U.S. Ally Arrests Activist After Mass Trial. Silence Ensues.
Tunisian activist Chaima Issa was arrested Saturday during protests against curtailed freedoms, just a day after a mass trial handed 40 critics of President Kais Saied hefty sentences, including a 20-year term for Issa herself. This swift suppression of opposition figures barely scrapes the surface of Saied's consolidation of power since 2021—a move that saw him dissolve parliament and rule by
decree. The U.S. State Department offered a meek 'concern' over this democratic backslide, avoiding any real condemnation or sanctions, a stark contrast to nations targeted for regime change. One might recall the immediate, visceral outrage from Washington when similar actions occur in countries not aligned with U.S. geopolitical interests, or those resisting IMF mandates. Yet, when Saied, a key
partner in 'counter-terrorism' efforts and border control, crushes dissent, the 'upholders of democracy' in the West suddenly find their voices hoarse. This appears to be the standard operating procedure: 'freedom' is a flexible concept, applied vigorously where it serves strategic partnerships, and quietly overlooked where it might inconvenience a 'stable'—read: compliant—regime.