Family and lawyers of jailed Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi have been denied contact for 11 days since his hospitalisation after collapsing in prison. The 85-year-old's whereabouts and condition remain unconfirmed, fuelling concerns for his well-being.

Jailed Ghannouchi's Family Denied Access

Moadh Ghannouchi, son of the detained politician, stated that his father's legal representatives last saw him days before he lost consciousness on July 17. Requests to visit him in hospital, including one formally submitted to the public prosecutor, have reportedly been refused. This lack of official communication has left the family with no confirmation of his whereabouts or current health status.

"It is like a situation of enforced disappearance," Moadh Ghannouchi told Al Jazeera on Monday, describing the ongoing lack of contact.

Concerns Over Prison Conditions and Health

Ghannouchi's son claims his father, who suffers from high blood pressure and breathing difficulties, was exposed to a severe heatwave within a prison lacking air conditioning. He asserted that authorities are fully responsible for his father's condition and alleged that the imprisonment in stifling heat was a deliberate attempt to worsen his health.

This prolonged isolation is causing significant stress for the family and, they believe, for Rached Ghannouchi himself, who is accustomed to regular visits from legal counsel and family members. The 11-day cutoff marks a complete severing of contact.

Conflicting Reports and Official Silence

Conflicting rumours regarding Rached Ghannouchi's location have circulated on social media, with some suggesting he is at Rabta public hospital in Tunis and others at a military hospital. Some reports even claim he suffered a heart attack. However, the family has received no official information from the authorities, who have reportedly declined to communicate on the matter.

The defence team for Rached Ghannouchi issued a statement on Monday via his official Facebook page demanding information about his condition. An Ennahda party spokesperson similarly told Al Jazeera that the party lacked knowledge of his hospital location or his current health status.

Background of Detention and International Concern

Rached Ghannouchi, formerly the speaker of parliament and a prominent figure in Tunisia's opposition, has been detained since April 2023. He received a life sentence, which his supporters contend is politically motivated. The government of President Kais Saied denies that prosecutions of opposition figures are driven by political agendas.

According to Haifa Chebbi, daughter of another imprisoned opposition leader, Rached Ghannouchi lost consciousness last week as temperatures inside Mornaguia prison reportedly reached 52C (126F). His lawyers described his condition as "critical" on Thursday. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has previously deemed Ghannouchi's detention to be arbitrary and called for his immediate release, a ruling his son states authorities have ignored.

Calls for Transparency and Prisoner Protection

On Sunday, the National Salvation Front, a broad opposition coalition, issued an appeal for authorities to release an immediate statement regarding Ghannouchi's health. Amnesty International has also called for the protection of prisoners during the ongoing heatwave.

The lack of clear information, coupled with reports of adverse prison conditions during a heatwave, leaves the situation unresolved.