09 Feb Tunisian man sets himself on fire in protest against the police
A Tunisian man has set himself on fire in Tabraqa in response to police treatment.
According to a local news agency, the protest came after the police confiscated a herd of sheep belonging to his father. Reports say the police asked the father to show proof he had purchased the sheep as well as showing his license for rearing and trading the sheep.
The news agency reported that the police believed that the herd, which consisted of 39 sheep, was smuggled from Algeria, claiming that the owner had a record of such behaviour.
The son felt his father was being unfairly targeted by police and set himself on fire.
The farmer’s lawyer said he had provided all the necessary documents to prove that he had purchased the herd, local media reported. The lawyer said: “The youth set himself on fire because he felt that his father was oppressed.”
The young man was rushed to hospital and was in a critical condition.