Tunisian Opposition Leader Ghannouchi Begins Hunger Strike in Prison
Ghannouchi joins fellow opposition figures on hunger strike amid political crackdown in Tunisia
- Rached Ghannouchi begins hunger strike, joining two other jailed opposition leaders
- Opposition accuses President Saied of political repression and using the judiciary to consolidate power
- Human rights groups warn of serious health risks for hunger-striking politicians
Jailed Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi, 84, has started a hunger strike, joining two other prominent politicians in protesting what they call “unjust imprisonment,” lawyers reported on Saturday. The action intensifies the ongoing standoff between opposition figures and President Kais Saied.
Most opposition leaders in Tunisia are currently behind bars, with critics accusing Saied of using the judiciary to consolidate power and turning the country into an “open-air prison.”
Ghannouchi, head of the Ennahda party and a longtime critic of Saied, follows Jawhar Ben Mbarek, who began a hunger strike last week, and Republican Party leader Issam Chebbi, who started his strike on Friday demanding release.
Detained since 2023, Ghannouchi has been sentenced to a total of 37 years across multiple cases, including charges of illicit foreign financing and conspiracy against the state. He has refused to appear in court, citing a judiciary loyal to Saied.
Lawyers and human rights groups warn that Ben Mbarek’s health has sharply deteriorated during his hunger strike, noting he is refusing treatment and faces serious risk. The Tunisian Prisons Authority denies worsening conditions, stating that medical checks indicate the prisoners’ health is “normal and stable.”
This year, courts issued sentences ranging from five to 66 years for opposition leaders, including Ben Mbarek and Chebbi, on charges such as “conspiracy against state security.” Human rights organizations say the prosecutions are politically motivated.
Lawyer Dalila Ben Mbarek reported that Jawhar told her he would leave prison “either free or dead,” while his father held President Saied personally responsible for any harm to his son, calling him a dictator.
Opposition figures argue that Saied’s 2021 closure of the elected parliament and his subsequent rule by decree amounted to a coup. Saied rejects this, claiming his actions were necessary to prevent chaos and labelling the jailed opposition leaders as criminals, traitors, and terrorists.
