Tunisia: Mehdi Ben Gharbia continues hunger strike

Mehdi Ben Gharbia’s Defense Committee declared this evening, November 13, 2021, that he is in his second week of hunger strike, which he started on Friday, November 5, 2021, to protest against refusal to meet periodically his son during visits, without barriers, to  Messaadine jail.

This rejection is due to the ban imposed by the General Authority of Prisons and Correction, which runs under the orders of the Minister of Justice, despite the permission issued by the investigating judge in charge of his case. The Committee further confirmed that Ben Gharbia insists on continuing the hunger strike in order to respect his right to meet his only son during visits, knowing that he has not yet reached the age of five, and has lost his mother months ago.

Adding that he likewise adheres to the right of all detainees to the principle introduced in article 30 of the Constitution, which states that “In the application of custodial sentences, the state takes into the record the interests of the family.” As well as the rule of the best interests of the child adopted by the Children’s Code.

In addition, it stated that Mehdi Ben Gharbia thanked the Tunisian League for the Defense of Human Rights, the National Anti-Torture Authority and all the free voices who backed his son’s right to visit him. Indicating that Ben Gharbia has announced his intention to continue his strike until his legitimate demand is met.