2011 Algerian self-immolations
Encyclopedia
In 2011, as the widely reported protests sparked off by Mohamed Bouazizi
's self-immolation in Tunisia began to have a clear impact on the Tunisian government, a wave of self-immolation
s swept Algeria
. These individual acts of protest mostly took place in front of a government building following an unsuccessful approach to the authorities. Four self-immolators have died of their burns so far.
It began on 12 January, when 26 year-old Mohamed Aouichia set himself on fire in Bordj Menaiel
in the compound of the daira
building. He had been sharing a room of 30 square metres with seven other people, including his sister, since 2003; he had repeatedly approached local authorities to get on the social housing list and been rebuffed. He has so far survived.
On 13 January, Mohsen Bouterfif, a 37-year-old father of two, set himself on fire. He had gone with about twenty other youths to protest in front of the town hall of Boukhadra
in Tebessa demanding jobs and houses, after the mayor refused to receive them. According to one testimony, the mayor shouted to them: "If you have courage, do like Bouazizi did, set yourself on fire!" His death was reported on 16 January, and about 100 youths protested his death causing the provincial governor to sack the mayor. However, hospital staff the following day claimed he was still alive, though in critical condition. Al Jazeera
described the suicide as "echoing the self-immolation that triggered the protests that toppled the leader of neighbouring Tunisia." He finally died on 24 January at a hospital in Annaba.
These suicides were followed by dozens more attempted or successful self-immolations across the country, so far without triggering nation-wide demonstrations, most of them after the Tunisian dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
fled his country on 14 January; cases included:
The Ministry of Religious Affairs responded to this wave of self-immolations by devoting the Friday sermons of 21 January to admonitions of patience and reminders that suicide is forbidden in Islam. However, some cases continued to be reported over coming days:
Mohamed Bouazizi
Mohamed Bouazizi was a Tunisian street vendor who set himself on fire on 17 December 2010, in protest of the confiscation of his wares and the harassment and humiliation that he reported was inflicted on him by a municipal official and her aides...
's self-immolation in Tunisia began to have a clear impact on the Tunisian government, a wave of self-immolation
Self-immolation
Self-immolation refers to setting oneself on fire, often as a form of protest or for the purposes of martyrdom or suicide. It has centuries-long traditions in some cultures, while in modern times it has become a type of radical political protest...
s swept Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. These individual acts of protest mostly took place in front of a government building following an unsuccessful approach to the authorities. Four self-immolators have died of their burns so far.
It began on 12 January, when 26 year-old Mohamed Aouichia set himself on fire in Bordj Menaiel
Bordj Menaïel
Bordj Menaïel is a town in the Boumerdès Province in Algeria. It is located in the western Kabylie region at and is 30 km away from the city of Boumerdès. As of 1998, its population is 35,600Algeria goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi was born in Bordj Menaiel....
in the compound of the daira
Districts of Algeria
The provinces of Algeria are divided into 553 districts . The capital of a district is called a district seat...
building. He had been sharing a room of 30 square metres with seven other people, including his sister, since 2003; he had repeatedly approached local authorities to get on the social housing list and been rebuffed. He has so far survived.
On 13 January, Mohsen Bouterfif, a 37-year-old father of two, set himself on fire. He had gone with about twenty other youths to protest in front of the town hall of Boukhadra
Boukhadra
Boukhadra is a town and commune in Tébessa Province in northeastern Algeria....
in Tebessa demanding jobs and houses, after the mayor refused to receive them. According to one testimony, the mayor shouted to them: "If you have courage, do like Bouazizi did, set yourself on fire!" His death was reported on 16 January, and about 100 youths protested his death causing the provincial governor to sack the mayor. However, hospital staff the following day claimed he was still alive, though in critical condition. Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera is an independent broadcaster owned by the state of Qatar through the Qatar Media Corporation and headquartered in Doha, Qatar...
described the suicide as "echoing the self-immolation that triggered the protests that toppled the leader of neighbouring Tunisia." He finally died on 24 January at a hospital in Annaba.
