A third prominent Tunisian opposition leader has launched a hunger strike in prison, intensifying pressure on President Kais Saied’s government amid growing criticism over alleged political repression.
According to legal representatives, the detained politician — whose name has not been publicly disclosed for safety reasons — joined two other jailed opposition figures who began similar hunger strikes earlier this week to protest what they describe as unjust detentions and declining democratic freedoms in Tunisia.
The move follows the continued imprisonment of several opposition leaders, including Rached Ghannouchi, head of the Ennahda Party, who was sentenced earlier this year on charges widely viewed by rights groups as politically motivated.
Human rights organizations have accused the Tunisian authorities of cracking down on dissent since President Saied seized sweeping powers in 2021, dissolving parliament and ruling by decree.
In a statement, the Tunisian National Salvation Front, a coalition of opposition groups, said the hunger strikes were a “peaceful act of resistance against tyranny and the erosion of democratic institutions.”
The government has denied accusations of political persecution, maintaining that all prosecutions are being carried out in accordance with the law.
International observers, including the European Union and Amnesty International, have repeatedly urged Tunisia to respect civil liberties and ensure fair legal proceedings for opposition figures.
The hunger strikes come amid a worsening economic crisis, soaring unemployment, and increasing frustration among citizens over rising prices and limited political freedoms.
