Jamel Cherif is a natural sciences teacher at Sbikha Secondary School and a Tunisian trade unionist active within the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), where he serves as Secretary-General of the local union in Sbikha.

Following a series of events at the Leather and Footwear Factory in the Metbasta area of the Sbikha delegation, in the governorate of Kairouan, several workers were dismissed after participating in protest movements demanding improved working conditions. A number of them were also arrested along with the victim.

In his capacity as a trade unionist, Jamal Al-Sharif defended the interests of the dismissed workers and sought solutions to guarantee their rights and improve their conditions. As the protest movement continued, the factory management filed complaints against him and several workers.

According to his lawyer, Jamel Cherif received a summons from the Research and Investigation Brigade of the National Guard in Kairouan. After appearing for questioning, the Public Prosecutor ordered his detention at the Kairouan Civil Prison based on charges brought under Article 136 of the Penal Code and Article 388 of the Labour Code. These charges stem from his trade union activities and his support for the factory workers.

Following his detention, a hearing was scheduled for 15 November 2024 to examine the case. On that date, the court rejected the release requests submitted by his lawyers, and another hearing was set for 21 November 2024.