GEOFF BENNETT: Democracy in Tunisia is under pressure.

The North African country was long considered a trailblazer for democracy in the Arab world.

Now, as special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports, the country's president has launched an authoritarian crackdown that has jailed political rivals, wrecked the economy, and caused people to flee.

MALCOLM BRABANT: This is the alluring official self-portrait of a North African nation attempting to bolster post-pandemic tourism and stave off financial collapse.

But for many Tunisians, the happy images contained in this promotional video are a mirage.

This is the side of Tunisia that tourists won't see, investigating Judge Bechir Akremi, filmed by his wife, after what supporters claim was his arbitrary arrest in February and subsequent torture.

AZIZ AKREMI, Son of Political Prisoner: The whole psychological pressure, it definitely weighs on a person.

So I would say my father is slowly dying in prison.

It's a horrible situation to be in.

MALCOLM BRABANT: Aziz Akremi hankers after happier times in Tunisia with his father before he went into exile to Germany, and his father ended up in this jail in the capital, Tunis, along with scores of other political prisoners.

JUDGE BECHIR AKREMI, Jailed Tunisian Judge (through translator): It's a horrible treatment.

It's the most disgusting treatment you can imagine.

I'm tired, Aziz.

I can't talk anymore, please.

AZIZ AKREMI: Imagine serving your country for 34 years, literally giving your life and blood to this country, dismantling massive terrorist entities, literally saving it from terrorism itself.

MALCOLM BRABANT: In 2015, Islamic extremists killed 22 people at a museum.

And then a lone jihadi murdered 38 tourists at a beach resort in Sousse before being shot dead.

Judge Akremi spearheaded the investigation, and his work led to the arrests of and ultimately life sentences for seven terrorists.

AZIZ AKREMI: Tunisia, when my father took those terrorism cases in 2015 was in dire straits.

It was a country where it was about to get besieged by terrorism.

And he effectively dismantled all of that.

MALCOLM BRABANT: But that hasn't swayed Tunisia's President Kais Saied, seen here in a trademark mute Facebook video with music that's become his theme tune.

Saied is ignoring international calls to release Judge Akremi and dozens of other political prisoners.

Saied staged a coup in July 2021 by dismissing the government and suspending Parliament in a clear breach of his election pledge two years earlier.

KAIS SAIED, Tunisia President (through translator): Our project is based on freedom.

The time of guardianship of people is over.

I have full respect for those who voted for me, but, also, I do respect those who voted freely.

MALCOLM BRABANT: Outside the mother of parliaments, Yusra Ghannouchi is appealing for international help to restore democracy to Tunisia.

Her father, Rached Ghannouchi, the former speaker of the Tunisian assembly, has the highest profile of those arrested by the regime.

YUSRA GHANNOUCHI, Daughter of Jailed Opposition Leader: We believe that democratic nations must prove that they will support democracy, not only in Ukraine, but anywhere democracy is being threatened, as it is in Tunisia.

MALCOLM BRABANT: Twelve years ago, Tunisia was a source of hope across the region.

The Arab Spring of pro-democracy uprisings began in the southern Tunisian town of Sidi Bouzid after a fruit and vegetable seller, Mohamed Bouazizi, set himself on fire.

The popular revolt ousted Tunisia's dictator, Ben Ali.

But, today, many Tunisians fear that their current leader is just as bad.

KAOUTHER FERJANI, Daughter of Jailed Opposition Leader: Tunisia is failing as an economy, as a state.

MALCOLM BRABANT: Kaouther Ferjani is another exile living in London.

Her father, Said, an opposition lawmaker, was also arrested in February's sweep and is currently held in one of the country's most overcrowded jails.

KAOUTHER FERJANI: Rather than fixing the problem, the president and those around him are looking for any scapegoat possible.

So they have come for all their political opposition, the media, judges, and now they're coming for the average citizen.

MALCOLM BRABANT: The exiles are urging Washington to sanction the Tunisian leader's inner circle.

YUSRA GHANNOUCHI: There must be accountability for Kais Saied, his interior minister, his justice minister, and anyone implicated in the constant grave human rights violations being committed in Tunisia.

There must be sanctions on them.

Is that a reasonable course of action?

Should that be something that the United States should consider to try to apply pressure to him?

GORDON GRAY, Former U.S.

Ambassador to Tunisia: It's something that should certainly be considered.

MALCOLM BRABANT: Gordon Gray, on the right, was ambassador to Tunisia during the Arab Spring, and was present in 2012 as the late senator John McCain came to witness democracy flowering.

GORDON GRAY: Saied doesn't have any assets in the United States that I'm aware of.

He doesn't travel to the United States.

I'm just not sure how effective they would be in affecting his calculus.

MALCOLM BRABANT: Saied's faltering economy recently received an injection of $100 million from the European Union in return for stopping migrants leaving from Tunisia.

And as the outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte promised, more deals could be forthcoming.

MARK RUTTE, Prime Minister of the Netherlands: Let me emphasize that the central aim of this partnership is to help ensure economic growth, jobs, and also future prospects for Tunisia.

The E.U.

at this moment is already Tunisia's biggest foreign investor and trading partner.

But there's a lot of potential to do even more.

MALCOLM BRABANT: This European handout is intended to help reduce the number of migrants landing in Italy, not far from Tunisia.

KAOUTHER FERJANI: That money isn't going to go to immigration.

That money is going to go and strengthen Kais Saied's power grab.

It's going to strengthen the impression that's happening in Tunisia.

MALCOLM BRABANT: Natasha Tsangarides, an advocate with a nonprofit called Freedom From Torture, is also critical of the European deal.

NATASHA TSANGARIDES, Freedom From Torture: Europe talks a lot about the principles of democracy, fairness, rule of law, human rights.

They need to put those principles right at the center of what they do, because now, with these sorts of externalization deals, all of those principles are under threat.

So, what are the chances that, having overthrown one dictator, Tunisians will rise up again?

GORDON GRAY: Similar conditions exist, so it wouldn't be a surprise if it were to come.

The economy is going to continue to deteriorate, because he doesn't have a plan.

At a certain point, the Tunisian people are going to say that they have had enough.

Their patience is going to run out.

MALCOLM BRABANT: Anti-government demonstrations are infrequent and relatively small.

The opposition needs to overcome increasing despair.

YUSRA GHANNOUCHI: People are not ready to give up the freedoms that they had won after the revolution.

If the free world is silent on these daily violations and does not prove its belief and commitment to the values of freedom and democracy, then the future does not look bright for Tunisia.

MALCOLM BRABANT: So, should potential tourists boycott Tunisia out of solidarity, a question I put to judge's son Aziz Akremi.

He believes people should continue to visit to help ordinary Tunisians earn a living.

But he wants foreigners to lobby their politicians.

AZIZ AKREMI: This is a new, very stupid and very brutal dictatorship that could possibly -- that could easily be uprooted.

So, with enough Western embargo and with solidarity, they can definitely go a long way with this dictator and even revive the democracy.

MALCOLM BRABANT: Theoretically, Tunisians have a chance to remove their leader at the next presidential election slated for 2024.

But, given Saied's campaign of repression, there's little confidence that the vote will be free and fair.

For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Malcolm Brabant.