Wahel Nawar, a prominent Tunisian activist, who last year attempted to send humanitarian aid to Gaza on a boat, has now been on an endless hunger strike in a prison outside Tunisia for over a month. He is demanding the cancellation of financial charges brought against him and three other activists who were arrested with him.
Nawar's Fate and Conditions
Wahel Nawar, recognized as one of the well-known figures in Tunisia's social movements, has been arrested on charges of money laundering and misuse of financial aid. His family and lawyers have stated that his health condition has severely deteriorated and he is in a critical state. Bassem Trifi, the head of the Tunisian Human Rights League, described his condition as "very critical and close to death."
Nawar's mother, Hamida Dreyidi, expressed her concerns in an interview, saying: "I don’t understand why he was arrested. My son has done nothing wrong." This expression of emotion reflects the deep distress of the family and community regarding the situation of Nawar and other activists.
Criticism and Reactions
Criticism of the Tunisian government for the arrest of activists, journalists, and opposition politicians has intensified. Many believe that these arrests are indicative of a crackdown on civil liberties in Tunisia, which began after the Arab Spring protests in 2011. The Tunisian government claims that the charges against Nawar and other political activists have no political motivation and that the judicial process is independent and fair.
Protests in the capital Tunis have erupted following Nawar's arrest, with one of these protests leading to the arrest of 14 people last week. Tunisian artist, Monir Trudi, stated at one of these protests: "He is on a hunger strike and the authorities are doing nothing." Nawar's family is seeking support for him in this situation, believing that his life is in danger.
His brother, Nabil, also expressed his concerns, stating that if anything happens to his brother, he will hold the President and the Ministry of Justice responsible. In Tunisia, the media have no direct communication with the presidency or the Ministry of Justice, which further fuels concerns.
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