Tunisia and India Protests Underscore Global Expression Crackdown

On July 25, 2026, thousands of Tunisians gathered in Tunis to mark the fifth anniversary of President Kais Saied’s seizure of emergency powers. Demonstrators called for Saied’s departure, the release of political prisoners and an end to the concentration of power that has led to economic decline. The rally proceeded without direct police intervention, though the government has previously suppressed dissent through courts and administrative measures.

In New Delhi, India, tens of thousands of young people marched toward Parliament at Jantar Mantar, confronting a police‑run surveillance van and facing internet shutdowns, app arrests and digital monitoring. Mishi Choudhary, founder of the Software Freedom Law Center India, warned that the state is rapidly converting digital tools into mechanisms of political control, highlighting broader concerns over freedom of expression and online civil liberties.