With Tunisia’s presidential election just days away, candidate Ayachi Zammel has been sentenced to six months in prison for using fraudulent documents. The Criminal Chamber of the Jendouba Court of First Instance handed down the sentence for “deliberately using a fraudulent certificate,” according to a report from Tunisia’s TAP news agency on Wednesday.
Zammel was previously sentenced to 20 months for falsifying endorsement documents required to enter last week’s presidential race. The legal case centers on accusations that he forged signatures needed to qualify for the candidacy.
His lawyer, Abdessattar Massoudi, strongly condemned the ruling, labeling it a politically motivated attempt to derail Zammel’s campaign. “It is another unjust ruling and a farce that clearly aims to weaken him in the election race, but we will defend his right until the last minute,” Massoudi told Reuters.
Zammel was initially arrested on September 2 over allegations related to falsifying signatures. While he was released after four days, he was rearrested on similar charges shortly after.
The controversy unfolds as Tunisia prepares for its presidential election, set for October 6.
