More than 200 police officers protested in Tunisia’s second city of Sfax to demand the release of eight arrested colleagues and defend their right to unionize.

Responding to a call from the SNSI police union, the plainclothes protesters chanted pro-union slogans and criticized what they called “harassment” and a drive to stifle union rights.

Union spokesperson Chokri Hamada, said 8 officers were arrested last Friday after clashes broke out at a sit-in in Sfax, also organized by the SNSI,that sought to press social and professional demands.

The SNSI had set up 32 tents in locations across Tunisia and refused to comply with dispersal orders from police deployed by the authorities.