Organization Against Torture in Tunisia raises alarm over prison conditions amid heatwave and overcrowding

The organization highlighted issues such as severe heat, prison overcrowding, and inadequate healthcare provisions. The OCTT called for urgent measures to improve detention conditions and reduce reliance on imprisonment. The organization noted recent reports from families and lawyers about inmate deaths occurring within prisons or after transfers to emergency services, though official figures or communications on these incidents are not yet available.

The OCTT stated that these reports increased during the summer, which experienced an intense heatwave, exacerbating risks related to heat, overcrowded cells, and limited healthcare. The OCTT emphasized that deprivation of liberty should not lead to the deprivation of other fundamental rights, including the right to healthcare, warning that deteriorating conditions could harm the physical integrity, dignity, health, and lives of incarcerated individuals. To address overcrowding, the OCTT urged the release of individuals detained for minor offenses, whether in pre-trial detention or already convicted, as well as elderly detainees and those with chronic illnesses.

The organization also advocated for limiting prison sentences and favoring alternative sanctions like community service, fines, and electronic monitoring, reiterating that liberty should be the principle and