Jailed Tunisian activist begins hunger strike in protest

Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, a Tunisian opposition figure arrested in February 2023 on state conspiracy charges, has begun a hunger strike, according to Al Jazeera.

His protest comes in response to being prohibited from attending his own trial in person, his defense lawyer stated on Facebook.

Mbarek is among approximately 40 defendants facing a mass trial launched in March, accused of crimes ranging from "plotting against state security" to "belonging to a terrorist group." Human Rights Watch has condemned the trial as a "mockery" and called for the detainees' immediate release.

In recent years, numerous lawyers, politicians, and journalists critical of President Kais Saied have been imprisoned, with rights groups decrying what they describe as a broad crackdown on dissent.

Mbarek is one of nine defendants reportedly deemed a security risk and prohibited from attending their own hearings.

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), a global rights group of judges and lawyers, has also criticized Tunisia's judiciary for "systematic violations" of detainees' rights in pre-trial proceedings, warning that such actions undermine the integrity of the trial.

Saied, who was democratically elected in 2019, dissolved parliament two years later, ruling by decree and amending the constitution to expand his powers. While he faces accusations of authoritarianism, he maintains that his actions are necessary to combat corruption.