Tunisian Opposition Leader Hospitalised After 17-Day Hunger Strike
His hunger strike, launched to protest his imprisonment, has reportedly caused a “highly dangerous toxin” to affect his kidneys, according to his sister, Dalila Ben Mbarek Msaddek
A prominent Tunisian opposition figure, Jawhar Ben Mbarek, has been hospitalised with severe dehydration after more than two weeks on hunger strike, his family confirmed on Friday
Ben Mbarek, co-founder of the National Salvation Front and a key critic of President Kais Saied, has been in detention since February 2023
His hunger strike, launched to protest his imprisonment, has reportedly caused a “highly dangerous toxin” to affect his kidneys, according to his sister, Dalila Ben Mbarek Msaddek
Although he received treatment after being transferred to hospital on Thursday night, Ben Mbarek refused nutritional supplements and insisted on continuing the strike, now in its 17th day. He was discharged and returned to prison on Friday afternoon
His family and lawyer also allege that guards at Belli Prison assaulted him earlier in the week. His lawyer, Hanen Khemiri, has since filed a torture complaint with the public prosecutor. Prison authorities say they have launched an investigation into the incident
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Ben Mbarek was sentenced in April to 18 years in prison on charges of “conspiracy against state security” and “belonging to a terrorist group” accusations rights groups have criticised as politically motivated, part of a broader crackdown on dissent since Saied’s 2021 power consolidation
Several opposition leaders, including 84-year-old Ennahdha party head Rached Ghannouchi, have begun their own hunger strikes in solidarity
Prison authorities maintain that all detainees are under continuous medical supervision and deny reports of deteriorating health among strikers
