Jailed Tunisian opposition figure goes on hunger strike

Al Jazeera :

A jailed Tunisian opposition activist facing state conspiracy charges has launched a hunger strike to protest against being barred from appearing in person at his own trial, according to his defence team.
Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, member of the opposition National Salvation Front and Citizens Against the Coup group which oppose President Kais Saied, insists on his right to be present in court to “refute the false charges” against him, lawyer Samir Dilou said in a statement on Facebook on behalf of Ben Mbarek’s defence team.
Dilou said Ben Mbarek began his hunger strike on March 30.
Detained since February 2023, Ben Mbarek is one of dozens of Tunisian politicians, activists, journalists and other critics of the president who have been targeted in what rights groups describe as a sweeping crackdown on dissent.