Habib Ellouze

Habib Ellouze, a former member of the National Constituent Assembly and a leading figure in the Ennahdha movement, aged 72, has been held under a committal warrant since March 2023 in connection with several cases, including the “Conspiracy 2” case, in which he was sentenced at first instance to 12 years in prison. During his detention in Mornaguia Civil Prison, he suffered an acute health crisis and repeated strokes, which required him to spend most of his time in custody in hospital. His health deteriorated as a result of poor medical care within the prison unit: his son Zied Ellouze stated that he needs specific medication for his eyes, lenses, prescription glasses and special cleansers that are not available in prison, and that the family faced administrative complications and delays by the prison administration in bringing in the medication, which led to permanent swelling in his eye that threatens to cause permanent loss of sight. He also suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes. He attended one of the hearings in a wheelchair, stating that he was suffering from the after-effects of the stroke and was unable to hear, see or discern properly, which led his lawyer to withdraw from his defence owing to the absence of fair trial conditions, without the judge taking his health condition into account.