Man attempts to set himself on fire in front of Justice Ministry

A man in his thirties attempted Sunday to set himself on fire in front of the Ministry of Justice in Algiers to protest an "injustice" he believes he is a victim of, according to a viral video on social media and a local media outlet in a country where such acts are unusual.

Originally from Frenda, near Tiaret, 340 kilometers west of Algiers, Faouzi Zegout walked to the ministry, where he doused himself with gasoline intending to self-immolate. Security officers, equipped with surveillance cameras, quickly extinguished the flames with a fire extinguisher, and the young man sustained only minor injuries, according to informed sources.

The ministry is located in the ultra-secure district of El Biar, on the heights of Algiers.

"Faouzi Zegout is at Alger's major burns hospital," but "he is doing well," assured the local media Frenda News on Facebook, without citing sources.

In a video filmed by a friend who fled just after the self-immolation attempt, Zegout, dressed as if for an official ceremony in a white shirt, black trousers, and tie, explains his act in advance. He says he wants "to draw the attention of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune" to the "injustice" he claims to be a victim of.

"It's because of a judge from the Frenda court who arbitrarily threatened me with a 10-year prison sentence," he adds.

This community activist indicates he recently appeared in court for launching, without authorities' authorization, a fundraiser to help sick people get medical treatment. The court was expected to make its decision this Sunday. Such suicidal gestures are rare in Algeria, unlike other countries in the region such as Tunisia.

In this North African country, those under 30 make up more than half of the population, around 23 million people.

They formed the bulk of the pro-democracy Hirak protestors who demanded a radical change in the political system in the spring of 2019 and ousted then-President Abdelaziz Bouteflika from power.

Under the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic banning gatherings and the imprisonment of its prominent figures, the Hirak has faded, but dozens of opponents or freedom defenders are still imprisoned.