A man identified as Faouzi Zegout set himself ablaze on Sunday outside Algeria’s justice ministry in the capital, Algiers, in a dramatic act of protest that was partially captured on video and widely shared on social media.
According to sources who spoke with AFP, Zegout, a resident of Frenda — located approximately 340 kilometres west of the capital — poured petrol over himself near the government building and set himself on fire. However, security guards stationed at the ministry responded swiftly, extinguishing the flames and preventing what could have been a fatal outcome.
“Faouzi Zegout is in the Algiers burns hospital,” reported local outlet Frenda News via Facebook, adding that he “is doing well,” although no official source was cited.
In a video filmed by a friend just before the act, Zegout is seen wearing a white shirt, black trousers, and a tie. Speaking directly to the camera, he explains the reason behind his desperate protest:
“It’s because of a judge at the Frenda court who arbitrarily threatened me with a 10-year prison sentence,” Zegout says, stating that his action was intended to “draw the attention of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune” to what he described as a case of “injustice.”
Zegout further claimed that his legal troubles stemmed from organising a fundraiser without official permission, an effort he said was meant to help cover medical treatment for those in need. The court was expected to rule on his case the same day he attempted self-immolation.
While acts of self-immolation are rare in Algeria, they have occurred more frequently in neighbouring Tunisia, particularly since the start of the Arab Spring. This incident has reignited conversations on judicial transparency, civil liberties, and citizens’ trust in the justice system.
