Nizar Issaoui, a Tunisian footballer, has set himself ablaze while protesting against “police injustice”.
In a viral video posted online recently, Issaoui was seen shouting that he had been accused of terrorism by officers after a dispute with a fruit seller.
However, in a separate post, Issaoui said he sentenced himself to “death by fire”.
Revealed that there were clashes between the angry youth and police during the burial of the 35-year-old footballer on Friday in his home town, Haffouz. Demonstrators threw stones at police who fired tear gas.
Recall Issaoui had been accused of terrorism by police officers after he complained that he was unable to buy bananas for less than 10 dinars ($3.30; £2.66) a kilogram, double the price set by the government.
“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… I have no more energy. Let the police state know that the sentence will be executed today.” Issaoui wrote on Facebook.
He was a former player for the Tunisian top-flight side US Monastir and a father of four.
Issaoui’s brother had disclosed that he suffered third-degree burns and doctors were not able to save his life.
The Tunisian government has not commented on Issaoui’s death.
