The United States on Thursday denounced the "escalation" in Tunisia, following a spate of arrests of people opposed to the government, and expressed concern about reports of criminal charges against people who have had contact with the US embassy in Tunis.
"We are concerned about reports that criminal charges have been brought against individuals in Tunisia, apparently resulting from their meetings or conversations with members of the United States Embassy," US State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
"This is part, as I have already said, of an escalation in the arrests of people perceived as being critical of the Tunisian government," Price told reporters.
He declined to identify the individuals involved or detail the circumstances surrounding the contacts but justified them by pointing out that "all our embassies, and our diplomats throughout the world" go to meet various personalities in all countries.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Tunisian Foreign Ministry had called on foreign embassies in the country "not to interfere in its internal affairs" following reports of meetings that recently arrested personalities had with Western diplomats.
A score of personalities have been arrested in Tunisia since early February on the orders of President Kais Saïed, in a crackdown denounced by the opposition as an attempt to muzzle it.
The Tunisian president has been concentrating all powers since July 2021.