These suicides were followed by dozens more attempted or successful self-immolations across the country, so far without triggering nation-wide demonstrations, most of them after the Tunisian dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was...
fled his country on 14 January; cases included:
- 14 January:
- Said H. (26 years old, unemployed bachelor), in front of the Urban Security offices in JijelJijelJijel is the capital of Jijel Province in northeastern Algeria. It is flanked by the Mediterranean Sea in the region of Corniche Jijelienne, and has an estimated population of 148,000 inhabitants .Jijel is the administrative and trade centre for a region specializing in cork processing, leather...
; taken to hospital with no visits allowed.
- Said H. (26 years old, unemployed bachelor), in front of the Urban Security offices in Jijel
- 15 January:
- Senouci Touati (34 years old, unemployed), in MostaganemMostaganemMostaganem is a port city in and capital of Mostaganem province, in the northwest of Algeria. The city, founded in the 11th century lies on the Gulf of Arzew, Mediterranean Sea and is 72 km ENE of Oran...
- had not heard of the previous Algerian cases; frustrated by what he considered an unjustified discharge from the army without a pension.
- Senouci Touati (34 years old, unemployed), in Mostaganem
- 16 January:
- About 20 harragaHarragaHarragas, are North African migrants who attempt to illegally immigrate to Europe or to European-controlled islands in makeshift boats...
(would-be illegal emigrants) from AnnabaAnnabaAnnaba is a city in the northeastern corner of Algeria near the river Seybouse. It is located in Annaba Province. With a population of 257,359 , it is the fourth largest city in Algeria. It is a leading industrial centre in eastern Algeria....
, who attempted to set their boat on fire when approached by the coast guard; the fire was extinguished, but the fate of two of the people on the boat is unknown. - Mehanaine Karim (38 year old fireman, father of three), got two bottles of petrol and threatened to burn himself in the fire station at Oum El BouaghiOum El BouaghiOum El Bouaghi is a municipality in Algeria. It is the capital of Oum El Bouaghi Province....
after being told he would be sent to IlliziIlliziIllizi is a town situated in the south-eastern part of Algeria, capital of Illizi Province. It is one of the gates to the Tassili N'Ajjer National Park with caves situated under the sands containing prehistoric drawings dating from 6000 years BC. There is a hotel and two camping sites, as well as...
in the extreme south; he was dissuaded by the local governor before lighting it.
- About 20 harraga
- 17 January:
- Fatima (a woman in her 50s), in front of the town hall of Sidi Ali BenyoubSidi Ali BenyoubSidi Ali Benyoub is a town and commune in Sidi Bel Abbès Province in northwestern Algeria....
near Sidi Bel AbbesSidi Bel AbbesSidi Bel-Abbes is capital of the Sidi Bel Abbès wilaya , Algeria. It is named after a Muslim holy man who is buried there. It is the commercial center of an important area of vineyards, market gardens, orchards, and grain fields. It is surrounded by a wall with four gates and there is a...
- successfully dissuaded before lighting the fire. She had been living with her brothers, with whom she did not get along, and had repeatedly requested housing with no success; she decided to set herself on fire after her mother was "humiliated" by the town authorities while asking about housing. - Maamir Lotfi (36 years old, unemployed father of four), in front of the El OuedEl OuedEl Oued or Oued Souf is a city in El Oued province, Algeria.. The oasis town is watered by an underground river, hence its name, which enables date palm cultivation and the rare use of brick construction for housing...
town hall; had unsuccessfully asked to meet the governor; taken to hospital with second-degree burns; died on 12 February
- Fatima (a woman in her 50s), in front of the town hall of Sidi Ali Benyoub
- 18 January:
- Karim Benidine (35 year old bachelor said to have mental problems), in front of the town hall in DellysDellysDellys is a small coastal town in northern Algeria, almost due north of Tizi-Ouzou and just east of the river Sebaou. It is notable for an Ottoman-era casbah, two colonial-era lighthouses , and some beaches; the principal activities of the area are fishing and farming. In Roman times, it was...
