2011 Algerian self-immolations

Protest events in Algeria September 2016 January 2024 Starting in January 2011, over 20 people attempted self-immolation in Algeria. The incidents followed Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation in Tunisia and the subsequent anti-government protests it set off. Many of the immolations took place in front of government buildings following unsuccessful attempts to lodge complaints with Algerian authorities.الشروق 2012-04-29 Algeria: Violent street incidents jolt Jijel after attempted self-immolation https://www.echoroukonline.com/algeria-violent-street-incidents-jolt-jijel-after-attempted-self-immolation 2025-10-10 الشروق أونلاين ar-DZ Four self-immolators died from their injuries.Algeria: Third death by self-immolation http://www.ennaharonline.com/en/news/5671.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110204162256/http://www.ennaharonline.com/en/news/5671.html 2011-02-04 2011-02-01 Ennahar OnlineJeune Afrique, 12/01/2011, Quatrième décès par immolation en Algérie, à la veille de la marche du 12 février http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARTJAWEB20110212105526/algerie-pauvrete-tunisie-manifestationquatrieme-deces-par-immolation-en-algerie-a-la-veille-de-la-marche-du-12-fevrier.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20110215082132/http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARTJAWEB20110212105526/algerie-pauvrete-tunisie-manifestationquatrieme-deces-par-immolation-en-algerie-a-la-veille-de-la-marche-du-12-fevrier.html 15 February 2011 2011-02-17 Jeune Afrique These events were part of the larger Arab Spring. Initial incidents and first victims On 12 January, 26-year-old Mohamed Aouichia set himself on fire in Bordj Menaiel. He had been sharing a room with seven other people since 2003 and had repeatedly approached local authorities to get on the social housing list, but was rebuffed.http://www.courrierinternational.com/article/2011/01/21/je-brule-donc-je-suis Courrier International, 21/01/2011, "Je brûle donc je suis" Courrierinternational.com 2011-01-21 2011-02-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20110124191523/http://www.courrierinternational.com/article/2011/01/21/je-brule-donc-je-suis 2011-01-24 live He has so far survived. On 13 January, Mohsen Bouterfif, a 37-year-old father of two, set himself on fire in front of the town hall in Boukhadra, Tébessa. He and around 20 others were protesting a lack of jobs and housing 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!" http://dna-algerie.com/politique/42-interieure/1210-le-maire-a-mohcin-bouterfif-l-si-tu-as-du-courage-fais-comme-bouazizi-immole-toi-par-le-feu-r.html Le maire à Mohcin Bouterfif : " Si tu as du courage, fais comme Bouazizi, immole-toi par le feu " 2011-02-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20110128205205/http://dna-algerie.com/politique/42-interieure/1210-le-maire-a-mohcin-bouterfif-l-si-tu-as-du-courage-fais-comme-bouazizi-immole-toi-par-le-feu-r.html/ 2011-01-28 dead Bouterfif's death was reported on 16 January, causing about 100 young men to protest. The provincial governor then removed the mayor from his duties.http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/01/20111162363063915.html Algerian dies from self-immolation 2011-02-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20110217081340/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/01/20111162363063915.html 2011-02-17 live The following day, however, hospital staff claimed he was still alive, though in critical condition.http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARTJAWEB20110117084410/algerie-pauvrete-tunisie-mostaganemvague-de-tentatives-de-suicide-par-le-feu-en-algerie.html Vague de tentatives de suicide par le feu en Algérie Jeune Afrique 2001-01-17 2011-02-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20110120040940/http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARTJAWEB20110117084410/algerie-pauvrete-tunisie-mostaganemvague-de-tentatives-de-suicide-par-le-feu-en-algerie.html 2011-01-20 live Al Jazeera described the suicide as "echoing the self-immolation that triggered the protests that toppled the leader of neighboring Tunisia." Bouterfif finally died on 24 January at a hospital in Annaba. Following immolations These suicides were followed by dozens more attempted or successful self-immolations across the country, most of them after Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled his country on 14 January. Protests