Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, a Tunisian opposition figure, has embarked on a hunger strike in protest of his exclusion from in-person court proceedings. Accused of state conspiracy alongside approximately 40 fellow critics of President Kais Saied, Ben Mbarek asserts his right to defend against what he deems baseless accusations. His lawyer, Samir Dilou, shared Ben Mbarek’s determination to personally contest the allegations, stating that the hunger strike commenced on March 30.
Currently imprisoned since February 2023, Ben Mbarek is part of a broader crackdown on dissent that has seen many activists, journalists, and politicians face trials for charges including plotting against state security. Rights organizations have denounced these proceedings as a violation of justice. Human Rights Watch labelled the mass trial a ‘mockery’ and called for the release of those implicated.
Among the nine defendants barred from court appearances, Ben Mbarek contests the validity of the remote option allowed for his defence, preferring the courthouse as the appropriate arena to confront his charges. His stance is shared by the International Commission of Jurists, which criticized the Tunisian judiciary for infringing on detainee rights, potentially compromising the integrity of the trial.
President Saied’s controversial rule following his power grab in July 2021 has faced ongoing scrutiny, especially as critics, including Ben Mbarek, question the erosion of democratic rights since the 2011 revolution. Although Saied claims he will not be a dictator, he insists on accountability for those he labels as corrupt or treasonous, further polarising the political landscape in Tunisia.
Jaouhar Ben Mbarek has initiated a hunger strike to protest his exclusion from in-person trial proceedings on state conspiracy charges. Imprisoned since February 2023, he is among 40 critics facing serious accusations linked to a systemic crackdown on dissent under President Kais Saied. Rights groups denounce the trial as unjust and call for the immediate release of those charged.
Jaouhar Ben Mbarek’s hunger strike highlights a critical moment in Tunisia’s political climate where dissent is met with harsh reprisal. His fight for an in-person trial underscores the broader struggle against perceived judicial injustices and the silencing of opposition voices under President Saied’s rule. As international rights groups call for reform and the release of political prisoners, the case of Ben Mbarek exemplifies the complexities of Tunisia’s evolving democracy.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
