Putri Anggraini
Four Tunisian pro-Palestinian activists have spent six months in pre-trial detention following their arrests over solidarity campaigning, sparking heightened alarm as one of the organizers enters the fourth week of an open-ended hunger strike.
The detainees were arrested as part of an investigation into the organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a civil initiative aimed at challenging Israel’s naval blockade on the Gaza Strip. Concerns have centered on Wael Naouar, an activist and steering committee member of the flotilla campaign, who launched a hunger strike on August 16 to decry his ongoing detention without trial.
Naouar’s legal counsel, Bassem Trifi, who also serves as the president of the Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH), confirmed that the organizer had reached his 24th day without food. Trifi, having visited his client in custody, described Naouar’s physical state as exceedingly grave, noting that he had shed approximately 18 kilograms (40 pounds) since refusing sustenance.
Medical indicators have shown alarming declines, with the detainee experiencing low blood sugar, drops in blood pressure, and persistent difficulties with breathing, speaking, and walking. Trifi added that Naouar continues to suffer from extensive bodily pain, with acute discomfort concentrated in his stomach.
Despite the life-threatening physical consequences, supporters emphasize that the protest is a deliberate stand against the criminalization of their activism. Anis Harrathi, a member of the detainees' support committee, explained that Naouar is fully conscious of the mortal danger he faces but views submission to the judicial measures as a far more hazardous precedent.
According to Harrathi, the demonstration extends beyond Naouar's individual imprisonment, reflecting resistance to what advocates view as a systematic campaign to transform civic engagement and solidarity with Palestinians into state security charges. He noted that the activist chose to place his physical well-being on the line rather than allow judicial mechanisms to be used to silence opposition voices.
The arrests date back to March, when Tunisian authorities initially detained seven individuals linked to the flotilla's preparation. While three activists were subsequently released, Naouar remains incarcerated alongside Nabil Channoufi, Ghassan Henchiri, and Ghassan Boughdiri. To date, none of the four men has been convicted of any crime as the case remains under formal judicial inquiry.
The proceedings were launched by Tunisia’s Economic and Financial Judicial Pole, a specialized court division responsible for investigating significant financial and economic crimes. The probe began after state news agency TAP, citing judicial sources, reported that authorities were examining what they termed suspicious financial flows collected by the organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
Judicial investigators have focused on tracking the origin and destination of donations, assessing whether funds intended for the maritime mission were improperly diverted. Defense lawyers confirmed that the formal allegations being explored encompass aggravated breach of trust, forgery, and money laundering.
In response to the accusations, Trifi maintained that the money collected was part of an open public solidarity campaign rather than a commercial enterprise. The defense argued that applying standard public procurement regulations and rigid accounting rules to grassroots humanitarian fundraising is inappropriate, especially given that donation drives were held in public venues under the direct knowledge and watch of state security agencies.
Tunisian authorities have consistently declined to offer public statements detailing the precise evidentiary basis of the charges, nor have they responded to inquiries regarding the detention conditions or the deteriorating medical state of Naouar.
Representatives of the Global Sumud Flotilla have rejected all official accusations as entirely baseless, demanding the immediate release of the organizers. Advocates argue that the legal maneuvers are explicitly calculated to suppress local mobilization and hinder future civilian maritime efforts directed toward breaking the blockade on Gaza.
The ongoing detention unfolds against a backdrop of mounting international criticism regarding the narrowing space for civil society in Tunisia. A recent report by Human Rights Watch revealed a pattern of authorities weaponizing money laundering and financial offense statutes against non-governmental organizations, documenting the prosecution of at least 47 individuals tied to civil society groups and the imprisonment of 14 others since 2025.
Human rights organizations, including HuMENA, have called for the immediate release of the four detainees, warning that their prolonged pre-trial incarceration undermines basic due process guarantees and punishes peaceful civic action. International figures, such as Brazilian activist Thiago Avila, who previously participated in the flotilla and faced Israeli detention, have also joined calls demanding their freedom.
Defiance remains evident among local supporters, who gathered in Tunis for a solidarity rally to reiterate their commitment to the imprisoned organizers. Addressing the crowd, Rachid Othmani, a representative of the National Committee for Defense of Sumud Flotilla Activists, affirmed that public mobilization would persist despite state pressure, praising Naouar's steadfastness as he confronts acute medical peril behind bars.
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