisia as president cracks down on opponents ahead of election

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00:00People marched in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, shouting slogans such as freedom and national dignity.

00:07The protest was billed as a national rally to defend rights and freedoms.

00:12Demonstrators are angry at the Tunisian president, Caïs Saïd, with a presidential election due on the 6th of October.

00:19He will face two rivals, though one has been imprisoned. Other candidates have been excluded.

00:25Look at what has happened before the presidential election,

00:28with three candidates excluded from the race even though they had been reinstated by an administrative court.

00:34This is absolutely not normal, I feel.

00:37What is currently happening in terms of repression and abuse is reminiscent of Ben Ali's last days.

00:44Democratically elected in 2019, President Saïd is seeking a second term.

00:50He granted himself full powers in the summer of 2021 and has been accused of authoritarian drift since then.

01:00Human Rights Watch on its website is critical of the selection process for presidential candidates

01:05and in particular the disqualification by the Tunisian electoral authority of Mr. Saïd's most serious rivals.

01:11The commission's members are appointed by the president.

01:14The commission says it's neutral.

01:16A member speaking last month explained the decision to exclude candidates.

01:22The main problem was to do with endorsements.

01:26The conditions required for the endorsements were not met according to the law.

01:33Saïd denies accusations made against him.

01:36He says he is fighting traitors, mercenaries and the corrupt.

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