, critically burned and transferred to hospital. He died from his burns on 22 January at Douera hospital in Algiers. - A young man (23 years old), at BerrianeBerrianeBerriane is a medium-sized town in the south of Algeria and the capital of the district of the same name in the province of Ghardaïa . It is located in the north of the Sahara desert, in the extreme North of the wilaya of Ghardaïa, 554 km south of Algiers and 43 km north of Ghardaïa City...
in the Sahara; attempted to burn himself in front of the daira office; saved with only light burns on his right foot
- Karim Benidine (35 year old bachelor said to have mental problems), in front of the town hall in Dellys
- 19 January:
- Afif Hadri (37 year old father of six), in El OuedEl OuedEl Oued or Oued Souf is a city in El Oued province, Algeria.. The oasis town is watered by an underground river, hence its name, which enables date palm cultivation and the rare use of brick construction for housing...
, saved in time by onlookers. - G. Seguir (54 years old, blind and handicapped), in M'SilaM'SilaM'Sila ; is the capital of M'Sila Province, Algeria, and is co-extensive with M'Sila District. It has a population of over 100,000...
, covered himself in an Algerian flag and sprinkled himself, his 11 year old son, and his 8 year old daughter with petrol while standing in front of the wilaya seat, threatening to set himself and them on fire. After an hour of tense negotiations with an official, he let the children go and tried to set himself on fire; the onlookers managed to stop the fire and took him to hospital. Reportedly, the immediate provocation was that his family's electricity had been left cut off by SonelgazSonelgazSonelgaz is a state-owned utility in charge of electricity and gas distribution in Algeria...
even after he scraped together the money to pay the bill. - K. L. (26 years old), inside the tribunal of Ras El OuedRas El OuedRas El Oued is a town and commune in Bordj Bou Arréridj Province, Algeria. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 42,345....
near Bordj Bou ArreridjBordj Bou ArreridjBordj Bou Arréridj population 140,000 , is the capital city of Bordj Bou Arréridj Province, Algeria. It is situated 148 miles by road east of Algiers, near the Hodnar Massif in the southern Kabylia Mountains, at an elevation of 916 metres....
, after the authorities refused to return his motorcycle which was confiscated after an accident; he was stopped quickly, and survived with only light burns.
- Afif Hadri (37 year old father of six), in El Oued
The Ministry of Religious Affairs responded to this wave of self-immolations by devoting the Friday sermons of 21 January to admonitions of patience and reminders that suicide is forbidden in Islam. However, some cases continued to be reported over coming days:
- 23 January:
- A teenager in Oued Taourrira near Sidi Bel AbbesSidi Bel AbbesSidi Bel-Abbes is capital of the Sidi Bel Abbès wilaya , Algeria. It is named after a Muslim holy man who is buried there. It is the commercial center of an important area of vineyards, market gardens, orchards, and grain fields. It is surrounded by a wall with four gates and there is a...
set himself on fire, apparently following a family altercation.
- A teenager in Oued Taourrira near Sidi Bel Abbes
- 25 January:
- Kamel Bouria (38-year-old fireman, father of one), in Oum El BouaghiOum El BouaghiOum El Bouaghi is a municipality in Algeria. It is the capital of Oum El Bouaghi Province....
, set himself on fire following workplace difficulties. Another fireman at the same station, Karim Mehanaine, had threatened to do the same some days earlier, but been dissuaded.
- Kamel Bouria (38-year-old fireman, father of one), in Oum El Bouaghi
- 26 January:
- A young man (26–28 years old, unemployed) in front of the wilaya seat at DjelfaDjelfaDjelfa is the capital city of Djelfa province, Algeria. It has a population of 154,265 . The city lies at the junction of the N1 and the N46....
, who shouted "Hagrouni" (They have wronged me) as he burned; said to have been protesting exclusion from the housing list
- A young man (26–28 years old, unemployed) in front of the wilaya seat at Djelfa
- 28 January:
- Abdelhafid Boudechicha (destitute 29-year-old day labourer living with his parents and five siblings), at MedjanaMedjanaMedjana is a town and commune in Bordj Bou Arréridj Province, Algeria. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 16,112.-References:...
