Tunisian rapper and presidential candidate K2Rhym jailed for election fraud

A Tunisian court has sentenced rapper Karim Gharbi, also known as K2Rhym, to four years in prison in absentia for allegedly buying voter signatures to qualify for the upcoming presidential election.

The court also fined Gharbi 5,000 dinars (about $1,600) and stripped him of his voting rights.

Gharbi, who lives abroad, has announced his intention to run in the presidential election scheduled for October. However, he claims that authorities have refused to provide him with a form showing he has no criminal record, making him ineligible to run.

“What are you afraid of? Ballot boxes? Why hold elections?” Gharbi said on August 5, the night before the application deadline.

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The court also sentenced four women who worked for Gharbi to between two and four years in prison for allegedly giving money or gifts in exchange for voters’ signatures.

Experts say presidential candidates face significant obstacles in their bid to challenge President Kais Saied, who is seeking another term. Candidates complain that new, stricter support requirements make it nearly impossible for them to run in the election.

Only two candidates, Zouhair Maghzaoui and Ayachi Zammel, were pre-selected to run against Saied, who is accused by his detractors of being authoritarian.

Several jailed opposition figures have announced plans to file their candidacies but have been unable to complete the process due to lack of power of attorney.

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