Tunisian Presidential Candidate jailed for certificate forgery

Days before Tunisia’s presidential election, candidate Ayachi Zammel has been sentenced to six months in prison for using fraudulent certificates, reports Tunisia’s TAP news agency Zammel’s lawyer, Abdessattar Massoudi, condemns the ruling as an attempt to undermine his client’s election chances.

 “This is an unjust ruling and a farce aimed at weakening him in the election race, but we will defend his rights until the end,” Massoudi stated.

Zammel was previously sentenced to 20 months in prison for falsifying popular endorsement documents required to run in the election. He was arrested on September 2 for allegedly falsifying signatures and released four days later, only to be rearrested on similar charges.

Tunisia’s presidential election is scheduled for October 6, with incumbent President Kais Saied seeking re-election amidst controversy and opposition.

The election has sparked protests and criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups concerned about the country’s democratic future.