In the lead-up to Tunisia's presidential elections, a court in Jendouba has confirmed a 20-month prison sentence for Ayachi Zammel, a businessman and leader of the liberal Azimoun party.
Zammel was convicted on charges of falsifying electoral documents. Despite this legal setback, he remains a candidate and retains the right to appeal the sentence.
The election, scheduled for October 6, pits incumbent President Kais Saied against Zammel and Zouhair Maghzaoui of the leftist nationalist People's Movement.
The political landscape is fraught with tension, as critics accuse the election commission of bias favoring President Saied, allegations that the commission denies.
Observers have noted that serious challengers to Saied have been systematically excluded from the race.
Human Rights Watch has highlighted concerns about the election's integrity, pointing to "increased repression of dissent, muzzling of the media, and continued attacks on judicial independence."
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