ALBAWABA - On Thursday and Friday, thousands of Tunisian educators went on strike for an hour in protest at what they said was a student bullying campaign that resulted in an Islamic education instructor burning himself alive.
Following the self-immolation event at a middle school in the Mahdia Governorate, the teacher, named as Jalouli, passed away on Thursday from his wounds.
Local accounts state that a disagreement between Jalouli and a few students in mid-November precipitated the catastrophe. There was more attention after the fight because one kid allegedly complained about the teacher. The teacher was the focus of widespread internet bashing when a video of the incident went viral.
The "Violence Against Women and Children Investigation Unit" has already heard testimony from all parties involved, according to Fared Ben Jha, the spokesperson for the Mahdia and Monastir court. However, Jalouli is said to have been compelled to take the extreme measure by the ensuing social media criticism.
In a statement, the Mahdia Education Union expressed solidarity with the teacher, calling him a "respected colleague" and calling for a thorough inquiry to hold those guilty accountable. These appeals were repeated by the General Labor Union of Tunisia, which urged authorities to intervene and stop future occurrences of this kind.
Ben Jha underlined that Tunisian law punishes internet abuse, with perpetrators 13 years of age and older facing up to two years in prison. The maximum penalty for younger offenders is five years.
In Tunisia, the case has generated a lot of discussion and brought attention to the necessity of dealing with bullying and mental health issues in schools. In support of Jalouli, a solidarity demonstration has been planned, with unions and educators calling for systemic changes and justice to shield educators from abuse of this kind.
