On July 17, 2023, the young man “Rached Tamboura” was arrested inside a Taxi by the internal security forces while on his way to work. Subsequently, he was taken to the Investigating Brigade in Monastir to stay for 4 days pending investigation for drawing a mural criticizing the President regarding the wave of racism and hatred faced in Tunisia against sub-Saharan migrants.

In this regard, Rached remained under investigation for 4 days without his family knowing, as stated by his sister, after communicating with Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms. The family learned of Rached’s arrest on July 21, 2023, through the taxi driver who witnessed the apprehension. In addition, Rached’s sister clarified that the internal security forces had long ago confiscated the “stamp” the violation victim used to draw on the wall following their presence at the family home.

Rached remained henceforth in custody and was later sentenced in a preliminary ruling on December 4, 2023. The Court of First Instance in Monastir sentenced Rached to 2 years in prison on the grounds of his mural, which was deemed as committing a heinous act against the head of the state by virtue of Article 67 of the Penal Code. Rached was then transferred to the Monastir prison, where he has currently announced taking escalating measures of protest against his imprisonment by going on a severe hunger strike and sewing his mouth in protest against the deprivation of his freedom and the injustice he is facing.

On January 31, 2024, the Court of Appeals affirmed the initial verdict, sentencing him to two years in prison.