A man set himself on fire outside Algeria justice ministry in Algiers on Sunday, eyewitnesses and sources confirmed to AFP, as a video of the dramatic scene began circulating on social media.
Identified as Faouzi Zegout, a resident of Frenda, a town located about 340 kilometres west of the capital, Algiers was reportedly poured petrol over himself before setting it alight near the ministry building.
Meanwhile, security personnel stationed at the scene responded swiftly, managing to douse the flames before serious harm could be done. According to AFP sources, Zegout sustained only minor injuries.
Local news outlet Frenda News shared an update via Facebook, stating that Zegout was receiving treatment at a burns hospital in Algiers and was in stable condition. However, the report did not mention the source of this information.
A video recorded by a friend moments before the act, who fled as the flames ignited, shows Zegout, dressed in a white shirt, black trousers, and a tie, explaining the reason behind his drastic move.
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He claimed he was being unjustly targeted by a judge from the Frenda court, who had allegedly threatened him with a 10-year prison term.
Through this act, Zegout said he hoped to draw the attention of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to what he described as an “injustice.”
Zegout revealed that his legal troubles stemmed from organizing an unauthorized fundraising campaign meant to help cover the medical bills of sick individuals in his community.
In the meantime, the court was scheduled to announce its verdict on the same day he attempted self-immolation.
While such incidents are rare in Algeria, they are more commonly reported in neighbouring Tunisia.
