Former Tunisian PM Hamadi Jebali goes on hunger strike in detention

Former Tunisian prime minister Hamadi Jebali announced on Saturday that he would go on hunger strike until he is released from incarceration, after being detained by Tunisian authorities. 

The hunger strike was confirmed by Jebali’s lawyers, after they gained access to the former PM, who is currently detained for the second time this year. 

He has been taken to the anti-terrorism headquarters in Korjani, said his legal team - on suspicion of money laundering. 

Jebali informed his legal team that he considers his detention a “kidnapping”, after he was arrested with no warning on Thursday while driving his car in the city of Sousse. 

His family said they held current Tunisian president Kais Saied responible for the former premier’s “physical and psychological safety”.

They also called for rights organisations to stand in solidarity against “oppressive practices and violations of the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the constitution and international treaties”. 

A large group of security officials had previously stormed a boiler factory owned by the family leading to Hamadi al-Jebali’s arrest, according to his wife Wahida in an interview with Arabi21. 

Private radio station Mosaique FM said Jebali had been remanded in custody this time by anti-terrorist police "on suspicion of money-laundering".

Jebali led the Tunisian government from December 2011, a year after the start of the country's revolution, until his resignation in early 2013 following the murder of leftist activist Chokri Belaid.

In 2014 he quit politics and left Ennahdha.