TUNIS: Tunisian soccer player Nizar Issawi, 35, burned to death after setting himself on fire earlier this week in protest against “police injustice”, his family said on Friday.
Essaoui, a former player with top-flight side US Monasterio and a father of four, posted a video on Facebook in which he said his protest was motivated by terrorism in Kerouane, Hafez, central Tunisia. is being falsely accused.
The striker, who was a free agent and played in amateur leagues before his death, suffered third-degree burns and doctors were unable to save his life, his brother Riyad told reporters.
Local media said Essaoui decided to stage his violent protest outside a police station after officers accused him of “terrorism” after complaining about the price of bananas.
A video selfie circulating on social media shows Asaoui shouting: “I have been charged with terrorism at the police station for a fight with someone selling bananas for 10 dinars. On a complaint about bananas Terrorism.
After this, there was a huge protest by the player’s family and a large number of citizens gathered in front of the police station where the incident took place.
