A court in Tunisia has handed a six-month prison sentence to Ayachi Zammel, a presidential candidate, over allegations of document forgery. This is the second prison sentence Zammel has received within a week, coming just days before the scheduled presidential election on October 6, 2024.
This recent ruling has further intensified the already growing political tensions in Tunisia. Opposition parties and civil society groups are expressing fears that the election might be manipulated to ensure the re-election of President Kais Saied. Zammel had previously been sentenced to 20 months in prison last week, also on charges related to falsifying popular endorsements.
In a response to the latest sentence, Abdessattar Massoudi, a representative of Zammel’s legal team, condemned the court’s decision. He labeled the ruling as “unjust” and “a farce,” claiming it was a deliberate attempt to weaken Zammel’s position in the election. He vowed to defend Zammel’s candidacy until the very last moment.
Zammel is one of only three approved candidates in the upcoming presidential race, alongside incumbent President Kais Saied and Zouhair Magzhaoui. The political atmosphere in Tunisia has become increasingly strained, especially after Saied’s electoral commission disqualified three major candidates earlier this month, sparking protests from opposition groups and civil society organizations.
In addition, President Saied recently reshuffled his cabinet ahead of the election, adding to the concerns of potential political manipulation.
