Tunisian Court Sentences Presidential Candidate Zemmal to 12 Years in Prison
A Tunisian court has sentenced presidential candidate Ayachi Zemmal to 12 years in prison for forgery, escalating political tensions ahead of the upcoming elections. Zemmal's lawyer condemned the ruling as a 'massacre,' highlighting the judiciary's role in the political landscape under President Kais Saied.
This ruling marks the third conviction for Zemmal in just 15 days, as he faces charges of forging documents related to his candidacy. Alongside him, Suwar Al-Barqawi, a volunteer from Zemmal's campaign, received the same sentence. Zemmal's legal troubles began last month when he was arrested for allegedly forging voter signatures on his nomination papers, a claim he attributes to Saied's government attempting to eliminate competition.
The political climate in Tunisia is charged, with opposition groups expressing outrage over the electoral commission's decision to disqualify several prominent candidates. This move, alongside recent legislative changes that diminish the judicial authority over election disputes, has sparked fears of electoral fraud and authoritarianism under Saied's regime. As a result, civil society organizations are mobilizing protests against what they perceive as an erosion of democratic principles.
Zemmal, leader of the Azmoun party, remains one of the few candidates approved to run against the incumbent president, who has faced criticism for consolidating power since his election in 2019. With the presidential elections set for October 6, the opposition is calling for widespread demonstrations to oppose Saied's increasingly authoritarian governance.
