Jailed Ennahda leader Ghannouchi begins hunger, medication strike

Rached Ghannouchi, the imprisoned leader of Tunisia's Ennahda movement, launched a hunger and medication strike on August 6 to protest the "complete isolation" imposed on him at a hospital, his defense team said on Monday. The 85-year-old former parliamentary speaker was transferred to the medical facility on July 29, where authorities subsequently barred his lawyers and family from visiting or communicating with him, according to the statement posted on his Facebook page.

Hospital isolation protest

The defense team detailed the restrictions in their statement. "Since then, complete isolation has been imposed on him, with his lawyers and family prevented from visiting him, communicating with him or even being provided with any information about his health condition, despite repeated requests submitted to all concerned authorities," they said. The statement added that Ghannouchi began refusing sustenance and medication five days ago as a final measure to defend his basic rights amid the information blackout.

'Inhuman abuse' allegations

The lawyers described the treatment of the elderly politician — who suffers from delicate health — as "inhuman abuse" and a serious violation of his physical safety. "In light of this total blackout on information, the defense team learned that Ghannouchi began a hunger and medication strike on Aug. 6 to protest his isolation and deprivation of his most basic rights, as a last resort to defend them," the statement read.

The defense team held Tunisian authorities "fully responsible for these violations and for any serious complications that may result and threaten the health and life of its client." It demanded that "his lawyers and family be allowed to visit him and check on his health condition."

Legal background

Ghannouchi has remained in custody since his arrest on April 17, 2023, following the dissolution of parliament by President Kais Saied. Courts have handed down multiple prison sentences against him on charges of incitement against state security related to remarks attributed to him, though he maintains the prosecutions are politically motivated.

Tunisian authorities insist the cases are purely criminal matters without political interference, a claim dismissed by opposition figures who view the trials as part of a broader crackdown on dissent. There was no immediate comment from Tunisian authorities regarding the defense team's latest statement about his hospital conditions.