Amnesty International urges Tunisia to protect prisoners during heatwave

Amnesty International on Thursday called on the Tunisian authorities to strengthen measures to protect prisoners from the effects of the ongoing heatwave, particularly older detainees and those with chronic illnesses or disabilities.

In a statement, the human rights organization expressed concern about the impact of high temperatures on vulnerable prison populations, citing what it described as recent testimonies regarding conditions in Tunisian detention facilities.

There was no immediate response from the Tunisian authorities to Amnesty International’s statement. The Ministry of Justice has previously said it is committed to respecting human rights in prisons and applying internationally recognized standards and best practices.

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Amnesty International said older prisoners and detainees with chronic illnesses or disabilities face heightened health risks during periods of extreme heat.

The organization called on the authorities to ensure appropriate detention conditions, including adequate ventilation, reliable access to safe drinking water, necessary medical care, and access to air-conditioned spaces when required.

The statement coincided with comments by lawyer Haifa Chebbi, who said Rached Ghannouchi, the 85-year-old leader of the Ennahda movement and former speaker of parliament, had fainted at Mornaguia Prison because of the extreme heat.

In a video posted on Facebook, Chebbi said she saw Ghannouchi after he returned from hospital and alleged that he later lost consciousness while in the lawyers’ office inside the prison.

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