following these incidents lasted into 2012. Cases included: January 14 January: Said H., a 26-year-old unemployed bachelor, set himself on fire in front of the Urban Security offices in Jijel. He was taken to the hospital with no visits allowed.AFP, 17/01/2011, Un Algérien s'immole par le feu https://web.archive.org/web/20120213090855/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hIieaAjXEknufAnVTWckOC1QTiQA?docId=CNG.83a73467b5bde9d78bcc4ea009d81b00.7d1 2012-02-13 , El Watan, 17/01/2011, Jijel : Le jeune Saïd évacué à Aïn Naâdja https://web.archive.org/web/20110121063059/http://www.elwatan.com/actualite/ils-ont-tente-de-mettre-fin-a-leur-vie-17-01-2011-107513_109.php 2011-01-21 , Jijel.info, 19/11/2011, "Prions pour Saïd" https://web.archive.org/web/20120306220048/http://jijel.info/content/prions-pour-sa%C3%AFd 2012-03-06 15 January: Senouci Touati, an unemployed 34-year-old, immolated himself in Mostaganem. He had not heard of the previous Algerian cases, but was frustrated by what he considered an unjustified discharge from the army without a pension. 16 January: About 20 harraga (would-be illegal emigrants) from Annaba 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.http://www.elwatan.com/actualite/une-vingtaine-de-harraga-brulent-leur-embarcation-18-01-2011-107691_109.php El Watan, 18/01/2011, "Une vingtaine de harraga brûlent leur embarcation" Elwatan.com 2011-02-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20110121063104/http://www.elwatan.com/actualite/une-vingtaine-de-harraga-brulent-leur-embarcation-18-01-2011-107691_109.php 2011-01-21 dead 17 January: Maamir Lotfi, a 36-year-old unemployed father of four, immolated himself in front of the El Oued town hall after he unsuccessfully asked to meet the governor. He was taken to the hospital with second-degree burnshttp://www.elwatan.com/actualite/un-jeune-a-tente-de-s-immoler-par-le-feu-au-siege-de-l-apw-d-el-oued-17-01-2011-107600_109.php El Watan, 17/01/2011, Un jeune a tenté de s'immoler par le feu au siège de l'APW d'El Oued Elwatan.com 2011-02-01 November 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes and later died on 12 February. 18 January: Karim Benidine, a 35-year-old bachelor said to have mental health issues, immolated himself in front of the town hall in Dellys. He was critically burned and transferred to a hospital.AFP, 19/01/2011, Algérie: 7e tentative d'immolation par le feu dans l'est du pays https://web.archive.org/web/20120212205726/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5img-ynFlpYF13EXdIZgg3RTMc9rA?docId=CNG.214b827978fda9860aa914900d62055f.6c1 2012-02-12 ; Le Temps, 19/01/2011, 3 personnes s'immolent par le feu à Dellys, Sidi Bel Abbès et El Oued https://web.archive.org/web/20110713202058/http://www.letempsdz.com/content/view/51761/1/ 2011-07-13 He died on 22 January at Douera Hospital in Algiers.http://www.elwatan.com/actualite/boumerdes-le-citoyen-qui-s-est-immole-par-le-feu-a-dellys-succombe-a-ses-blessures-23-01-2011-108410_109.php El Watan, 23/01/2011, "Boumerdès : le citoyen qui s'est immolé par le feu à Dellys succombe à ses blessures" Elwatan.com 2011-02-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20110126001719/http://www.elwatan.com/actualite/boumerdes-le-citoyen-qui-s-est-immole-par-le-feu-a-dellys-succombe-a-ses-blessures-23-01-2011-108410_109.php 2011-01-26 dead A 23-year-old man immolated himself at Berriane in the Sahara in front of the daira office. He was saved with only light burns on his right foot.http://www.monde-presse.com/algerie/2034-dellysberriane-et-el-oued-trois-autres-cas-dimmolation Dellys, Berriane et El-Oued, Trois autres cas d'immolation Monde-presse.com 2011-02-01 https://archive.today/20110123073713/http://www.monde-presse.com/algerie/2034-dellysberriane-et-el-oued-trois-autres-cas-dimmolation 2011-01-23 dead 19 January: Afif Hadri, a 37-year-old father of six, immolated himself in El Oued. He was saved in time by onlookers.https://www.leparisien.fr/international/en-algerie-un-vendeur-a-la-sauvette-tente-de-s-immoler-par-le-feu-19-01-2011-1234330.php Le Parisien, 19/01/2011, "En Algérie, un vendeur à la sauvette tente de s'immoler par le feu Leparisien.fr 2011-01-19 2011-02-01 G. Seguir, a 54-year-old disabled man in M'Sila, covered himself with 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 wilayah 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; onlookers extinguished the fire and took him to a hospital. Reportedly, the immediate provocation was that his family's electricity