CPJ urges release of Tunisian journalist Chadha Hadj Mbarek over health concerns

New York, January 8, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Tunisian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release jailed Tunisian journalist Chadha Hadj Mbarek and ensure she receives urgent, adequate medical care following reports that her health has severely deteriorated in prison.

“Denying detained journalist Chadha Hadj Mbarek timely and urgent life-saving medical care is simply cruel and inhuman,” said CPJ Chief Programs Officer Carlos Martínez de la Serna. “Tunisian authorities must immediately release Mbarek and ensure she receives the urgent medical treatment she needs.”

According to a statement issued by Mbarek’s family on Wednesday, January 7, she was physically assaulted by a fellow prison inmate while held at Messaadine Prison in Sousse, suffering a serious hand injury that went untreated despite severe pain. 

Prison authorities allegedly denied her proper medical care and diagnostic tests, providing only painkillers after she staged repeated hunger strikes to obtain a medical examination, according to her brother, Amen Hadj Mbarek, who spoke to CPJ over the phone.

After her transfer to the Belli prison in Nabeul a year ago, Mbarek’s health further deteriorated. Medical examinations later revealed a malignant tumor in her stomach and chest requiring surgeries. Her family said the delayed diagnosis was the direct result of prolonged medical neglect during her detention, placing her life at risk if not treated promptly.

“Chadha’s condition has reached a critical and catastrophic stage,” Amen Hadj Mbarek said. “She asked for medical care months ago and was ignored until her illness became life-threatening. Any further delay puts her life in danger.”

Mbarek, a journalist and social media content editor who worked with the independent digital content company Instalingo, was arrested in July 2023 and is serving a five-year prison sentence after being convicted under cybercrime Decree-law 54 of “conspiring against state security” and “offending the President of the Republic.” She is one of 41 people prosecuted in connection with their work at Instalingo and the only journalist among those detained in the case, according to Amen Hadj Mbarek, who added that her next appeal hearing is scheduled for January 9.

CPJ calls on Tunisian authorities to:

• Immediately and unconditionally release Chadha Hadj Mbarek on medical grounds;
• Ensure she receives urgent, specialized medical care without delay or interference;
• Investigate allegations of assault and medical neglect during her detention and hold those responsible to account.

CPJ’s email to the presidency requesting comment on Mbarek’s health status in custody did not receive a reply.