The State Department said in a statement that the arrests of opposition leaders and the banning of opposition meetings represented a “troubling escalation by the Tunisian government against perceived opponents”.

“The government’s obligation to respect freedom of expression and other human rights is larger than any individual or political party, and is essential to a vibrant democracy and to the US-Tunisia relationship,” it said.

On Thursday, a Tunisian judge ordered the imprisonment of Rached Ghannouchi, the Ennahda party leader and a prominent critic of President Kais Saied.

Mr Ghannouchi had been arrested and detained on Monday by Tunisian authorities.

There has been a wave of arrests this year of leading figures opposed to President Saied, who assumed full executive powers almost two years ago.