Presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel detained again, HRW denounces “anti-democratic climate”

Presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel detained again HRW denounces anti democratic climate

In Tunisia, the presidential candidate of October 6, Ayachi Zammel, has been behind bars again since Friday September 6 for ” falsification of sponsorships “This industrialist, leader of a small, little-known liberal party, had already been arrested on Monday for the same facts, before being provisionally released on Thursday evening.

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As soon as he was released, the Tunisian justice system placed Ayachi Zammel back in detention. The Jendouba court (northwest) decided to issue a warrant of arrest ” and place him in provisional detention, awaiting a ” hearing set for September 11 “, For ” falsification of sponsorships ” said Ayachi Zammet’s lawyer, Abdessatar Messaoudi, on Friday, September 6.

The presidential candidate was arrested on Monday, September 2, then released on bail on Thursday, September 5. This is pending a trial in another case of ” falsification of sponsorships “, by the court of Manouba, in the western suburbs of Tunis. But as soon as he was released, he was immediately arrested, then taken away on Friday by the national guard of Jendouba.

A very confusing situation denounced by Ahmed Benchemsi, spokesperson for Human Rights Watch for the Middle East and North Africa region, contacted by RFI.

It’s quite confusing… We spoke to his lawyer, so he was immediately rearrested, after being released, in a trial for “falsification of sponsorships”but he was immediately rearrested and re-charged with “falsification of sponsorships”. So the question arises whether it is the same trial. Is it Are these different sponsorships? Is this a different case, in a different city? Is this the same case, but duplicated in two different cities? So it’s very vague. Even his lawyer isn’t sure. In any case, we’re not sure we understood. What is certain is that all this “stinks” political motivations, if you’ll pardon the expression. He is still a candidate in the running for a presidential election which will take place in a few weeks. »

So, all this is very revealing of the absolutely unbreathable climate that exists in Tunisia today and which, basically, consists of clearing the way for President Said to be re-elected in a climate that is absolutely anti-democratic. “, added Ahmed Benchemsi, spokesperson for Human Rights Watch in the Middle East and North Africa.

Ayachi Zammel is one of three candidates selected by the Tunisian electoral authority (ISIE) for the presidential election, including the outgoing president Kaïs Saïed. Three other candidates who had been reinstated by the administrative court were ultimately excluded.

Also read40 days before the presidential election, the Tunisian Human Rights League expresses its concerns

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