Tunisian presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel has been sentenced to six months in prison for falsifying documents just days before the country’s upcoming presidential election. This is the second prison sentence Zammel has received in a week, following a prior 20-month sentence on similar charges.
Zammel’s lawyer has denounced the ruling as unjust and a ploy to weaken his client’s chances in the election, while opposition groups fear the election may be rigged to keep incumbent President Kais Saied in power. Zammel, a little-known businessman before his presidential bid, was arrested in September for allegedly falsifying signatures needed for his candidacy.
Political tensions in Tunisia have escalated ahead of the October 6 election, with protests erupting after three prominent candidates were initially disqualified, leading to their reinstatement by a court order. One of these candidates, Abdellatif El Mekki, was then arrested on charges critics claim are politically motivated.
President Saied, seeking a second term, has faced criticism for consolidating power and cracking down on opposition figures. Two prominent critics, Abir Moussi and Rached Ghannouchi, have been in prison since last year. Amnesty International has condemned these actions as an assault on human rights and the rule of law.
The situation in Tunisia is seen as a troubling sign of democratic deterioration, with concerns growing about the fairness of the upcoming election and the government’s treatment of political dissent.
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