A Tunisian football player has died after setting himself on fire to protest “the injustice of the police”.
Nizar Issaoui suffered third-degree burns after protests in Tunisia on Thursday. He was immediately taken to a special burn unit in the city, but doctors could not save him. Unfortunately, the news was confirmed in a brief statement by Issaoui’s brother. He said: “He died yesterday. [Thursday] and will be buried today [Friday]” Issaoui previously posted a video on Facebook confirming his intention to protest after being accused of “terrorism” in the village of Haffouz in Kairouan, central Tunisia, while trying to buy bananas in the midst of a financial crisis. in progress.
Nizar issaoui is 35 years old.
The football player, who served in the high-level flights of his country, had third-degree burns on his body as a result of his protests and could not be saved despite all the interventions of the doctors. Nizar Issaoui, 35suffered third-degree burns on Thursday after protesting in Tunisia. He was immediately taken to a special burn unit in the city, but doctors could not save him. Speaking in the video, he said, “I was accused of terrorism at the police station because of an argument I had with someone who was selling bananas for 10 dinars. Terrorism because of the banana complaint”. He also said he sentenced himself to “death by fire”.
“I don’t have any more energy,” he added in a statement. “Let the police state know that the sentence will be executed today.” As seen in the video of the event, which went viral on social media, those who saw the event screamed. More protests erupted soon after Issaoui’s death. Local media reported that clashes broke out between protesters and police during the funeral and tear gas was used.
The mourners were soon seen protesting outside a local police station. Even before the ceremony, mourners gathered at his house were seen chanting “We sacrifice your life with our blood and soul, Nizar”. Issaoui was a free agent at the time of his death and had previously enjoyed a successful career that saw him represent US Monastir in Tunisian football’s top flight. His protest mirrored the protest of street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi, who burned to death in December 2010.
The incident, which occurred more than a decade ago, sparked a massive nationwide protest and was widely thought to be the start of the Tunisian revolution. It also sparked the Arab Spring uprisings, which were responsible for the overthrow of various regimes in the Middle East. No statement has been made yet from the authorities regarding the incident in which Issaoui, unfortunately, lost his life. The plot revolves around a financial crisis in an African country.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development said Tunisia is experiencing its worst crisis in a generation and the country’s government is believed to be in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund for a $1.9bn loan deal (£1.5bn). Tunisia’s budget has been hit hard by the Covid-19 outbreak and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
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