Ayachi Zammel, a Tunisian presidential candidate, has been sentenced to six months in prison for falsifying documents, just days before the country’s presidential election. This is the second prison sentence against Zammel in a week, as he was previously sentenced to 20 months for the same offense. Zammel’s lawyer has called the ruling unjust and a farce aimed at weakening his chances in the election, but vows to continue defending his rights.
The sentencing comes amidst mounting tensions before the upcoming election, with concerns raised by opposition and civil society groups about potential election rigging to keep President Kais Saied in power. Zammel, a businessman who was relatively unknown before his presidential bid, was arrested on suspicion of falsifying signatures needed for his candidacy papers and has faced multiple arrests on similar charges.
The political atmosphere in Tunisia has been tense leading up to the October 6 election, exacerbated by the disqualification of three prominent candidates earlier this month, which led to protests. The crackdown on opposition figures, including arrests and political maneuvers by President Saied, has raised concerns about the state of democracy in the country.
International organizations, including Amnesty International, have criticized the actions taken by the Tunisian government as a threat to human rights and the rule of law. The presidential election is poised to be a contentious one, with Zammel, Saied, and Zouhair Magzhaoui vying for the presidency amidst a backdrop of political turmoil and repression.
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