Tunisia jails presidential candidate
A candidate in Tunisia’s upcoming presidential election has been sentenced to 12 years in prison, according to his lawyer.
Ayachi Zammel, a former lawmaker who heads a small liberal party, was jailed in four cases related to voter endorsements, his legal representative, Abdessater Massoudi said on Tuesday.
It is the third prison sentence imposed on Zammel in two weeks, according to the lawyer.
Opposition and civil society groups have been voicing concerns about a potentially rigged election, designed to keep President Kais Saied in power.
ISIE rejected the bids of about 14 hopefuls for the election, leaving only Zammel and Zouhair Maghzaoui, of the left-wing nationalist People’s Movement, to challenge Saied.
Peoplesmind