Bilel Smai

Bilel Smai, a 28-year-old Tunisian man originally from Nabeul governorate, suffers from a heart condition. He was subjected to serious suspected torture at the on-duty police post (“markaz el-istimrar”) in Korba, and was later committed to Belli Civil Prison, where his health deteriorated without adequate care.
On Sunday 16 August 2026, while he was at the on-duty police post in Korba in connection with ongoing security investigations, he was taken to the custody room, where a security officer from the Menzel Temime emergency police unit, abusing his position while on duty, physically assaulted him by repeatedly kicking and strangling him in order to force him to confess and provide information. According to his lawyer, the assault was so severe that it caused bleeding and left him in a critical health condition, particularly in view of his heart condition.
Following his committal to Belli Civil Prison, his health continued to deteriorate, without his being given emergency treatment or the necessary medical care required by his critical and chronic condition (heart disease and the bleeding that followed the assault).