Wael Naouar, Ghassan Henchiri, Ghassan Boughdiri and Nabil Channoufi will remain in pretrial detention for four more months after Tunisia’s Court of Appeal rejected their challenge. Three remain on hunger strike; none has been convicted in the funds probe.
Held since March, the four are under investigation over alleged irregularities in money raised for the Global Sumud Flotilla, which sought to deliver aid to Gaza and challenge Israel’s blockade. TAP, citing judicial sources, says investigators are examining the funds’ origin and use and whether any were diverted. The activists deny wrongdoing; defence lawyer Ghass Ghribi said the judge had done no investigative work beyond questioning them. Authorities describe the case as a financial investigation and reject claims the judiciary is being used to silence opponents.
Naouar, 41, began a hunger strike on August 16 and was hospitalized as his condition worsened. He suspended the 38-day strike after appeals from lawyers and supporters, saying he had not abandoned his demands. His father reported that Naouar had trouble seeing, keeping water down and controlling his left leg. Henchiri’s father said his son remained exhausted after striking since September 9 and had not received promised medical examinations for a head injury. Separately, 14 people detained after a September 19 protest demanding the activists’ release were placed in pretrial detention, including a 17-year-old, lawyer Rafed Rabbeh said.
