Hundreds of Tunisians marched through the capital on Friday to denounce President Kais Saied's increasingly authoritarian rule, as they chanted "The people want the fall of the regime."

Marking four years since his controversial power grab, the protesters criticized the "authoritarian regime" for turning the country into an "open-air prison."

The demonstrators said Tunisia has slid into authoritarian rule under Saied, marked by mass arrests and politically driven trials aimed at crushing dissent.

Rallying under the banner "The Republic is a large prison," the protesters, led by women, chanted slogans demanding the release of jailed opposition leaders, journalists and activists.

Why are people protesting the president?

Four years ago, on July 25, 2021, Saied dissolved the parliament, removed the prime minister and began ruling by decree.

Critics branded the move as a coup.

Since then, Saied has dissolved key judicial bodies, dismissed judges and overseen the jailing of numerous opponents.

Most of Saied's prominent political opponents, including Rached Ghannouchi and Abir Moussi, are all behind bars.

"Tunisia has become an open-air prison," said Saib Souab, whose father, lawyer and Saied critic Ahmed Souab, is behind bars. Even those not imprisoned live in fear of arrest, Souab said.

'The dismantling of Tunisia'

A 2024 report by rights group Amnesty International said that Tunisian authorities are using vague legal charges to arrest of critics of the government.

Monia Ibrahim, wife of jailed politician Abdelhamid Jelassi, told Reuters news agency that the aim of Friday's protest was to restore democracy and free political detainees.

July 25, once celebrated as Republic Day in Tunisia, has come to be associated with Saied's anti-political class "July 25 Movement."

Samir Dilou, a former government minister said the day's meaning has changed to mark the "dismantling" of Tunisia.

"Absolute power is absolute corruption," Dilou said.

Edited by: Kate Hairsine