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Messaadine Prison: Journalist Chadha Haj Mbarek on Open Hunger Strike to Protest Denial of Medical Treatment

The family of detained journalist Chadha Haj Mbarek reported, in a moving letter conveyed by her sister, that Chadha has been on an open hunger strike since Wednesday, May 14, 2025, to protest the “blatant violation of her right to health care” inside Messaadine Prison in Sousse, where she has been detained in inhumane conditions.

The detained journalist suffers from high blood pressure affecting her eyes, serious problems with her spine, shoulder, and right wrist, in addition to frequent vomiting and loss of consciousness due to pain and an intolerance to painkillers due to her deteriorating condition.

Refusal of a meeting by the administration and lack of medical care:

Haj Mbarek stated in her letter that she had repeatedly requested to meet with the prison administration to complain about her deteriorating health, but has received no response so far. She also explained that she was repeatedly taken to the hospital for tests, without being informed of her diagnosis or being granted the necessary treatment, despite possible medical recommendations for spinal surgery.

Her sister stated that the last phone call with her was cut off while she was crying and pleading for urgent intervention to save her life. She noted that lawyers are currently unable to visit her until an appeal hearing is scheduled.

Violation of the Right to Health and Dignity of Detainees:

The Freedom for Tunisia Observatory sounds the alarm on the serious health condition of journalist Chadha Haj Mbarek. It considers her denial of healthcare and the systematic medical neglect she is subjected to a grave violation of the right to health, guaranteed under Article 43 of the Tunisian Constitution and Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as a clear violation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules).

The Observatory affirms that denying detainees adequate healthcare constitutes a form of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, especially when the detainees suffer from critical health conditions that directly affect their right to life and physical integrity.

The Freedom for Tunisia Observatory calls for:

  • The urgent transfer of journalist Chadha Haj Mbarek to a hospital outside prison for necessary medical examinations and interventions;
  • An investigation into the circumstances of her medical neglect inside Messaadine Prison and holding those responsible for any negligence or neglect accountable;
  • Enabling her family and lawyers to visit her and review her medical and judicial status without delay;
  • Her immediate release, given that the conditions of her detention have become life-threatening and constitute a grave violation of human rights.

The Observatory holds the judicial and administrative authorities fully responsible for any serious developments affecting the journalist’s health and calls on civil society and international bodies to take urgent action to save her life.

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Call to Action

Website petition: Freedom for prisoners of conscience and activists in Tunisia!

Tunisia is no longer the Arab exception that inspired the world in 2011 with a heroic revolution that overthrew the rule of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled for nearly 23 years after seizing power on November 7, 1987, in a coup against Habib Bourguiba.

In a similar and perhaps more dangerous move, on the night of July 25, 2021, Tunisian President Kais Saied carried out a “constitutional coup” in accordance with his personal interpretation of Article 80 of the 2014 Revolutionary Constitution, announcing that he had taken a set of exceptional measures due to the “imminent danger” that threatens Tunisia without providing any details or reasons.

In accordance with these measures, Saied dismissed the government and the prime minister Hichem Mechichi who was present at the National Security Council that night at the Carthage Palace, and claimed that he had contacted the Speaker of Parliament Rached Ghannouchi (leader of the Ennahdha party) to consult with him in accordance with what is stipulated by the constitution, a claim which Ghannouchi denied since the call was general and did not include anything about exceptional measures or any consultation on the matter. The president suspended Parliament and later dissolved it in March 2022.

Not only did Saied seek to bypass his powers and the articles of the Constitution, which he swore to protect before the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, but he went on to dismiss and change the composition of the Supreme Judicial Council after redefining the judiciary it as a “function” rather than an independent authority. He further replaced members of the Supreme Electoral Commission in preparation for the referendum he held in order to vote on a constitution that he wrote himself after dismissing the proposals of the drafting committee he had himself appointed. Then legislative elections were held over two rounds, in which the participation rate did not exceed 8% of the total number of voters, with the Election Commission later announcing that it had reached 11%, which is the lowest participation rate in Tunisia and globally.

On February 11, President Saied’s regime launched a campaign of protests that has not stopped since, against political leaders, media figures, journalists, judges and senior officials and civil servants, for charges of “conspiring against the security of the state and committing an offensive act against the President of the Republic,” in addition to other charges that were referred to the military prosecution, leading one to wonder about the implication of the Tunisian army in the actions taken by Saied.

The arbitrary arrests were marred by several procedural violations amid criticism from prominent international organizations and observatories in the field of human rights. The standards of litigation and detention period and conditions were not respected. Prosecution and harassment sometimes extended to the detainees’ families, and no evidence, and in many cases, no charges against them were presented.

Moreover trade unions and political parties continue to be subjected to constant harassment and restrictions. Saied continues to target all “intermediary bodies” accusing them of “collaboration” or “treason”. Civil society associations have also been subjected to prosecution, arbitrary arrests and deprivation from representation, in a context of of increasing violence in society due to the authorities’ adoption of racist and discriminatory speeches and rhetoric inciting infighting and violating human dignity.

In light of the above, we, the undersigned, demand the following:

Call for the immediate release of all political detainees, immediately and unconditionally. We also urge the Tunisian authorities to recognize the national and the international human rights treaties they have ratified.
Call on the Tunisian authorities to stop dismantling the nascent democracy and put an end to unfair trials and prosecutions against political opponents of the regime and anyone who criticises it.
Call on all activists and observers to join the national movement for restoring democracy and ending authoritarian rule that has taken Tunisia back to despotism, injustice, and violations of rights and freedoms.