Tunisian politician Ayachi Zammel, a candidate in the north African country's October 6 presidential election, has been sentenced for 12 years in prison, but his lawyer said on Tuesday his client has the right to run for elections.
“The court in Tunis sentenced Ayachi Zammel to 12 years in prison in four cases” related to voter endorsements, lawyer Abdessater Messoudi told AFP. Messoudi said Zammel “remains a candidate in the election” on Sunday.
Monday’s ruling is the third prison sentence imposed on Zammel in two weeks, just five days before the presidential election.
Last Wednesday, a Jendouba court handed down a six-month jail sentence to Zammel for “falsification of documents,” adding to a 20-month term the same court imposed on September 18.
A total of 37 separate prosecutions have been launched against him nationwide on similar charges, his lawyer said.
The Tunisian judiciary accuses Zammel of breaking the rules on endorsements.
He was arrested on September 2 on suspicion of falsifying popular endorsements before he was released on September 6. But, the candidate was almost immediately rearrested on similar accusations.
Zammel, 47, is one of just three candidates approved by Tunisia's Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE), along Saied, 66 and former parliamentarian Zouhair Maghzaoui, 59.
The final ISIE list excluded Imed Daimi, an adviser to former president Moncef Marzouki, former minister Mondher Zenaidi and opposition party leader Abdellatif Mekki.
Human Rights Watch accused ISIE of skewing the ballot with at least eight prospective candidates prosecuted, convicted or imprisoned in the run-up to the election.
Prospective candidates had also complained of bureaucratic obstacles such as obtaining the required paperwork to enable them to put their names forward in the election.
The recent developments came two days after Tunisia's parliament approved a law stripping the Administrative Court of its authority to adjudicate electoral disputes.
Out of a total 161 lawmakers, 116 voted for the major amendment to the electoral law.
Civil rights activists and opposition parties that opposed the amendment said it threatens the integrity of the elections.
