Monday, June 2, 2025 - A man set himself on fire outside Algeria’s justice ministry in Algiers on Sunday, June 1, in a dramatic act of protest that drew swift response from security personnel and has since sparked discussions across the country.
The individual, identified by local media as Faouzi Zegout
from the town of Frenda, approximately 340 kilometres west of the capital,
reportedly doused himself in petrol and set himself alight near the government
building. Eyewitnesses and sources told AFP that guards from the justice
ministry quickly intervened, extinguishing the flames and preventing serious
injury.
According to reports from Frenda News, Zegout
was transported to the Algiers burns hospital, where he is currently receiving
treatment and is in stable condition.
A video circulating online, filmed by a companion moments
before the act, shows Zegout wearing formal attire, a white shirt, black
trousers, and a tie; and addressing the camera to explain his motives. In the
footage, he claims his protest was aimed at highlighting what he described as
judicial injustice, stating he was threatened with a ten-year prison sentence
by a judge at the Frenda court.
Zegout said he had faced legal proceedings for organizing a
fundraising campaign without government approval, intended to assist people in
need of medical treatment. His court verdict was reportedly scheduled for the
same day as the incident.
In his recorded statement, Zegout appealed directly to
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, urging him to take notice of what he termed an
abuse of power.
Acts of self-immolation are uncommon in Algeria, in contrast
to neighbouring Tunisia, where such actions have historically served as potent
symbols of protest, most notably during the onset of the Arab Spring. The
incident has prompted discussions around judicial transparency and citizen
grievances in Algeria.
0 Comments