Summary: 

Wassim Hafedh Jaziri, a young man originally from Sfax, was arrested and detained in prison, where he passed away under suspicious circumstances.

Personal Information: 

Name: Wassim Hafedh Jaziri

Age: 25 years old

Region: Sfax 

Violation Incidents: 

On May 4, 2025, Wassim Hafedh Jaziri, from the region of Sfax, was arrested by police forces at 11 in the morning, based on a complaint filed against him, whose details remain unknown.

Police forces conducted a forced entry into his house without any justification, arrested him, and dragged him in handcuffs to the police station of Sakiet Ezzit. There, he was interrogated accompanied by his father, but without his lawyer being present. In fact, Wassim was not informed of his rights, such as his right to legal defense and the right to have a lawyer present during the investigation. Following this, he remained in custody at the same station.

On the next day, May 5, 2025, Wassim appeared before the investigating judge at office 9 of the Court of First Instance in Sfax, and was later taken to Hedi Chaker hospital in Sfax so that he could contact his doctor and to assess his unique psychological needs.

The victim of violation was taken to the civil prison of sfax on the same day, where he remained for the first period without receiving the required treatment despite his family’s insistence on his severe mental health conditions,which require him to take up to 5 medications. Moreover, in the months preceding his imprisonment, he had been receiving ongoing periodic injections, as part of his medical treatment.

In addition to that, the family also stated that the prison administration declined accepting the medication and required that it must be accompanied by a prescription; a request the family eventually responded to. After that, the prison administration agreed to the proposal, and Wassim was allowed to take it once a day at 3PM, although his father affirmed that he had previously been taking it twice a day. 

After a short period of time, and after each visit, the family started noticing their son’s deteriorating health, in fact, noticeable symptoms of a skin condition began to manifest on his body as a result of the poor conditions inside the prison, leading to his placement in medical isolation. However, his health continued to worsen, which required his transfer to the hospital.

His family also mentioned that during their visits, especially on July 10, 2025, Wassim was mentally suffering as he was refusing the prison’s conditions, in addition to his inability to eat, which he reported to the prison’s administration.

And on July 14, 2025, the victim of violation appeared before the investigating judge and the public prosecutor of the indictment chamber in connection with the closure of the investigation.

 He appeared clearly exhausted, expressed an intense shortness of breath, and requested medical attention in prison.

Following his signing of the investigation closure, he was escorted back to prison, where he passed away at 9PM.

On the following day, his family was informed of their loss, although the cause of death has not yet been determined by the forensic report.

Human rights violations: 

The case of Wassim hafedh Jaziri reveals a series of human rights violations, primarily, the breach of his right to healthcare and medical follow-up while in prison, as well as infringements on his fundamental rights during arrest and detention. These violations represent a blatant breach of Tunisia’s constitutional guarantees and its international obligations under human rights treaties and conventions to which the Tunisian state has committed to.

Wassim was arrested on May 4, 2025, by police forces without disclosing the source of the complaint against him and without presenting any judicial warrant, in violation of Article 24 of the Tunisian Constitution, which guarantees the inviolability of the home and prohibits its entry without judicial authorization. He was also taken to the police station in handcuffs, in breach of the principle of the presumption of innocence, and was not informed of his legal rights, particularly his right to the presence of a lawyer during interrogation. 

After being brought before the court, wassim was detained in the civil prison of Sfax, despite his severe mental illness diagnosis, and the fact that he required regular treatment and many medications.

 His family confirmed that the prison administration initially refused to accept the medication and required a medical prescription, despite the urgency of his condition. Which resulted in a delay in treatment and a deterioration of his health.

These practices represent a breach of Article 38 of the Tunisian Constitution that states” that ‘health is a right for every person’ and places on the state the responsibility to provide necessary medical care,particularly for detainees under its full custody”. It also stands in contradiction to Article 36 of the 2022 Constitution, which states that “every prisoner has the right to humane treatment that preserves their dignity.'”

On an International level, “These practices violate the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules of 2015), particularly rules 24 to 35, which require states to provide prisoners with the same level of healthcare available in the community, ensure free access to treatment, and guarantee immediate access to medical care in urgent cases.”

Additionally, Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that ‘Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person,’ while the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights affirms in Article 6 the right to life as an inherent right that must not be arbitrarily deprived. Furthermore, Article 10 emphasizes that “all persons deprived of their liberty must be treated with humanity and respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.”

Also, Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights obliges State Parties to take the necessary steps to ensure that every individual enjoys the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including the creation of conditions that provide medical services and care for all persons, including prisoners.

The conditions of Wassim Hafedh Jaziri’s arrest and imprisonment, the lack of adequate medical care, and the failure to uphold basic legal safeguards constitute a systematic violation of legally protected fundamental rights and a breach of the minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners. 

This series of violations tragically led to his death on July 14, 2025, with the cause of death still pending the forensic report, while suspicions increasingly point to medical neglect.

The death of Wassim Hafedh Jaziri is not an isolated case, but rather part of a recurring pattern of violations that call for national accountability and an urgent review of the prison system and legal procedures to safeguard the right to health, dignity, and life.