Tunisian Rapper K2Rhym Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison 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 elections.

The court also fined Gharbi 5,000 dinars (approximately $1,600) and stripped him of his right to vote.

Gharbi, who lives abroad, had announced his intention to run in the presidential election scheduled for October. However, he claimed that authorities 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?” Gharbi said on August 5, the night before the deadline for submitting applications.

The court also sentenced four women working for Gharbi to between two and four years in prison for allegedly providing money or gifts in exchange for voter signatures.

Experts say that presidential hopefuls face significant constraints in their bid to challenge President Kais Saied, who is seeking another term in office. Candidates have complained that the new, tougher endorsement requirements make it nearly impossible to get on the ballot.

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

Several jailed opposition figures had announced their plans to present their candidacy but were unable to complete the process due to lack of power of attorney.