Al-Arjat Prison reassures public about Mohamed Ziane’s health amid ongoing controversy

Wednesday 03 December 2025 - 14:20

By: Sahili Aya

Al-Arjat Prison reassures public about Mohamed Ziane’s health amid ongoing controversy

The administration of Al-Arjat 1 Prison issued a statement on Wednesday confirming that former minister and lawyer Mohamed Ziane is neither on hunger strike nor in deteriorating health, countering claims circulating on social media and certain news websites.

The institution responded to a communiqué attributed to Ziane’s family, which alleged that the 82-year-old detainee’s condition had worsened due to a supposed hunger strike. Prison officials reiterated the contents of a previous clarification dated November 24, 2025, stressing that Ziane is in stable condition and has not undertaken any form of fasting protest.

According to the prison’s statement, the former bar association president has never indicated an intention to stop eating. He continues to receive his meals and regularly purchases food items from the prison shop. Officials added that Ziane himself acknowledged he had no intention of beginning a hunger strike, arguing that such an act would deliberately endanger his life, something he considers contrary to his religious beliefs.

Authorities criticized what they described as persistent misinformation by members of Ziane’s family and other parties allegedly seeking to exploit the case for personal or political purposes. Such actions, the prison administration warned, risk misleading public opinion and attempting to influence the judicial proceedings related to the charges against him.

Ziane, who previously served as Minister of Human Rights, saw his sentence reduced from five years to three years in prison following an appeal. He was initially convicted in July 2024 for charges including the misappropriation of public funds.

The prison administration emphasized that Ziane is receiving all necessary medical care and retains all rights guaranteed by law, including family visits, communication with his lawyer, and contact with his relatives. The statement also urged those spreading unverified claims to refrain from what it described as irresponsible behavior.