Tunisian Presidential Candidate Ayachi Zemal Sentenced to Imprisonment Ahead of Elections
In a significant development just weeks before the Tunisian presidential elections, Ayachi Zemal, a prominent candidate, has been sentenced to one year and eight months in prison. The Jendouba court found Zemal guilty of charges related to the fabrication of documents and falsifying popular endorsements. Zemal's lawyer, Abdel Sattar Al-Masoudi, condemned the verdict as politically motivated, asserting that it aims to undermine his client's chances in the upcoming election scheduled for October 6.
Zemal, who was arrested approximately two weeks prior to the ruling, has been embroiled in over 30 legal cases, with the current charges stemming from allegations of forging endorsements in Tebourba, a city in the Manouba Governorate. His defense team maintains that he is innocent, claiming that another individual has confessed to independently printing the endorsements without Zemal's knowledge.
Despite his imprisonment, Ramzi Al-Habali, Zemal's campaign manager, has stated that the candidate will continue his campaign efforts. He emphasized that Zamal remains a legitimate candidate from a legal perspective, regardless of his incarceration status. Al-Habali also highlighted the support Zamal has received from various civil and political organizations in Tunisia.
Zemal is one of three officially accepted candidates in the upcoming election, competing against outgoing President Kais Saied and former MP Zouhair El Maghzaoui. The ruling against Zemal has raised concerns, particularly as it follows a recent decision by the Independent High Authority for Elections, which rejected a court ruling to reinstate three other candidates into the race.
