Tunisia: Opposition figure Jaouhar Ben Mbarek begins hunger strike over trial conditions

Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, a prominent opposition figure in Tunisia, has started a hunger strike to protest his exclusion from his own trial proceedings.

Arrested in February 2023 over alleged state conspiracy charges, Ben Mbarek is one of dozens of political figures, journalists, and activists who have been detained in a crackdown on dissent under President Kais Saied.

His lawyer, Samir Dilou, revealed that Ben Mbarek began his hunger strike on March 30, demanding the right to appear in court in person to challenge the charges against him. The trial, which includes about 40 defendants, has been widely criticized as politically motivated, with rights groups such as Human Rights Watch calling it a “mockery” of justice.

Ben Mbarek, who is a former constitutional law professor, argues that being barred from attending the trial in person and offered only remote participation severely undermines his ability to defend himself. His defense team claims that the conditions are inadequate for a fair trial and that the remote proceedings are staged, taking place in a prison facility rather than a proper courtroom. The International Commission of Jurists has also condemned Tunisia’s judiciary for violating detainees’ rights during the pre-trial phase, further deepening concerns about the legitimacy of the proceedings. Ben Mbarek’s demand to be present in court reflects his belief that the charges against him are baseless and politically motivated.

The trial of Ben Mbarek and other opposition figures has sparked widespread protests from those who view the charges as a further erosion of Tunisia’s post-revolution democratic gains. Since Saied’s controversial power grab in 2021, which included the suspension of parliament and the introduction of presidential rule by decree, many of his critics have faced imprisonment and legal battles. The defendants, including former political leaders and high-ranking officials, are accused of plotting against state security. Ben Mbarek and others assert that their prosecution is an attempt to silence opposition voices and stifle dissent in the face of growing authoritarianism under Saied’s regime.