A Tanzanian court on Friday charged scores of people with treason following violent protests sparked by a controversial election the opposition alleges was illegitimate.

According to court filings, those indicted were accused of "intention to obstruct" the October 29 election, as well as intimidating the executive and damaging government property.

News agencies Reuters and AFP each reported that well over 100 people were charged, citing legal sources. None of the accused were public figures.

"Some of them they have been beaten, they are sick, they have not received any medical treatment," Paul Kisabo, a lawyer with the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition told AFP.

Tanzania's election disputed after president wins 98% of vote

According to according to Tanzania's electoral commission, President Samia Suluhu Hassan won the election with 98% of the vote.

Hassan, who leads the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), ran virtually unopposed — the main opposition party, Chadema, boycotted the election after its leader, Tundu Lissu, was imprisoned on treason charges.

The other main opposition candidate, Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo party, was disqualified by the electoral commission.

The African Union said that its observers had also concluded that the election did not comply with "international obligations and standards for democratic elections."

Amnesty International has accused Tanzania of a broader crackdown on the opposition, including enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and extrajudicial killings.

Hundreds killed in protests — opposition

The disputed election sparked widespread turmoil in the East African country.

Tanzania's main opposition party, Chadema, said that several hundreds of people were killed in a crackdown on the protests.

The government has alleged the figure is exaggerated but has not provided its own death toll.

Tanzania also imposed a six-day internet shutdown and nationwide curfew to curb the protests.

Edited by: Zac Crellin