Tunisian Journalist Enters Hunger Strike Amid Deteriorating Health
Chadha Haj Mubarak, a Tunisian journalist, has initiated an open hunger strike on November 3, 2024, while imprisoned at Messaadine prison near Sousse. The Association of Victims of Torture has expressed grave concerns regarding her health, attributing her decision to the lack of medical care and inhumane living conditions. Reports indicate that she has been deprived of painkillers for nearly a month and has not seen a doctor to address severe pain affecting her body due to medical neglect.
Haj Mubarak has been incarcerated for 14 months, facing serious charges including “changing the state’s structure” and “disrupting public security,” linked to her role in publishing journalistic content. Her case is part of a broader crackdown on media freedom in Tunisia under President Kais Saied's administration, which has been criticized for its repressive measures against journalists and political dissenters. The National Union of Tunisian Journalists has called for accountability from the Ministry of Justice and the General Administration of Prisons regarding her health and safety.
Calls for Immediate Release and Support for Journalists
The Geneva-based association and other human rights groups have demanded the immediate release of Haj Mubarak and her fellow journalists, emphasizing the need to end arbitrary judicial prosecutions against media professionals. The Tunisian authorities, however, have not provided a public response to these demands. The situation highlights a worrying trend of repression in Tunisia, where journalists face increasing risks under the current regime, which has been accused of stifling free speech and undermining democratic processes since the exceptional measures taken on July 25, 2021.
