Summary:

On 26 September 2023, the conditional release of three senior opposition figures was announced while two officials still in custody subsequently announced hunger strikes.

The three officials that were released are members of the Labour and Achievement Party, which is part of the National Salvation Front (NSF), Tunisia’s main political opposition bloc. Mohammed bin Salem, Ahmed Amari and Ali Lafi were all released though ordered to remain in the city of Gabes.

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Mohamed bin Salem and Ahmed Amari both have past affiliations with the Ennahdha party.

Meanwhile, the incarcerated leader of Tunisia’s Ennahdha Party, Rached Ghannouchi, announced that he has begun a hunger strike to express opposition to his detention and his support for other “political prisoners.”

Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, a leader from the NSF, also announced that he would begin a hunger strike. Ben Mbarek has been in custody since February 2023.

Outlook:  

International pressure is building on President Kais Saied’s administration over the detention of what many critics argue are “political prisoners.” The administration maintains that the detained opposition figures have broken, or are accused of breaking, Tunisian law and are being investigated through standard legal means.

The release of some of those under scrutiny may serve as a positive sign to the administration’s critics, however, the ongoing detention of Rached Ghannouchi remains the highest profile case that continues to draw concern from the international community.

Ghannouchi’s hunger strike has garnered significant attention and will continue to create pressure on President Saied’s administration.

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