The four men are being held in a Tunisian jail, with one on the ‘brink of death’.
High-profile political leaders, artists, and activists – including Greta Thunberg – have called for the immediate release of four pro-Palestine organisers who are on hunger strike in a Tunisian jail, including one “on the brink of death”.
Wael Naouar was rushed to hospital yesterday after spending 40 days on hunger strike, according to the Gaza Sumud Flotilla (GSF), an organisation that looks to challenge Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza and deliver emergency aid by sea.
Alongside Thunberg, South African politician Zwelivelile Mandela, who is Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has also signed an open letter urging the Tunisian government to free Naouar and his three co-defendants. Both Thunberg and Mandela joined the same aid flotilla as Naouar last year.
Other signatories to the letter include Irish rap group Kneecap and Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham. They are also calling for “urgent medical care” for the detained men.
The four were arrested in March after being accused of misusing funds raised for the organisation. He launched his hunger strike at Mornaguia prison to protest his detention and that of his fellow activists – Ghassen Henchiri, Ghassen Boughdiri and Nabil Channoufi, who began their strikes around two weeks ago.
Naouar is in a semi-comatose state, GSF said, adding that the Tunisian authorities have sought to impose an information blackout to prevent updates about his condition. Naouar’s father said he was close to death after visiting him earlier this week.
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