Tunisian flotilla activist Wael Naouar enters 24th day of hunger strike

September 10, 2026 at 07:41 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Tunisian activist Wael Naouar has entered his 24th day of hunger strike in pre-trial detention, his lawyer Bassem Trifi said on Tuesday. Naouar, a member of the Global Sumud Flotilla steering committee, has lost 18kg and suffers from low blood pressure and low blood sugar. Three other activists remain detained in the case, which involves allegations of money laundering, aggravated breach of trust, and forgery.

Key Facts

Wael Naouar began his hunger strike on August 16 to protest his continued detention.
Naouar has lost 18kg (40lb) and suffers from low blood pressure, low blood sugar, and difficulty breathing, walking, and speaking.
Seven activists were initially detained in March; three have been released, leaving Naouar, Nabil Channoufi, Ghassan Henchiri, and Ghassan Boughdiri in pre-trial detention.
The investigation was ordered by Tunisia's Economic and Financial Judicial Pole over 'suspicious financial flows' received by flotilla organisers.
Allegations include money laundering, aggravated breach of trust, and forgery, according to lawyer Bassem Trifi.

Hunger Strike

Wael Naouar, a Tunisian activist and member of the Global Sumud Flotilla steering committee, began his hunger strike on August 16 to protest his continued detention. His lawyer, Bassem Trifi, who is also president of the Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH), said on Tuesday that Naouar was entering his 24th day without food and described his condition as 'very serious'. Trifi, who visited Naouar in prison last week, said the activist had lost 18kg (40lb) and was suffering from low blood pressure and low blood sugar, as well as difficulty breathing, walking and speaking. Anis Harrathi, an activist and member of the committee supporting the detainees, said Naouar was aware of the physical risks but chose to continue because he believed remaining silent was more perilous than continuing his strike.

Detention and Investigation

Seven activists were initially detained in connection with the investigation in March; three have since been released, leaving Naouar and three others—Nabil Channoufi, Ghassan Henchiri, and Ghassan Boughdiri—in pre-trial detention. The case remains under judicial investigation, and none of the four has been convicted of an offence. The investigation was ordered by Tunisia's Economic and Financial Judicial Pole, a specialised body that handles major economic and financial cases, over what state news agency TAP described, citing a judicial source, as 'suspicious financial flows' received by organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Investigators have been examining the origin and use of the funds and whether they were diverted for purposes unrelated to the flotilla. Trifi said the investigation concerns allegations including money laundering, aggravated breach of trust, and forgery.