was left cut off by Sonelgaz even after he gathered enough money to pay the bill.http://www.elwatan.com/weekend/7jours/immolation-je-brule-donc-je-suis-21-01-2011-108133_178.php El Watan 2011-01-21 French Immolation : Je brûle, donc je suis 2011-02-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20110124022317/http://www.elwatan.com//weekend//7jours//immolation-je-brule-donc-je-suis-21-01-2011-108133_178.php 2011-01-24 dead ; http://www.liberte-algerie.com/edit.php?id=149427&titre=Un%20p%E8re%20de%20famille%20tente%20de%20s%92immoler%20avec%20ses%20deux%20enfants Liberté 2011-01-22 Pour se plaindre de ses conditions de vie à M'Sila: Un père de famille tente de s'immoler avec ses deux enfants French 2011-02-17 2011-07-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20110713203503/http://www.liberte-algerie.com/edit.php?id=149427&titre=Un%20p%E8re%20de%20famille%20tente%20de%20s%92immoler%20avec%20ses%20deux%20enfants dead ; http://www.elwatan.com/une/un-pere-et-ses-deux-enfants-tentent-de-s-immoler-a-m-sila-20-01-2011-108061_108.php Un père et ses deux enfants tentent de s'immoler à M'sila ! French El Watan 2011-01-20 2011-02-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20110123013239/http://www.elwatan.com/une/un-pere-et-ses-deux-enfants-tentent-de-s-immoler-a-m-sila-20-01-2011-108061_108.php 2011-01-23 dead K. L., a 26-year-old, immolated himself inside the tribunal of Ras El Oued, Bordj Bou Arréridj after authorities refused to return his confiscated motorcycle. He was quickly stopped and survived with only minor burns.http://www.elwatan.com/weekend/7jours/immolation-je-brule-donc-je-suis-21-01-2011-108133_178.php El Watan 2011-01-21 Immolation : Je brûle, donc je suis French 2011-02-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20110124022317/http://www.elwatan.com//weekend//7jours//immolation-je-brule-donc-je-suis-21-01-2011-108133_178.php 2011-01-24 dead 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.http://www.liberte-algerie.com/edit.php?id=149426&titre=Les%20imams%20déclarent%20"illicite"%20l’immolation%20par%20le%20feu Liberté 2011-01-22 Les imams déclarent "illicite" l'immolation par le feu French November 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes However, some cases continued to be reported over coming days: 23 January: A teenager in Oued Taourira, Sidi Bel Abbes set himself on fire, apparently following a family altercation.http://www.elwatan.com/actualite/un-adolescent-tente-de-se-suicider-en-s-immolant-par-le-feu-a-oued-taourrira-sidi-bel-abbes-25-01-2011-108754_109.php Un adolescent tente de se suicider en s'immolant par le feu à Oued Taourrira (Sidi Bel Abbès) El Watan 2011-01-25 2011-02-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20110128033418/http://www.elwatan.com/actualite/un-adolescent-tente-de-se-suicider-en-s-immolant-par-le-feu-a-oued-taourrira-sidi-bel-abbes-25-01-2011-108754_109.php 2011-01-28 dead 25 January: Kamel Bouria, a 38-year-old fireman and father in Oum El Bouaghi, set himself on fire following workplace difficulties. Another fireman at the same station, Karim Mehanaine, had threatened to do the same days earlier but was dissuaded. http://dna-algerie.com/politique/42-interieure/1217-seconde-tentative-dimmolation-dans-une-caserne-a-oum-el-bouaghi-lacte-desespere-dun-pompier.html Tentative d'immolation dans une caserne à Oum El Bouaghi : L'acte désespéré d'un pompier Benslimane Mehdi DNA 2011-01-25 2011-01-25 https://web.archive.org/web/20110127022727/http://dna-algerie.com/politique/42-interieure/1217-seconde-tentative-dimmolation-dans-une-caserne-a-oum-el-bouaghi-lacte-desespere-dun-pompier.html 2011-01-27 dead 26 January: A young unemployed man immolated himself in front of the wilayah seat at Djelfa and shouted "Hagrouni" (meaning, "they have wronged me") as he burned. He was said to have been protesting exclusion from the housing list.http://www.elwatan.com/une/un-jeune-s-immole-a-djelfa-26-01-2011-108919_108.php Un jeune s'immole à Djelfa Semmar Abderrahmane El Watan 2011-01-26 2011-01-26 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110128015726/http://www.elwatan.com/une/un-jeune-s-immole-a-djelfa-26-01-2011-108919_108.php January 28, 2011 28 January: Abdelhafid Boudechicha, a destitute 29-year-old day labourer living with his parents and five siblings, immolated himself at Medjana. He repeatedly shouted, "I'm fed up!" He died the next day. His friends said he struggled to find a job or