ALBAWABA - An Iranian man set himself on fire in protest against the living conditions and security situation in Ahvaz, after the government forced him to shut down his food stall.
Ahmed Al Baladi, who is in his 20s, set himself ablaze after the Iranian municipality closed his family's food stall.
A horrific video capturing the incident was posted on social media, showing white smoke rising into the sky while people were seen running and loudly screaming as some were trying to put out the fire.
According to media sources, Ahmed Al Baladi succumbed to his wounds after several days in the hospital.
Iranian accounts indicate that the young man had a verbal altercation with local officials while they were confiscating the contents of his shop, and that one of them directed provocative remarks at him, prompting him to pour a flammable substance on himself and set himself on fire in front of passersby.
Local Ahvaz media outlet reported that after the death of citizen Ahmed Al Baladi, the Iranian city's mayor, Reza Amini, submitted his resignation.
The resignation followed widespread unrest and protests by residents of the city of Ahvaz, and the family of Ahmed Al Baladi, as activists considered the incident to reflect the corruption and poor management in the municipality's institutions.
