At least 23 prisoners have reportedly died in Tunisia in recent weeks amid extreme temperatures, with rights advocates warning that overcrowded and poorly ventilated detention facilities have turned the heatwave into a serious threat to inmates’ lives.
The deaths were documented by the Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH), which said it obtained information from doctors, lawyers and relatives of deceased prisoners.
The group’s president, Bassem Trifi, said the victims died in prison as temperatures soared across the North African country, where some areas have experienced temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius.
However, Tunisian authorities have yet to publish official figures on prison deaths linked to the extreme heat. An official said no death could be attributed directly to the heat until such a determination had been confirmed by forensic doctors.
Among those reported dead was businessman Lazhar Sta, according to his daughter. A 24-year-old student and a Lebanese businessman were also reportedly among the victims.
Trifi said the situation in the prisons had become particularly dangerous because of overcrowding, inadequate ventilation and limited access to water.
“Conditions are already inhumane under normal circumstances, but with the heatwave and temperatures that sometimes exceed 45C in overcrowded cells, the situation becomes a threat to prisoners’ lives,” he said.
Tunisian prisons have faced longstanding criticism over overcrowding and poor detention conditions. Rights organisations have repeatedly raised concerns about the condition of inmates, although the prison administration has denied allegations of inadequate care.
The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) has also expressed concern over what it described as a deterioration in detention conditions and a rise in deaths in prisons. The organisation called for transparent and independent investigations into the reported deaths, particularly in view of the lack of official data.
Concerns over the welfare of prisoners have intensified as temperatures increased, with relatives of several prominent detainees raising alarms over their health.
Among those whose conditions have attracted attention is 85-year-old Ennahdha party leader Rached Ghannouchi, whose lawyers said in July that his health was critical after he reportedly fainted and suffered severe exhaustion while in detention.
Also raising concern is 82-year-old activist Ahmed Nejib Chebbi. His daughter, Haifa Chebbi, has publicly appealed for the release of detainees, expressing fears that her father and uncle could die in prison.
Political figures, journalists and businessmen have been detained in Tunisia since President Kais Saied carried out a sweeping political power grab in 2021. Rights groups have criticised several of the arrests and described some of the charges as politically motivated.
The prison authorities said in July that detainees were receiving medical attention in accordance with regulations and that necessary measures had been taken to protect inmates from the effects of the extreme heat.
Meanwhile, the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists has raised concerns over the condition of investigative journalist Mohamed Yousfi, who was arrested recently while preparing to discuss water shortages on a radio programme. He subsequently underwent surgery for appendicitis.
The LTDH said it had been barred from visiting prisons since November 2025, further complicating efforts by rights groups to independently assess detention conditions.
The rights organisation and the OMCT have urged Tunisian authorities to take urgent measures to protect prisoners, ensure adequate access to water and medical care, and permit independent human rights organisations to inspect detention facilities.