On 18 February 2023, Mohamed Boukadi was reportedly arrested by plain-clothes security officers travelling in an unmarked vehicle, without presenting identification or a judicial warrant. His phone was confiscated and he was forcibly taken to his home, where the officers reportedly forced their way inside by breaking down the door and searched the premises without a clearly stated legal basis or warrant.

According to Boukadi, the officers filmed him, mocked him and subjected him to humiliating treatment without informing him of the charges against him or the legal grounds for the search. He also reported being filmed without his consent and being subjected to degrading treatment from the time of the search of his home through his detention and imprisonment.

He was subsequently taken to the specialised unit for combating terrorist crimes at the Aouina Barracks, where he was held and questioned for approximately 14 consecutive hours, according to his account. He reported that he was not informed of the charges against him and was not allowed to exercise his right to have a lawyer present.

On 19 February 2023, questioning continued for more than 12 hours, according to Boukadi. He reported that the questions focused primarily on his civic and associative activities, political positions and relations with civil society organisations. During this period, his health reportedly deteriorated, with high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar levels. Despite these symptoms, the questioning continued. He was subsequently found to have suffered a heart attack.

On 20 February 2023, Boukadi was transferred to the Internal Security Forces Hospital after suffering a heart attack during the investigation. According to his account, security officers subsequently asked the doctor to return him to the Aouina premises so that questioning could continue.

The investigation continued until 2 March 2023, when Boukadi was brought before the Public Prosecutor at the Judicial Division for Combating Terrorism, which decided to refer the case to the Court of First Instance of Ben Arous.

On 3 March 2023, Boukadi appeared before the fourth investigating judge. According to his account, he was subjected to humiliating treatment and his requests to obtain his medical reports were refused. A detention warrant was subsequently issued against him, and he was transferred to Mornaguia Civil Prison in connection with the case concerning conspiracy against state security.

According to Boukadi, his right to defence was also restricted when his lawyer was prevented from pleading on his behalf and was reportedly told that she herself was suspected of involvement in the case.

On the same day, despite his critical health condition, Boukadi was reportedly placed in a disciplinary cell at Mornaguia Prison. On 4 March 2023, he suffered bleeding from his mouth and ear but was reportedly not taken to a doctor for treatment.

On 15 March 2023, 11 days later, he was transferred under heavy security to Charles Nicolle Hospital. Medical examinations reportedly confirmed severe internal bleeding, believed to be related to a heart attack. He remained in hospital until 17 March 2023, when he was returned to prison before completing his treatment and reportedly against the doctor’s recommendation.

His health subsequently deteriorated further. In early August 2023, he suffered temporary hemiplegia and was transferred to the neurology department of La Rabta Hospital.

In May 2023, Boukadi's brother died. Despite his requests, he was reportedly prevented from attending his brother's funeral on 17 May 2023, and was therefore unable to attend the burial or receive condolences.

On 9 September 2023, Boukadi suffered another serious health episode and was transferred to Charles Nicolle Hospital, where he remained in the internal medicine department for approximately one and a half months. He was discharged on 13 October 2023. He was subsequently diagnosed with a second heart attack, reportedly believed to have resulted from inadequate medical care in prison, as well as heart failure and Behçet’s disease.

He was subsequently transferred to Aziza Othmana Hospital for a medical procedure involving sperm cryopreservation before beginning treatment, in coordination with the internal medicine department at Charles Nicolle Hospital.

During his imprisonment, Boukadi reportedly informed the General Inspector of the Ministry of Justice of his intention to take legal action over the serious and lasting health consequences he had suffered. He stated that the Inspector treated him in a manner that did not respect his human dignity and that the interaction included implicit threats despite his psychological and physical condition.

Boukadi also reported that the prison administration prevented him from receiving his prescribed medication and from having his family provide it to him. He further stated that his transfer for medical treatment was refused despite the prison doctor reportedly recognising the need for such treatment.

He also reported that prison officials tore up papers on which he had been writing notes and documenting his health condition and detention circumstances.

On 6 November 2023, Boukadi began a 15-day hunger strike in protest against being denied access to his medication. He reported that he required 13 different types of medication for chronic conditions and had continued to face difficulties obtaining adequate medical care. Following the hunger strike, he was reportedly allowed to receive his medication, but only intermittently and irregularly.

The hunger strike was also reportedly linked to the refusal of the fourth investigating judge at the Court of First Instance of Ben Arous to grant a request authorising the release of his medical reports documenting the deterioration of his health.

In addition, a prison medical facility reportedly refused a doctor's request for Boukadi to undergo a scintigraphy examination, preventing the completion of medical investigations necessary to assess his cardiac condition. Boukadi also reported that transfers between prison and hospital took place under harsh and inhumane conditions.