As the health of detained activists worsens, their families describe the emotional toll of separation, hunger strikes, and uncertainty.
Tunis, Tunisia – Nine-year-old Yassar Naouar visits his father in prison, trying to remain strong for Wael, his father. He refrains from crying in front of him, fearing it would add to the pain of their situation. After leaving the prison, Yassar finds a private space to express his emotions.
Hichem Naouar, Yassar’s grandfather, notes that the boy has changed since Wael's detention, now sleeping beside his mother after waking up screaming at night, and his academic performance has declined. When Yassar mentioned that other children asked if his father was a thief, his mother prompted him to share his thoughts.
Wael’s youngest child, four-year-old Sumud, does not comprehend her father's imprisonment. Hichem recounts taking her to visit Wael, where she attempted to embrace him through the glass barrier, only to bump her head against it.
Hichem spoke to Al Jazeera on Wednesday outside the Tunis Court of Appeal, where he was following the latest developments regarding Wael's detention. He described Wael's condition during his last visit, noting that Wael was struggling to see clearly, had difficulty keeping food down, and was experiencing dizziness. Wael had mentioned to Hichem that he sometimes wakes at night calling out for his youngest daughter.
Hichem reflected on Wael's character, recalling an incident during the Sumud land convoy in Libya in May, where Wael intervened to help another participant escape from armed men. He also recounted how Wael jumped into the sea to rescue a woman during the first Sumud flotilla.
Wael, 41, began a hunger strike on August 16 to protest his continued detention and was hospitalized due to his deteriorating health. He suspended his strike after 38 days, stating that this decision did not mean he was abandoning his demands.
Wael Naouar, Ghassan Henchiri, Ghassan Boughdiri, and Nabil Channoufi have been detained since March following an investigation by Tunisia’s Economic and Financial Judicial Pole regarding alleged financial irregularities linked to fundraising for the Global Sumud Flotilla, which aims to deliver aid to Gaza and challenge Israel’s blockade.
The state-owned TAP news agency reported that investigators are examining the origin and use of funds collected for the flotilla and whether any were misappropriated. The activists and their defense team have consistently denied any wrongdoing and maintain their innocence. None of the four has been convicted.
Their lawyers question the necessity of their continued detention while the investigation is ongoing. Ghassan Ghribi, a member of the defense committee, criticized the latest extension of their pretrial detention as an “exception to the exception,” arguing that freedom should be the norm. The four-month extension was ordered on September 11, and the defense has challenged this decision in the Court of Appeal.
Ghribi stated that the investigating judge had spent six months on the case without conducting any significant investigative work beyond questioning the activists. The Court of Appeal rejected the challenge on Wednesday, extending the quartet's pretrial detention for another four months. Henchiri, Boughdiri, and Channoufi are still on hunger strike.
Authorities have framed the case as a financial investigation rather than a prosecution related to the activists' political or pro-Palestinian activities. The government has denied allegations that the judiciary is being used to silence dissent, asserting that the judiciary operates independently and that legal proceedings adhere to the law.
The situation has extended beyond the four activists. Fourteen individuals detained after a protest on September 19 calling for their release have also been placed in pretrial detention, including a 17-year-old. Lawyer Rafed Rabbeh confirmed that the detainees face several charges, including participating in a gathering allegedly intended to disturb public order.
Sebti, Ghassan Henchiri’s father, reported that his son remains conscious but is visibly fatigued after being on hunger strike since September 9. He mentioned that Ghassan has not received medical attention for a head injury sustained during his detention in Israel.
Ghassan has other health issues, including living with one kidney and back problems, and has developed a skin rash that prevents him from sleeping. His request to see a dermatologist was denied.
“I will remain steadfast, I will not give up my right and these malicious accusations are false,” Ghassan told his father.
Sebti described Ghassan’s political commitment as deeply rooted in family values, noting his long history of activism for freedom and workers' rights.
Human Rights Watch has expressed concerns regarding the use of financial investigations against civil society actors in Tunisia. The impact of the detentions is felt by the Naouar and Henchiri families, as they navigate prison visits and anxious phone calls. Yassar continues to inquire about his father's whereabouts and has expressed a willingness to go on hunger strike himself. Sumud, when asked about her father, simply responds, “Palestine. Prison.”