Footballer, 35, dies after setting himself on fire to protest against police

Posted Sunday, April 16, 2023 by Dailystar.co.uk

A footballer has died after setting himself on fire to protest against police.

Nizar Issaoui, 35, put himself on fire outside a police station on Thursday in Tunisia. The deceased striker was rushed to hospital with third-degree burns, but doctors at the specialist burns unit were unable to save him.

Issaoui's brother confirmed his death in a brief statement that said: "He died yesterday [Thursday] and will be buried today [Friday]." The former US Monastir star resorted to extreme measures to protest against what he called a "police injustice" after he was allegedly accused of terrorism by police following a dispute about the price of bananas in a Tunisian village.

He later spoke of his clash with the cops and revealed his intention to protest, and also vowed to sentence himself to death, in a statement. Issaoui raged in a Facebook video: "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."

And the following statement read: "I have no more energy. Let the police state know that the sentence will be executed today."

A video depicting the shocking scenes showed onlookers screaming as the harrowing incident unfolded. Following his death, violent clashes ensued in Issaoui's hometown, Haffouz, between police and protestors.

An angry mob descended on the local police station, and onlookers said cops fired gas to disperse the collective. The community's anger continued beyond Issaoui's funeral, and mourners were seen declaring: "With our blood and with our soul we will sacrifice ourselves for you, Nizar."

Footballer, 35, dies after setting himself on fire to protest against police
He was rushed to hopsital where docs tried in vain to save his life - and his funeral took place on Thursday

The fallen forward's death draws similarities to that of street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi, who died in 2010 after setting himself alight outside a police station in Tunisian town, Sidi Bouzid. He took his life after a policewoman confiscated his fruit wagon.

Violent scences ensued after his death as protesters and police clashed

The vendor's death sparked nation-wide protests that culminated in the removal of then-president Ben Ali. And Ben Ali's ousting set the flame for a number of rebellions in neighbouring countries across the Middle East.