Tunisia Jails Opposition, West Sees 'Authoritarianism,' Not 'Stability'
Tunisian authorities have jailed prominent opposition figure Ayachi Hammami, enforcing a five-year term for 'conspiracy against state security.' This follows an appeals court sentencing dozens of critics to up to 45 years. Notably, such sweeping charges for 'conspiracy' against a sitting president were once the hallmark of regimes the West vehemently condemned. Yet, the current Western 'concern'
for Tunisian democracy appears more like a polite cough than the outraged shouts heard when other, less friendly governments engage in similar tactics, especially when 'stability' is the preferred geopolitical narrative. One might wonder if the concern for Tunisian democracy would be so muted if, say, the opposition were actively campaigning for closer ties to Russia or China, rather than merely
challenging the domestic rule of Kais Saied. The selective application of 'democracy' as a benchmark for condemnation often reveals more about Western strategic interests than genuine human rights concerns.