For several months now, there have been increasing reports of deaths in prison or in circumstances related to detention in Tunisia. Testimonies from families, publications in independent media, and alerts from activists paint a disturbing picture of a prison system marked by violence, medical negligence, and a lack of transparent investigations.
On January 16, 2026, Atef Hammami died at Charles-Nicolle Hospital in Tunis after several days in a coma. He had been transferred from Mornaguia Prison, where he had been incarcerated since December 30, 2025.
According to statements from his relatives, he was subjected to severe violence while in detention, even though he suffered from mental health issues. The family claims he was severely beaten. The case has reignited recurring questions about detention conditions in Mornaguia.
On October 29, 2025, Hatem Abed died after fourteen days in a coma. While incarcerated at the Mornaguia civil prison, he was allegedly violently beaten, particularly on the head, causing a cerebral hemorrhage, according to his relatives. The family denounced the delay in transferring him to the hospital and the lack of a thorough investigation.
Other names are circulating: Hazem Amara, Mohamed Amine Jendoubi, Wassim Ben Hafez Jaziri, Montassar Abdelwahed...
The accounts converge: admission to detention in good health, release in critical condition or death, official justifications citing "illness" or "natural causes."
The allegations relate to:
- physical violence in detention;
- refusal or delay in access to care;
- deprivation of medication;
- no coverage for medical emergencies;
- intimidation of witnesses.
Tunisia's international obligations
Under international law, any person in custody is under the exclusive care of the State : in the event of death in custody, there is a presumption of State responsibility, which must provide a clear, documented, and verifiable explanation.
Tunisia is bound by several major standards:
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) (right to life, prohibition of torture, and obligation to treat detainees with dignity), with UN bodies noting that the lack of medical care in detention may violate these rights;
- the Convention against Torture (CAT), which requires prevention, prompt and impartial investigations, and the right of families to complain and seek redress;
- the Mandela Rules, which require access to care, medical independence, investigation in the event of death, and immediate notification of relatives.
In the event of death, international law requires a prompt, independent, impartial investigation, with the effective participation of relatives and sufficient publicity of the results. An opaque or purely administrative investigation is not sufficient : the absence of a credible investigation is a violation in itself.
Finally, deprivation or delay of care can constitute inhuman treatment, or even torture by omission. The recurrence of deaths with the same characteristics (delayed transfers, lack of transparency, difficulties accessing files, absence of sanctions) raises the question of a structural problem: when it happens repeatedly, it is no longer an accident.
A matter of truth and justice
The increase in deaths in custody cannot be reduced to a series of "incidents."
The State is liable for every death. Under international law:
- A prisoner does not die "naturally" without the state being held accountable.
- The absence of a credible investigation constitutes a violation.
- The repetition of similar cases may reveal structural liability.
Beyond individual cases, the question is whether Tunisia is complying with its international commitments in terms of:
- right to life,
- prohibition of torture,
- of human dignity.
When a person is deprived of their liberty, they are under the full protection of the public authorities. If they die, the State must respond. Not with administrative formalities.
But with truth, justice, and accountability.
