The lawyer and political activist, Ridha Belhaj, detained in Siliana prison as part of the so-called conspiracy against state security case, published on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, a letter from his cell announcing the end of his hunger strike.
In his message, made public by his defense committee, the political detainee specifies that this decision is “not neither a sign of weakness nor a step backwards, but a means of preserving one’s strengths in order to continue one’s fight for dignity, rights and freedoms in Tunisia ».
« I ended my hunger strike, but I did not lift my will or my commitment. Our fight against injustice continues », he writes.
He insists that his fight goes beyond the physical aspect and that he now focuses on the principle and the defense of fundamental rights: “ We have never given up, and we will not do so as long as the country faces injustice.”
A context of political detention and judicial criticism
This letter follows a previous communication, published on November 14, 2025 from Siliana prison, in which Ridha Belhaj denounced the Tunisian judiciary, accused of crossing “its worst moments since independence “. He compared the situation to “ the Dark Ages and the Middle Ages », criticizing remote trials and the hiding of witnesses, which he considers a violation of the fundamental rights of the accused.
At the time, Ridha Belhaj emphasized that the guarantees of modern justice – presence of the accused, the public nature of hearings, rights of defense and right to confrontation – are today “trampled » in Tunisia. He also denounced a policy of organized mistreatment aimed at breaking the resistance of prisoners of conscience and instilling fear in social and civil forces.
Ridha Belhaj then called for mobilization to “ free justice from the grip of power » and strengthen solidarity between political prisoners. He also expressed his support for activist and academic Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, on hunger strike in solidarity with him since November 8.
Call for mobilization on November 22
In his new letter, Ridha Belhaj invites citizens to participate massively in the march planned for Saturday November 22, 2025, which he describes as “ an additional step in a path that those in power do not want us to take… but that we will follow ».
He concludes by recalling that the voice of justice and freedom remains stronger than all constraints, as long as the fight for human rights continues: “ May your presence be our strongest message: let us not be afraid, let us not retreat ».
R.B.H
