Tunisian Flotilla Activist Hospitalized in Critical Condition After Hunger Strike

Wael Naouar has been hospitalized in critical condition after more than a month on hunger strike over pretrial detention in Tunisia. Bassem Trifi said he is in a very critical health condition and on the verge of death. The Global Sumud Flotilla said he is in hospital on day 39 and that authorities are refusing to disclose any information with his family or lawyers, after a judge rejected the appeal against extending Sumud 4 pre-trial detention. His lawyer said he lost more than 20 kg (44 lb). Ghassen Bouaazi said Naouar has fainted, had trouble breathing and hallucinated, and that a real danger threatens him. Arrested in March with Ghassen Henchiri, Ghassen Boughdiri and Nabil Channoufi, he faces money-laundering, misuse of donated funds and suspicious financial activity charges the four deny. No trial date is set. The flotilla left Tunisia last September and was intercepted by Israel; footage of Naouar confronting Israeli soldiers circulated online. Authorities deny the case is politically motivated; lawyers and supporters say it punishes pro-Palestinian activism. Human Rights Watch documented alleged weaponisation of financial investigations against civil society activists. Tunis protest arrests were reported as at least 11, 14, or more than a dozen. Hamida Dridi said her son did nothing wrong and that the laughter is gone. Brother Nabil said the family would hold the president and justice ministry responsible if anything happened to him.