Tunis: Tunisia's opposition figure Jaouhar Ben Mbarek continued his open-ended hunger strike in prison, marking his 17th day without food on Friday. Ben Mbarek, the cofounder of the country's main opposition alliance, the National Salvation Front, launched a hunger strike on Oct. 29 in Belli Prison, Nabeul Governorate, demanding his freedom.
According to Anadolu Agency, Ben Mbarek announced on Friday evening via Facebook that he would continue his hunger strike and struggle with his body until their demands are met. He expressed appreciation for the support he has received both inside Tunisia and abroad and praised the detainees who went on a hunger strike in solidarity with him, namely the secretary-general of the Republican Party, Issam Chebbi, the head of the Ennahda Party, Rached Ghannouchi, politician Abdelhamid Jelassi, and the leader of the National Salvation Front, Reda Belhaj.
On Wednesday, Ben Mbarek's defense team reported that he was severely assaulted inside his cell after refusing to eat and end his hunger strike. Meanwhile, Tunisia's General Authority for Prisons and Rehabilitation dismissed reports on the deterioration of health conditions of some prisoners due to their hunger strike, labeling them as fake news and systematic fallacies by some parties.
Since early 2023, numerous figures including politicians, journalists, activists, judges, and businessmen have been detained on charges such as attempting to undermine public order and state security, spying for foreign parties, and inciting chaos or disobedience. The opposition describes these actions as part of a campaign of intimidation led by President Kais Saied. Ben Mbarek, sentenced to 18 years in April on charges of conspiracy against state security, is among several opposition figures prosecuted under the same case. President Saied has defended the arrests, asserting they target those involved in plots against the state and attempts to worsen the economic crisis.