A third opposition leader in Tunisia goes on a hunger strike while incarcerated
Detained Rached Ghannouchi, 84, the head of the Tunisian opposition, joined two well-known politicians in a hunger strike over what they describe as “unjust imprisonment,” according to lawyers on Saturday. This was the most recent development in a standoff with President Kais Saied.
A number of opposition parties have accused Saied of using the judiciary to solidify his authoritarian rule and transforming Tunisia into a “open-air prison,” while the majority of opposition leaders are currently incarcerated.
The opposition politician Jawhar Ben Mbarek, who has been on a “wildcat” hunger strike since last week, is followed by Ghannouchi. Additionally, Issam Chebbi, the leader of the Republican Party, began a hunger strike on Friday in order to demand his release.
In 2023, Ghannouchi, the leader of the Ennahda party and a harsh opponent of Saied, was arrested and sentenced to 37 years in jail in a number of offenses, including conspiracy against the state and illegal foreign financing. Refusing to appear in court, he has stated that he will not deal with judges who only carry out Saied’s directives.
Attorneys, relatives, and human rights organizations claim that Ben Mbarek’s condition has gotten much worse, that he is refusing medical care, and that he could die.
Medical tests revealed conditions were “normal and stable,” the Tunisian Prisons Authority said, without providing further information, refuting claims that the hunger strikes had worsened the inmates’ health.
Judges sentenced opposition leaders, including Ben Mbarek and Chebbi, to prison terms ranging from five to sixty-six years this year on allegations of “conspiracy against state security.” Political opponents were the target of these prosecutions, according to human rights groups.
Jawhar told lawyer Dalila Ben Mbarek that he will soon be released from prison “either free or dead.” His dad called Saied a dictator and stated he was to blame for whatever that happened to his kid.
It was a coup, according to the opposition, when Saied abruptly shut down the elected parliament in 2021 and imposed his power by decree.
He has labeled imprisoned opposition leaders terrorists, traitors, and criminals. Saied refuted this, claiming his measures were required to save Tunisia from years of anarchy.
