Tunisian Police Arrest Presidential Candidate Zammel

Ayachi Zammel, a presidential candidate in Tunisia, was arrested early Monday on allegations of falsifying popular endorsements necessary for his candidacy in the upcoming elections scheduled for October 6. His campaign has condemned the arrest as an absurd attempt to exclude him from the race, amid growing fears that rivals of current President Kais Saied may be barred from participation. The arrest follows the Administrative Court's recent reinstatement of three other candidates, which has raised concerns about the electoral commission's impartiality and potential bias in favor of Saied, who has ruled by decree since a controversial power grab in 2021. Zammel's team has criticized the electoral commission's actions, suggesting they threaten the credibility of the electoral process. Rights groups have expressed alarm over the systematic exclusion of opposition candidates, with Human Rights Watch highlighting the prosecution of several potential candidates. Protests are being organized by political parties and human rights organizations to demand adherence to judicial rulings and to challenge perceived intimidation tactics leading up to the elections.