Tunisian opposition leader Abir Moussi begins hunger strike in prison

Abir Moussi, leader of Tunisia’s Free Destourian Party, has launched an indefinite hunger strike in Manouba prison, protesting her alleged mistreatment, her legal team said Wednesday, according to Turkey’s Anadolu Agency.

Moussi was arrested in October 2023 after attempting to file an appeal against President Kais Saied’s decree on local elections. Authorities accuse her of disrupting public order and handling personal data unlawfully. Her defense team claims she faced a health crisis last weekend but was denied proper medical care, receiving only a phone consultation and medication. 

Moussi’s arrest is part of a broader crackdown on opposition figures under Saied’s rule. Tunisia has faced growing political unrest since Saied’s 2021 power grab, with critics accusing him of authoritarianism. Her protest underscores mounting tensions between the government and opposition forces as Tunisia navigates political and economic turmoil.