Jawhar Ben Mbarek, a prominent figure in Tunisia’s political opposition, continues to face significant health challenges following a prolonged hunger strike. His family reported that he has recently been hospitalized due to severe dehydration, a condition that has worsened over more than two weeks of abstaining from food. Ben Mbarek, a cofounder of the National Salvation Front, has been detained in prison since February 2023, and he initiated his hunger strike on October 29 in protest of his incarceration.
In a recent communication on social media, Ben Mbarek’s sister, Dalila Ben Mbarek Msaddek, expressed grave concerns about his health, stating that medical professionals had identified a “highly dangerous toxin” adversely impacting his kidneys. Despite receiving hospital care, Ben Mbarek reportedly refused nutritional supplements, choosing to uphold his protest—now extending into its 17th day.
Following a brief hospitalization, he was returned to prison, prompting further public outcry regarding his treatment. Ben Mbarek’s attorney, Hanen Khmiri, reported allegations of mistreatment, claiming that he suffered physical abuse by prison guards in an effort to pressure him to terminate his hunger strike. Khmiri noted that she has lodged a formal complaint with authorities, who have pledged to investigate the matter.
Ben Mbarek has been vocal about his opposition to Tunisian President Kais Saied, who has held power since 2019. In April, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison on serious charges including “conspiracy against state security” and involvement with a terrorist group. These charges have drawn criticism from human rights advocates, who view them as politically motivated and symptomatic of a broader decline in civil liberties since Saied’s consolidation of power in July 2021.
The political landscape in Tunisia remains tense, as rights organizations have chronicled a significant decline in democratic freedoms post-2021. This period has seen widespread crackdowns on dissent, with many journalists and legal professionals facing prosecution under stringent laws enacted to combat so-called “fake news.”
In a show of solidarity, members of Tunisia’s political opposition, including those similarly imprisoned, have announced plans to join Ben Mbarek in a collective hunger strike. This group includes Issam Chebbi of the centrist Al Joumhouri Party and Rached Ghannouchi, the senior leader of the Ennahdha party, who have faced their own legal challenges.
As debates about the state of democracy in Tunisia intensify, the outcomes for Ben Mbarek and his compatriots will likely have significant implications for the nation’s future governance and civil rights.
#PoliticsNews #MiddleEastNews