Alert regarding humanitarian crisis in Tunisian penitentiary centers
The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) has expressed deep concern over the alarming deterioration of living conditions in Tunisian prisons during the summer of 2026. According to reports from the entity, the prison system is facing a crisis marked by extreme overcrowding, constant failures in water and electricity supply, and poor access to basic medical services.
This combination of adverse factors, aggravated by the high temperatures recorded in the region, has put the health and physical integrity of the prison population at imminent risk. The OMCT highlights that, after collecting testimonies from relatives, recurring cases of dehydration, general malaise, and severe respiratory difficulties have been documented within the detention centers.
Increase in deaths in custody
One of the most critical points highlighted by the organization is the frequency of deaths under suspicious circumstances. During the first quarter of 2026, at least six new deaths were recorded which, to date, remain without a satisfactory official explanation.
The situation is alarming when cases of suspicious deaths in detention occur under conditions that, in certain cases, remain unresolved.
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)Transparency and action requirements
Given this scenario, the OMCT has urged the Tunisian authorities to implement urgent measures, among which the following stand out:
- Guarantee effective access for independent observers to audit the conditions of the centers.
- Publish official, accurate, and transparent data on deaths recorded since the beginning of summer.
- Ensure the immediate protection of the life and physical integrity of all detainees.
For its part, the National Salvation Front (NSF), an opposition coalition in the country, has joined the demands, requesting the Ministry of Justice to conduct an exhaustive review of the status of the inmates. The coalition has urged the release of political prisoners and those individuals who remain in pretrial detention without having been brought to trial, describing current conditions as unsustainable.
