Hamza Nasri, a young Tunisian activist, who took to the streets as part of anti-government protests in recent months is afraid for his friends as he says he is now under police watch.
“I’ve moved house three times in recent months. I’ve stopped going to see certain friends so I don’t put them in danger,” the 27-year-old told AFP.
Tunisia became known for its democratic transition, its free elections and new liberal constitution after its 2011 revolution.
The popular uprising put an end to a police state and established freedom of expression that had never been experienced before in the North African country.
Now, about a decade later, in the face of limited reforms to the security and judicial systems, activists say the risk of arrest places a “sword of Damocles” over their heads.
In January, security forces arrested hundreds of youths, including many minors, from underprivileged and marginalised neighbourhoods across the country during several nights of unrest.
They have subsequently arrested several young activists who denounced what they saw as a repressive police response.
Nasri said he feared the country had taken a U-turn.
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The law student twice spent 48 hours in custody after anti-government protests in the capital Tunis in December and January, and now risks more than three years in prison on charges including blocking roads and insulting a police officer.
“If I am sentenced to more than six months (in jail), it will go down on my criminal record and I can say goodbye to my dreams of being a lawyer,” he said.
In Tunisia, sex before marriage, same-sex conduct, social media posts deemed offensive and evidence of cannabis use in urine samples can all be punishable by imprisonment.
Observers say this leaves young people at risk when they stand up to the authorities.
Rania Amdouni, a 26-year-old rights and democracy activist, was sentenced to six months in jail this month for insulting police officers, though her sentence was reduced to a fine on appeal and she was freed.
Dozens of human rights organisations in Tunisia and abroad had called for Amdouni’s release.
Both Nasri and Amdouni are connected to the association Damj, which defends the rights of LGBTQI people.
“Life for a young person in Tunisia is about trying to avoid the police as much as possible,” said 25-year-old Ahmed Ghram.