, who shouted repeatedly "I'm fed up!" then asked his mother's forgiveness - died the next day of his burns. Said by his friends to have despaired of ever finding a job or housing.
- Abdelhafid Boudechicha (destitute 29-year-old day labourer living with his parents and five siblings), at Medjana
- 29 January:
- B. S. (29 years old, son of an entrepreneur from Aachacha), in front of Mohamed Khemisti High School next to the wilaya seat at MostaganemMostaganemMostaganem is a port city in and capital of Mostaganem province, in the northwest of Algeria. The city, founded in the 11th century lies on the Gulf of Arzew, Mediterranean Sea and is 72 km ENE of Oran...
- suffered third-degree burns. According to security forces, this was related to disappointment in love.
- B. S. (29 years old, son of an entrepreneur from Aachacha), in front of Mohamed Khemisti High School next to the wilaya seat at Mostaganem
- 30 January:
- A Local Development Bank security guard at Staoueli (Algiers) attempted to burn himself in the course of a protest by bank workers against the bank's director.
- S. Hakimi (about 30 years old, working at the water company ADE) - sprinkled himself with petrol at ADE's director's office in Tizi OuzouTizi OuzouTizi Ouzou is a city in Kabylia, Algeria, where it ranks second in population after Béjaïa. It is the capital and largest city of Tizi Ouzou Province and of Great Kabylia .-Etymology:The name comes from the Kabylian Berber Tizi n Uzezzu and is pronounced Tizuzzu, commonly...
but was stopped from setting himself alight, apparently protesting an arbitrary transfer.
- 6 February:
- At a protest called for by the National Committee for the Rights of the Unemployed, a young man with a job as a security guard on 6000 dinars a month drenches himself in petrol, but is stopped before managing to light a match.
- 9 February:
- A 25-year-old man from ChreaChréaChréa is a town in Algeria, located in Blida Province, Bougara District, in a mountainous area named Tell Atlas, near Blida. This municipality has the Chréa National Park, one of the smallest national parks of the country, and a ski resort...
near TebessaTébessaTébessa is the capital city of Tébessa Province, Algeria, 20 kilometers west from the border with Tunisia. Nearby is also a phosphate mine. The city is famous for the traditional Algerian carpets in the region, and is home to over 161,440 people.-History:...
sets himself on fire in protest of police's failure to respond to his complaint of having been beaten up; he is taken to hospital badly injured.
- A 25-year-old man from Chrea
- 18 February:
- A married man threatens to set himself on fire at the daira office of Sidi M'hamed (AlgiersAlgiers' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
), but is dissuaded, and instead got to see the governor, Rabah Mokdad, about his housing problems.
- A married man threatens to set himself on fire at the daira office of Sidi M'hamed (Algiers
- 21 February:
- Three fathers formerly working at Socothyd (a cotton factory), M. Ahmed, K. Sadek et S. Farid, between 35 and 43 years old, attempt to set themselves on fire in IssersIssersIssers is a town and commune in Boumerdès Province, Algeria. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 27,990....
near BoumerdesBoumerdèsBoumerdès is the capital city of Boumerdès Province, Algeria. It is located on the Mediterranean Sea. It had a population of 28,500 in 1998 and 15,000 in 1987....
, after their requests to return to the jobs they had been fired from in 2006 were rejected. They had been fired in the wake of a strike campaign against the privatisation of the factory. They were stopped with some injuries and taken to hospital.
- Three fathers formerly working at Socothyd (a cotton factory), M. Ahmed, K. Sadek et S. Farid, between 35 and 43 years old, attempt to set themselves on fire in Issers
- 4 October
- A 19 year old, who was refused permission to resit the Baccalaureat exam at his former secondary school in Oran
- 8 October
- An Algerian woman who had been evicted from her flat in Oran died after setting herself and her three-year-old son on fire. she had been evicted from her flat, for which she had recently paid her life savings for.