On October 29, 2025, Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, a law professor detained in connection with the absurd case of "plotting against state security", decided to go on a savage hunger strike to denounce the violations of his human rights: infringement of his liberty, denial of a fair trial, exclusion from his own trial - as is now the case for the majority of detainees prosecuted for "anti-terrorist" cases. The de facto aim of these instrumentalized procedures is to desertify the political scene and banish from the public arena any dissident or even simple critic of the president-pharaoh Kaïs Saïed.

Alarmed by the seriousness of his condition, his family, activists, public figures and civil society associations called on Jaouhar Ben Mbarek to end his strike, while condemning the inaction and recklessness of the authorities - in particular the minister in charge, Leila Jaffel.

In reaction to Jaouhar Ben Mbarek's strike, other prisoners have also announced a wildcat hunger strike, in solidarity and for the same demands. Among them:
Rached Ghannouchi, Ridha Belhaj, Abdelhamid Jlassi and Issam Chebbi, Mehdi Ben Gharbia all still on strike.

Several petitions, press releases and demonstrations were organized in support of the detainees and to denounce the regime's irresponsibility.

As usual, the first reaction came in the form of campaigns of accusations, lies and political instrumentalization on social networks.

Faced with the magnitude of the affair, the General Directorate of Prisons published a statement on its website and social networks denying that the health of the striking prisoners had deteriorated. It stated that their condition was "normal" following medical checks, and announced that it had ordered investigations with a view to filing a complaint against anyone "deliberately" spreading false news.

These threats and this denial fanned the flames of criticism, particularly from civil society and the President of the Bar Association, who confirmed the seriousness of Jaouhar Ben Mbarek's state of health.

On November 12, 2025, Belli prison, where he is incarcerated, drove the nail into the coffin by refusing to allow his sister and lawyer, Dalila Ben Mbarek Msadek, to visit him, on the pretext that there was no wheelchair to transport him - since he could no longer move around. This despite the fact that, according to the prison authorities and his doctors, his condition is "normal".

Worse still, the prison authorities confiscated the judicial document authorizing Dalila Ben Mbarek Msadek to visit her client, to show their supremacy over the judicial party that had issued it.

Also on November 12, Hanen Khmiri, Jaouhar Ben Mbarek's lawyer, met with him. Following this visit, she filed a complaint with the Public Prosecutor's Office for torture and ill-treatment. According to her testimony, after a visit from his lawyer on November 11, Jaouhar Ben Mbarek - even though he could no longer walk - was assaulted and beaten by five officers and several detainees acting on orders, when he returned to his cell. He reportedly lost consciousness several times and bore clear signs of violence.

On the same day, prison management also refused a visit from a member of the Bar Association, despite the fact that he had the requisite judicial authorization.

Also on November 12, 2025, a judicial source told AFP that, following complaints lodged by the General Directorate of Prisons for "spreading rumors and false information" about the hunger strikes, three lawyers are being prosecuted:
Me Dalila Ben Mbarek Msadek, Me Ayechi Hammami and Me Samir Dilou.

All three have already been prosecuted several times on the basis of the infamous article 24 of decree-law 54-2022, and are among the most active defenders of detainees in the "conspiracy" case and in other political and opinion cases, or cases involving dismissed magistrates.

In a statement issued on November 12, the President of the Bar Association denounced the violations and illegal behavior of the authorities. He affirmed that no infringement of the rights of the defense would be tolerated, called for respect for the law and the identification of those responsible, and announced that further measures would be taken by the Bar Council.

The CRLDHT 

• Reaffirms its solidarity with Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, all detainees on hunger strike, and all litigants whose rights are being trampled under this regime.
• Condemns once again, in the strongest possible terms, the systematic and premeditated violations of human rights, the principles of the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary perpetrated by the Tunisian authorities.
• Holds Kaïs Saïed and his repressive apparatus politically and, above all, criminally responsible for the deterioration in the strikers' state of health, as well as that of all inmates who are victims of prison conditions and the negligence of prison authorities.
• Calls on all Tunisians, as well as civil institutions and associations, to redouble their efforts to restore the gains of their revolution and their project for a State governed by the rule of law, a democratic Republic respectful of rights and freedoms.