Tunisia's National Salvation Front take to Tunis streets urging detainees' release

Tunisia’s National Salvation Front (NSFT) opposition bloc staged a protest in the capital Tunis on Saturday calling for the release of those detained under President Kais Saied’s leadership.

During the demonstration organised by the group in the well-known Habib Bourguiba Street, demonstrators shouted slogans such as "Freedoms are freedoms, not the fulfillment of instructions" and "Committed to the release of detainees".

The protesters were also seen holding slogans that read "One nation, don’t divide us!" and "Freedom to all political detainees."

The head of the NSFT, prominent opposition figure Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, said: "We meet today in our weekly solidarity stand to express our adherence to the issue of political prisoners and their right to freedom."

"This demonstration today comes at a time when two prominent members of the Front who were in prison, Chaimaa Issa and Lazhar Akremi, were released, so this is a joyful demonstration."

Chebbi, who was called in last month for questioning for alleged conspiracy against the state, called for a protest on 25 July demanding "a return to legitimacy and democracy", and to "save Tunisia by changing the political system".

The NSFT has been staging near-weekly protests in the North African country, which has witnessed an increase in the detention of prominent critics of Saied - notably politicians, businessmen and media persons.

Among them is Rached Ghannouchi, one of the leading members of the Islamist-inspired Ennahda movement and a former parliament speaker.

Ghannouchi was sentenced in May this year to one year in prison on terror-related charges, which were condemned by his party.

Saturday’s protest comes as two notable detainees - Chaima Issa and Lazhar Akremi - were freed on Thursday following more than five months behind bars.

The two activists were arrested in February for "conspiracy against the state."

Both Issa and Akremi expressed concern and sadness over those who are still languishing in Tunisian prisons under similar charges.

Amnesty International has condemned the ongoing repression under Saied which has been ongoing ever since he froze parliament and sacked the government two years ago.

In July last year, Saied approved of a new constitution granting himself near-unlimited control over the country.

Rights groups have voiced concern that Tunisia - widely considered the sole success story of the 2011 Arab Spring protests -  could be sliding back into Ben Ali-era authoritarianism.