Dozens of detainees in Tunisia due to ongoing protests in Kairouan for the third consecutive day

SadaNews - Tunisian authorities have arrested 21 individuals in connection with ongoing protests in the Kairouan region for the third consecutive day, which erupted following the death of young Naeem Al-Breiki, an incident that sparked widespread controversy and public anger, with calls for the truth to be revealed and accountability for those responsible.

Local media reported that the head of the Tunisian League for the Defense of Human Rights in Kairouan, Fawzi Al-Muqaddim, stated that security units carried out these arrests over the past two days following protests in the city, which included roadblocks and the burning of tires. Al-Muqaddim confirmed that the league would defend all of the detainees.

Videos circulated on social media showed nighttime protests in the Ali Bay neighborhood in the city of Kairouan on Friday and Saturday, which involved clashes between protesters and security forces, following the death of young Naeem Al-Breiki (30 years old).

According to his family's accounts, a relative of Al-Breiki said in a video that the young man was riding his motorcycle and did not comply with police orders to stop due to not having legal documents, which led to his pursuit.

The relative accused the security forces of colliding with the motorcycle with a police car, before Al-Breiki was subjected to physical assault by four security personnel and was taken to the hospital.

He added that the young man suffered from internal bleeding in the head as a result of severe beatings. Al-Breiki's sister, Amani Al-Breiki, also posted a picture that she claimed her brother took himself before his death, showing severe injuries to his face and head, asserting that the impact of the police car and the assault on him caused internal bleeding and a skull fracture that led to his death.

Naeem Al-Breiki died on Friday from his injuries at the Ibn Al-Jazaar University Hospital in Kairouan, about two weeks after being injured. Following the incident, the public prosecutor's office pledged to open an investigation to uncover the circumstances of the death.

These developments come amid escalating political and social tensions in Tunisia recently, with a wave of protests and strikes in several sectors, alongside a call from the Tunisian General Labor Union for a national strike next month.

Moreover, the city of Gabes in the south of the country has witnessed large demonstrations in recent weeks demanding the closure of a chemical factory accused of causing serious environmental pollution.

Conversely, human rights organizations have accused Tunisian President Kais Saied of using the judiciary and security apparatus to suppress his critics, accusations that the president firmly denies.