Tunisian police detain opposition figure Olfa Hamdi at airport

TUNISIA, February 15 (Reuters) – Tunisian police detained opposition figure Olfa Hamdi as she arrived at the country’s main airport on Sunday, in the latest move against critics of President Kais Saied, local media reported.

Reports stated that Third Republic Party leader Hamdi was detained shortly after getting off the plane. He resides abroad and previously served as CEO of Tunisia’s national airline, Tunisair.

Hamdi has repeatedly criticized Saied’s administration and called for the formation of an interim government and early presidential elections.

Opposition figures described the arrest as part of a broader crackdown on dissent, as Tunisia grapples with deepening polarization since Saied assumed sweeping powers in 2021; this move was condemned as a coup by critics.

Authorities had no comment on the arrest. Reuters was unable to contact Hamdi’s lawyer or any of his relatives.

In early February, police arrested a lawmaker known for mocking the president; The opposition described this as an effort to suppress dissenting voices.

Many opposition leaders, as well as activists and journalists, are behind bars, and critics accuse Said of turning Tunisia into a prison since 2021.

Saied denies the accusations, insisting that he is not a dictator and that the law applies to everyone, regardless of position.

(Reporting by Tarek AmaraEdited by Christina Fincher)