Tunisian Opposition Leader Ben Mbarek Allegedly Beaten in Prison Amid Hunger Strike

Imagine a man named Jawhar, who is an important leader of people who disagree with the country's president.

Jawhar is in jail, and he has decided not to eat as a way to protest.

His family and his friends who help him say that while he's not eating, some people working in the prison hurt him badly, like giving him bruises and possibly breaking bones.

They believe this was done to make him stop his protest.

The people who run the prison haven't said much, but they have said before that prisoners who aren't eating are not getting sicker.

Jawhar and other jailed leaders say the reasons they are in prison are made up.

The president, however, calls these leaders bad names and says the courts are fair.

Critics worry the president is taking too much power and silencing people who disagree with him.