Lotfi Issa shared a critical post about the 2024 elections that had been published by a social media page. The following morning, 5 July 2024, his workplace was raided, and he was taken to the Counter-Terrorism Unit, where he spent nine days. The victim stated that, out of fear, he confessed to things attributed to him of which he had no knowledge.

Meanwhile, his home in Sidi Jedidi, Hammamet was raided at night. Officers broke down the door, entered the house, and scattered his belongings while his daughter was asleep.

On 2 June 2025, a primary court sentenced him to two years in prison, under Article 24 of Decree No. 54 of 2022. On 11 November 2025, the Court of Appeal upheld the same sentence, granting a deferral of part of the prison term after he served one year and three months.

According to the victim, four hearings had been postponed, and he was subjected to humiliation despite not committing any crime. On 14 October 2025, a session was held without notifying his lawyer, after which he was returned to prison. Around midnight, he was informed he would be released temporarily, coinciding with the execution of another inmate, Saber Chouchane, who had shared the same prison.

The victim also mentioned that he has a bank loan, and a bailiff informed him that he must repay it. He continues to live in constant fear, reluctant to leave his home for fear of being arrested again. His wife stated that he needs psychological support even to be woken from sleep due to the trauma experienced in prison.

To date, his mobile phone, containing personal data, has not been returned, despite a request to the public prosecutor, who later informed him that the device would remain seized by the state. On 26 January 2026, he was summoned by his workplace for questioning regarding a suspected punishable felony, and was subsequently dismissed after 15 years of work without legal justification, effectively being punished twice for the same accusation.