Ben Mbarek, one of President Kais Saied’s most outspoken critics, has been on hunger strike for two weeks. He was detained in 2023 and sentenced earlier this year to 18 years in prison on charges of plotting to overthrow Saied, accusations he has repeatedly denied as politically motivated.
“Ben Mbarek faced torture. He was severely beaten, we saw fractures and bruises on his body,” said his lawyer, Hanen Khmiri. “He told me that four prison guards attacked him in an area without surveillance cameras.”
The prison authority did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment but earlier this week denied that hunger-striking detainees were in poor health.
Ben Mbarek’s family say he has continued his hunger strike despite the alleged assault. His protest is part of a wider movement involving at least five imprisoned opposition figures, including Rached Ghannouchi, the 84-year-old leader of the Ennahda party, as well as Issam Chebbi, Reda Belhaj and Abdelhamid Jlassi.
The detainees insist the charges against them are fabricated and have demanded their immediate release.
Ben Mbarek’s father said he holds President Saied personally responsible for his son’s safety and that he had reported the abuse to prison authorities. “The prison director promised to investigate the allegations,” he added.
Rights groups have repeatedly accused Saied’s government of weaponising the judiciary to silence dissent and erode democracy. Saied, who assumed sweeping powers in 2021 and began ruling by decree, denies the accusations, insisting the judiciary remains independent. He has branded opposition leaders “traitors” and “terrorists” and has warned judges against acquitting them.