Tunisia court upholds four-month detention extension for flotilla activists
The Court of Appeal rejected the activists’ challenge as three remain on hunger strike. Their families report health concerns, while the men deny wrongdoing and have not been convicted.
Tunisia’s Court of Appeal has rejected a challenge by four activists to a four-month extension of their pretrial detention, leaving them in custody while an investigation into fundraising for the Global Sumud Flotilla continues.
The activists — Wael Naouar, Ghassan Henchiri, Ghassan Boughdiri and Nabil Channoufi — have been detained since March. The Economic and Financial Judicial Pole is investigating alleged irregularities in funds raised for the flotilla, which seeks to deliver aid to Gaza and challenge Israel’s blockade. The men and their defence team deny wrongdoing; none has been convicted.
The extension was ordered on 11 September. Defence lawyer Ghassan Ghribi argued that detention should require clear reasons and told Al Jazeera that the investigating judge had spent six months on the case without investigative work beyond questioning the activists.
Naouar suspended a 38-day hunger strike after appeals from lawyers and supporters. Henchiri, Boughdiri and Channoufi remain on strike. Relatives have reported health concerns: Naouar’s father described difficulty keeping water down, while Henchiri’s father said his son was exhausted and had not received further medical examination for a head injury.
Authorities describe the case as a financial investigation and reject claims that the judiciary is being used to silence opponents, saying the judiciary is independent and proceedings follow the law.
The detentions have also prompted protests. A lawyer told Al Jazeera that 14 people detained after a 19 September protest calling for the activists’ release were placed in pretrial detention, including a 17-year-old.
