Naouar, who a year ago tried to break Israel’s naval blockade by sailing from Sidi Bou Said with the Global Sumud Flotilla, was arrested in March along with three other flotilla organisers on accusations of misusing donated funds – allegations they all deny.
His family says his health has deteriorated sharply in detention; human‑rights lawyer Bassem Trifi of the Tunisian League for Human Rights described Naouar’s condition as “critical and on the verge of death.”
The hunger strike, now more than a month old, has sparked street protests in the capital, including a recent demonstration that ended with 14 arrests, and has drawn statements of support from artists and civil‑society groups who argue the case is politically motivated.
Critics contend the arrests are part of a broader crackdown on activists, journalists and opposition figures that intensified after President Kais Saied consolidated power in 2021, while the government maintains the prosecutions are purely judicial and unrelated to Naouar’s activism.
Naouar’s mother, Hamida Dridi, told Reuters she believes her son is innocent and expressed anguish over his deteriorating health, while his brother Nabil warned that any fatal outcome would be blamed on the president and the justice ministry.
Tunisia’s authorities have not responded to requests for comment on Naouar’s condition, and the prime minister’s office has not provided a statement on the case.