A professional Tunisian footballer Nizar Issaoui set himself on fire in protest against what he called “police state”.
Media reported that Nizar Issaoui took this extreme protest after the police accused him of “terrorism” after he complained that he was not willing to purchase bananas for $3.3 a kilo which is double the price set by the state.
A video clip circulating online shows the footballer saying: “For a dispute with someone selling bananas at 10 dinars, I get accused of terrorism at the police station. Terrorism for a complaint about bananas.”
His brother informed media that Nizar Issaoui, 35, suffered 3rd degree burns from his protest which happened in the central region of Kairouan.
Previously, a street vendor by the name Mohamed Bouaziz also burned himself to death on 17 Dec 2010 which triggered the Tunisian revolution which further lead to the Arab Spring uprisings.
The death of Issaoui led to further protests on the streets of Haffouz on Thursday according to reports by media in Tunisia.
Protests threw stones at the police who responded by throwing tears gas back at them.
During his soccer career, Issaoui played for a number of football clubs from lover divisions to top flight.
Issaoui stated on Facebook before the protest that he had sentenced himself to “death by fire.”
“I have no more energy. Let the police state know that the sentence will be executed today,” he wrote.
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