Tunisian rapper seeking presidency sentenced to prison

Tunisian rapper Karim Gharbi, better known as K2Rhym, was sentenced to four years in prison in absentia Wednesday for allegedly buying voter signatures to qualify for upcoming presidential elections, a judicial spokesperson said.

A court in Jendouba also fined Gharbi 5,000 dinars (around $1,600) and stripped him of the right to vote, spokesman Alaedine Aouadi told AFP.

The court also sentenced the president of the commune of Jendouba to one year in jail and a fine of 1,000 dinars, and a colleague of the rapper to four years in prison and a fine of 5,000 dinars.

Gharbi, who lives abroad and was the son-in-law of former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, had announced in a video at the end of July his intention to run in the presidential candidate scheduled for October.

To be listed on the ballot, candidates are required to present a list of signatures from 10,000 registered voters.

Controversial in Tunisia for his tattoos and flashy lifestyle, Gharbi had become in recent years known for his charitable endeavours with orphans, lower-income families, hospitals and schools.

On August 5, the night before the deadline for submitting applications, the rapper said authorities had refused to provide him with a form showing he had no criminal record, preventing him from becoming a candidate.

"What are you afraid of? The ballot boxes? Why organise elections?" he said.

The same court on August 2 sentenced four women working for the rapper to between two and four years in prison for having "provided money or gifts in kind" in exchange for voter signatures.

Experts say presidential hopefuls face significant constraints in their bid to challenge President Kais Saied, who was democratically elected in 2019 but orchestrated a sweeping power grab in 2021 and is now seeking another term in office.

Candidates from across the political spectrum have complained that the new, tougher endorsement requirements make it nearly impossible to get on the ballot.

Several jailed opposition figures had announced their plans to present their candidacy but, having failed to obtain a power of attorney, were unable to complete the process.

Only two candidates, former member of parliament Zouhair Maghzaoui, 59, and the leader of a small liberal party, Ayachi Zammel, were pre-selected to run against Saied, accused by his detractors of authoritarianism.