According to his family, Nizar Issaoui perished from burns he sustained during a protest against “police injustice” in which he set himself on fire.
He had appeared in an online video in which he yelled that officers had accused him of terrorism following a dispute with a produce vendor.
In a separate post, he stated that he had sentenced himself to “fire death.”
Local media reported violent confrontations at the Friday funeral of the 35-year-old in his hometown of Haffouz.
According to reports, police officers accused Issaoui of terrorism after he complained that he was unable to purchase bananas for less than 10 dinars ($3.30; £2.66) per kilogram, double the price set by the government.
The football player wrote in a Facebook post, “For a dispute with someone peddling bananas for 10 dinars, I am charged with terrorism at the police station.
Terrorism in response to a banana complaint… I have no more vitality. Inform the police state that the sentence will be carried out today.”
Issaoui torched himself to death in protest. At the footballer’s funeral, violence erupted as demonstrators hurled stones at police who fired tear gas.
He was a former player for US Monastir in the Tunisian premier league and a parent of four.
According to his sibling, Issauoi sustained third-degree burns, and doctors were unable to save his life.
His action echoed a protest from 2010 in which street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire. That sparked a surge of protests that led to President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali’s ouster the following year.
Kais Saied, the current president, ignited controversy in 2021 by dismissing the prime minister and suspending parliament. Since then, he has forced through a new constitution that entrenches his dominance.
The government of Tunisia has not commented on the demise of Issaoui.
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