Tunisian opposition leader Ayachi Zamel sentenced to another two years and eight months in prison

The sentences imposed against him now total more than 35 years in prison

Nov. 11 (EUROPA PRESS) –

A court in Tunisia has sentenced Tunisian opposition figure Ayachi Zamel to another two years and eight months in prison, accused of forging signatures to run as a candidate in the presidential elections that took place in early October in the North African country.

The Manuba Court of First Instance had previously ruled in favor of releasing him as the cases that were still pending before the Tunisian Justice were resolved, as well as those opened against some members of his campaign – several of whom are relatives. of the opponent–, according to information collected by the Mosaique FM station.

However, this Monday’s sentence brings to 35 years the total number of sentences imposed against him by various courts in the country. Since the first case was opened against him for alleged forgery of signatures, 37 investigations have been carried out, one for each suspicious signature detected to date.

This could mean a total sentence of between 40 and 50 years in prison in the framework of a trial that several Human Rights organizations have described as “political” and “deterrent” for those seeking to run in the presidential elections.

Zamel’s defense argues that all these cases could have been unified into a single case and denounces clear “judicial harassment.” “They are parallel processes. That is why I say it is a judicial massacre,” said lawyer Abdelsatar Mesaudi.