Tunisian Presidential Candidate Sentenced to Jail for Certificate Falsification
A Tunisian court sentenced presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel to six months in prison on Wednesday, September 25, on charges of falsifying his documents; this makes it the second sentence he has gotten in himself in a week.
The sentencing comes days before the presidential election and highlights the growing tension ahead of the election amid the opposition party and civil society groups’ fear of a rigged election with the plot of keeping President Kais Saied in power.
Last week, Zammel was sentenced to 20 months in prison for falsifying popular documents.
“It is another unjust ruling and a farce that aims to weaken him in the election race, but we will defend his right to the last minute,” Zammel attorney Abdessattar Massoudi told Reuters.
Zammel was among three candidates competing for the presidential position alongside incumbent Saied and Zouhair Magzhaoui.
The political tension in the North African has raised aimed the October 6 election since an electoral commission named by Saied disqualified three candidates just this month amid protests by opposition and civil society groups.
