Supporters of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) protest against President Kais Saied, accusing him of trying to stifle basic freedoms, including union rights, in Tunis, Tunisia March 4, 2023. (Credit: Zoubeir Souissi/Reuters File Photo)
Unions and rights groups demanded an apology from Tunisia's interior minister on Wednesday after he lashed out at media and political party "traitors," as authorities face heavy criticism over a crackdown against the opposition.
Speaking during a visit to the border with Libya on Tuesday, Interior Minister Taoufik Charfeddine attacked "the media, who have become mercenaries, businessmen, trade unionists and parties who have sold out the nation."
"They are traitors," he said in a video shared by his ministry, urging Tunisians to support "honest and patriotic" President Kais Saied.
His comments echoed repeated accusations by Saied since a dramatic July 2021 power grab that has swept away Tunisia's post-revolution democratic system.
On Wednesday, more than 30 organizations including the powerful UGTT trade unions federation said his comments represented "divisive ... populist discourse that augurs the return of the police state after decades of struggle to build a democratic civilian state."
In a statement, they urged Charfeddine to "apologize for this violent and dangerous speech and withdraw it from the ministry's social media pages."
More than 20 political figures have been arrested in the North African country in recent weeks, mainly outspoken opponents of Saied.
Saied has accused those arrested of "terrorism" and causing recurrent food shortages as well as plotting against the state.
Rights group Amnesty International has labeled the arrests a "politically motivated witch hunt."
Speaking during a visit to the border with Libya on Tuesday, Interior Minister Taoufik Charfeddine attacked "the media, who...