A Tunisian court has sentenced a number of potential presidential election candidates to prison and banned them from running for office.
It was gathered that politicians, and a lawyer, in a move critics say is aimed at excluding serious competitors to President Kais Saied in October’s vote.
A court decision was issued on Monday against prominent politician Abdel Latif Mekki, activist Nizar Chaari, Judge Mourad Massoudi and another candidate, Adel Dou, according to lawyer Mokthar Jmai who spoke to Reuters. All four were sentenced to eight months in prison and banned from running for office on a charge of vote buying.
Moussi, a key opposition figure, has been jailed since October, according to Agence France-Presse.
The ruling party will reinforce the fears of opposition parties, candidates and human rights groups who have accused authorities of using arbitrary restrictions and intimidation in order to ensure the re-election of Saied in a vote set for 6 October.
Ahmed Nafatti, the manager of Mekki’s campaign, said they still planned to submit his candidacy papers on Tuesday.
“The decision is unfair and unjust, and aims to exclude a serious player from the race,” Nafatti said.
