Shi'ama Issa is starting a periodic hunger strike at Manouba prison

Opposition leader and activist Sheima Issa today began a periodic hunger strike inside her detention centre at the Manouba Women's Prison in western Tunisia. This protest move comes to demand the lifting of political restrictions and the release of detainees, at a time when coordination and civilian forces have expanded and their protest movements have been widely opposed in several states.

The opposition is striking in the context of escalating protests inside the detention centre, where its moves have previously included a prison transportation ban and frequent abstinence from eating.

The prosecution of the activist dates back to her first custodial arrest on 22 February 2023, before a temporary release was decided on 13 July 2023 with her being kept under precautionary measures prohibited by it from traveling and appearing in public spaces. The legal paths included a prosecution before the military court which ended in one year's imprisonment with implementation postponed to December 2023.

The suspect faces prosecutions in what is known as conspiracy on state security on state security involving multiple political and human rights leaders, before being re-arrested on 29 November 2025 after an appeal sentencing her to 20 years in prison. The charges against him are based on chapters of the Criminal Journal and the Anti-Terrorism Act related to internal and external state security, along with the provisions of Decree No. 54 on combating crimes related to information and communication systems.

The defence team continues to appeal to the Court of Cassation against the judgments given in its favour, insisting on requesting a review of the conditions of the prison deposit and release of the detainees covered by the case.