The National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) launched a pressing appeal on Friday to provide medical care at Chadha Hadj Mbarek, journalist incarcerated since July 2023 at Messadine prison, in the governorate of Sousse.
In a statement published today, the SNJT specifies that Chadha Hadj Mbarek, owned as part of the Installo case, began a hunger strike on Thursday to protest against the refusal to provide him with the necessary care and drugs.
The journalist suffers from persistent pain in the spine and by hand, as well as high blood pressure aggravated by previous complications which would not have been supported correctly, reports the SNJT.
The union expresses its “deep concern” in the face of the deterioration of the journalist’s health and is responsible for the Ministry of Justice and the General Directorate of Prisons and Rehabilitation of any attack on its physical or mental integrity.
The SNJT denounces a “blatant violation” of international standards relating to the rights of detainees, as well as an offense to Tunisian law n ° 52 of 2001 on the penitentiary regime, in particular article 17 which guarantees the right of any prisoner to free care, in prison or in hospital.
Faced with this situation, the union renews its call for the release of Chadha Hadj Mbarek, so that it can benefit from adequate medical follow -up.
During the verdict rendered on February 5 by the second criminal chamber of the Tunis court of first instance concerning the Installo case, let us recall that the journalist received a sentence of five years in prison.
