After he was harassed by the police under President Habib Bourguiba, he was sentenced to fifteen years in prison under President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, during which time he suffered torture.
Setelah ia dilecehkan oleh polisi di bawah masa Presiden Habib Bourguiba, ia dijatuhi hukuman lima belas tahun penjara di bawah masa Presiden Zainal Abidin bin Ali, pada waktu itu dia mengalami berbagai penyiksaan.