Jasser Said

Jasser Said, a 22-year-old Tunisian student in his second year of higher education majoring in English, from Ariana governorate, suffers from severe psychological disorders (bipolar disorder) and has been under medical follow-up since 2020.
On 20 August 2025, the El Aouina counter-terrorism brigade violently raided his home after he published a post on social media, and seized his phone and religious books belonging to his mother, causing psychological trauma to his younger brother (aged 10), who had to be taken to a psychiatrist. He was taken away without his family being informed of his whereabouts, forcing his mother to go from one police station to another looking for him. While in police custody, he was forced to sign statements he had not made and was subjected to violence when he refused, and was prevented from seeing his lawyer and from receiving visits for 15 days. After 15 days of investigation without a lawyer, a committal warrant was issued for 3 months on a charge of glorifying terrorism (Article 31 of Law No. 26 of 2015). His mental health deteriorated and he suffered breakdowns. On 27 January 2026, a psychiatric report was issued finding that he bore no criminal responsibility and ordering compulsory hospitalisation, and the Public Prosecution closed the case on that basis (closure certificate issued on 23 February 2026). The investigating judge wrote to the Minister of Health regarding the compulsory hospitalisation, but when his mother went to Razi Hospital she was told that compulsory hospitalisation orders had “not been implemented for years”, and she was ill-treated by the hospital administration while making enquiries. Although 3 months have passed since it was established that he bears no criminal responsibility, he remains in detention in prison, deprived of his liberty, his studies and direct visits with his family.