A Tunisian footballer, Nizar Issaoui, passed away after setting himself on fire in protest against the “police state” ruling the country.
The incident occurred in the village of Haffouz in the central region of Kairouan, where Issaoui suffered third-degree burns.
Despite being taken to a specialist burns hospital in the capital Tunis, doctors were unable to save his life.
The incident has sparked protests on the streets of Haffouz, with young demonstrators hurling stones at police who responded with tear gas.
Issaoui’s protest is reminiscent of that of Mohamed Bouazizi, a street vendor who burned himself to death in 2010, sparking the Tunisian revolution that triggered the Arab Spring uprisings. Issaoui’s decision to make his extreme protest against the police came after officers accused him of “terrorism” when he complained about the high price of bananas.
The incident has caused outrage among Tunisians, with hundreds of mourners gathering outside Issaoui’s house for his funeral, shouting: “With our blood and with our soul we will sacrifice ourselves for you, Nizar”.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
