Tunisian Court Sentences Presidential Candidate Zammel

Ayachi Zammel, a Tunisian presidential candidate, has received a six-month prison sentence for falsifying documents, marking his second conviction in a week as he prepares for the upcoming presidential election on October 6. Previously, Zammel was sentenced to 20 months in prison for allegedly falsifying popular endorsements. His lawyer, Abdessattar Massoudi, condemned the rulings as unjust, claiming they are part of a strategy to undermine Zammel's candidacy and maintain President Kais Saied's grip on power. The political climate in Tunisia has become increasingly tense, especially after the electoral commission disqualified three prominent candidates earlier this month, igniting protests from opposition groups. These developments raise serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in the country.