Tunisian Presidential Candidate Ayachi Zammel Sentenced to Six Months in Prison

 

On Wednesday, September 25, a Tunisian court sentenced presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel to six months in prison for falsifying documents. This ruling marks Zammel's second prison sentence in just one week, as he was previously given a 20-month sentence for similar charges related to falsifying popular endorsements.

The timing of these sentences is significant, coming just days before the presidential election scheduled for October 6. The situation has heightened tensions in Tunisia, with many opposition and civil society groups expressing concerns about a potential rigging of the election to ensure that the current president, Kais Saied, remains in power.

Zammel's attorney, Abdessattar Massoudi, criticized the ruling, calling it "another unjust ruling and a farce" aimed at undermining Zammel's candidacy. He emphasized that they would fight for Zammel's rights until the last moment.

Zammel is one of only three candidates vying for the presidency, alongside incumbent President Kais Saied and Zouhair Magzhaoui. Political unrest has escalated in Tunisia leading up to the elections, particularly after an electoral commission appointed by Saied disqualified three well-known candidates, sparking protests from opposition groups.