Two prominent political opponents of Tunisian President Kais Saied, Chaima Issa and Lazhar Akremi, have been released from prison after spending more than five months behind bars. The pair were arrested in February, along with 20 other figures from the opposition, media, and business sectors, on charges of conspiracy against state security.

The arrests were seen by the opposition as part of a crackdown aimed at establishing authoritarian rule by President Saied, who dissolved parliament and seized extensive powers in 2021.

Issa, a leader in the main opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front, has been a vocal critic of Saied, while Akremi, a lawyer and former minister, has also been a prominent voice against the president.

Protests demanding the release of the detainees were held in the capital, Tunis, prior to the judge's verdict. The release of Issa and Akremi has been welcomed by opposition parties and rights groups, who have described their arrests as politically motivated.

Meanwhile, President Saied has labeled them as terrorists and traitors, and has stated that judges who release them would be aiding their alleged crimes.

Saied's rule by decree has been widely criticized by the opposition, who view it as a coup, while human rights organizations have condemned the repression of freedom of opinion in Tunisia.

The country is currently grappling with a political crisis, a severe financial downturn, and is in need of foreign aid. European parliamentarians have expressed their opposition to an unconditional agreement between the European Union and Tunisia, citing the excesses of President Saied, and have called for the release of arbitrarily imprisoned opponents and support for the struggle for democracy in Tunisia.