Mohamed Ali Ben Khmaies

Mohamed Ali Ben Khmaies is a 31-year-old Tunisian man who had been experiencing severe psychological disorders and acute episodes since 2018. He had been receiving treatment at Razi Hospital and had been hospitalized there on several occasions.

On 26 July 2026, Mohamed Ali Ben Khmaies was arrested following a raid on his home. According to his family, from the beginning of his detention, they informed the relevant authorities of his health condition and provided them with the medication he regularly took, as well as his disability card. However, according to the family, he remained detained for four days without his family knowing his whereabouts and without being provided with his medication. The family also reported that they were not allowed to appoint a lawyer for him until ten days after his arrest.

On 14 August 2026, he was transferred to Mornaguia Civil Prison. According to his family, he did not receive the treatment and medication he required, despite his health condition and deteriorating psychological state. The family went to the prison to visit him and, according to their account, found him in a deteriorated physical and psychological condition. He was crying and asking for his medication before losing consciousness during the visit.

On 26 August 2026, the family went to the prison to visit him and was informed that he had been transferred to Charles Nicolle Hospital in critical condition. When the family members went to the hospital, they were unable to find him. They were subsequently informed by the prison administration that he had died and that his body could be found in the hospital morgue.

After receiving the body, the family reported observing marks that they suspected were signs of violence, raising concerns regarding the circumstances and conditions surrounding his death, particularly in light of the deterioration in his physical and psychological condition during his detention.

The family further reported that, on the day of the burial, they engaged a judicial officer to inspect the body. However, the officer refused to provide the family and their lawyer with a copy of the inspection report. And was later informed that the cause of death was heatstroke. However, as of the date of documentation, they had not received the forensic medical report, preventing them from independently verifying the cause of death and the circumstances surrounding it.