housing. http://www.elwatan.com/actualite/un-jeune-decede-apres-s-etre-immole-par-le-feu-a-bordj-bou-arreridj-29-01-2011-109323_109.php Un jeune décède après s'être immolé par le feu à Bordj Bou Arréridj B. A. El Watan 2011-01-29 2011-01-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20110201023828/http://www.elwatan.com/actualite/un-jeune-decede-apres-s-etre-immole-par-le-feu-a-bordj-bou-arreridj-29-01-2011-109323_109.php 2011-02-01 dead 29 January: B. S., a 29-year-old, son of an entrepreneur, immolated himself in front of Mohamed Khemisti High School next to the wilayah seat at Mostaganem. He suffered third-degree burns. According to security forces, the incident was related to disappointment in love. http://www.elwatan.com/actualite/une-seconde-tentative-d-immolation-a-mostaganem-29-01-2011-109328_109.php Une seconde tentative d'immolation à Mostaganem Yacine A. El Watan 2011-01-29 2011-01-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20110131054240/http://www.elwatan.com/actualite/une-seconde-tentative-d-immolation-a-mostaganem-29-01-2011-109328_109.php 2011-01-31 dead 30 January: A bank security guard in Staoueli, Algiers attempted to burn himself during a protest by bank workers against the bank's director. http://www.elwatan.com/actualite/un-travailleur-de-la-bdl-tente-de-s-immoler-par-le-feu-a-staoueli-30-01-2011-109459_109.php Un travailleur de la BDL tente de s'immoler par le feu à Staoueli Aber Imen El Watan 2011-01-30 2011-01-30 https://web.archive.org/web/20110131170611/http://www.elwatan.com/actualite/un-travailleur-de-la-bdl-tente-de-s-immoler-par-le-feu-a-staoueli-30-01-2011-109459_109.php 2011-01-31 dead S. Hakimi, an employee of Algerian water company ADE, sprinkled himself with petrol at ADE's director office in Tizi Ouzou, but was stopped from setting himself alight. He was apparently protesting an arbitrary transfer. http://www.elwatan.com/actualite/tizi-ouzou-tentative-d-immolation-devant-le-siege-de-l-ade-30-01-2011-109462_109.php Tizi Ouzou : Tentative d'immolation devant le siège de l'ADE Azzouzi Hafid El Watan 2011-01-30 2011-01-30 https://web.archive.org/web/20110131170606/http://www.elwatan.com/actualite/tizi-ouzou-tentative-d-immolation-devant-le-siege-de-l-ade-30-01-2011-109462_109.php 2011-01-31 dead February 6 February: At a protest called for by the National Committee for the Rights of the Unemployed, a young man working as a security guard for a very low wage drenched himself in petrol, but was stopped before lighting a match. http://www.letempsdz.com/content/view/52794/1/ Au moment où les chômeurs manifestaient leur ras-le-bol devant le ministère du Travail Un jeune homme tente de s'immoler A. Samira Le Temps DZ 2011-02-06 2011-02-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20110713202138/http://www.letempsdz.com/content/view/52794/1/ 2011-07-13 dead 9 February: A 25-year-old man from Chréa, Blida set himself on fire in protest of the police's failure to respond to his complaint of having been beaten up. He was taken to the hospital badly injured. https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5glePaGLQtQfxoZKADy8ZIvpi6g6Q?docId=CNG.b5748abd7704db4f1a2c0b99acfebc28.191 Algerian sets self on fire over police "disdain" AFP 2011-02-09 2011-02-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20110215135554/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5glePaGLQtQfxoZKADy8ZIvpi6g6Q?docId=CNG.b5748abd7704db4f1a2c0b99acfebc28.191 2011-02-15 dead 18 February: A married man threatened to set himself on fire at the daira office of Sidi M'hamed, Algiers but was dissuaded, and instead saw Governor Rabah Mokdad about his housing problems. http://www.elwatan.com/weekend/7jours/sidi-m-hamed-alger-un-homme-tente-de-s-immoler-au-siege-de-la-daira-18-02-2011-112299_178.php Sidi M'hamed (Alger) : Un homme tente de s'immoler au siège de la daïra El Watan 2011-02-18 2011-02-18 https://web.archive.org/web/20110219160336/http://www.elwatan.com/weekend/7jours/sidi-m-hamed-alger-un-homme-tente-de-s-immoler-au-siege-de-la-daira-18-02-2011-112299_178.php 2011-02-19 dead 21 February: Three fathers formerly working at a cotton factory attempted to set themselves on fire in Issers, Boumerdes after their requests to return to the jobs they were fired from were rejected. They were fired in the wake of a strike campaign against the privatisation of the factory. The men were stopped and taken to hospital with some injuries. http://www.elwatan.com/actualite/issers-boumerdes-trois-peres-de-famille-tentent-de-s-immoler-par-le-feu-21-02-2011-112730_109.php Issers (Boumerdès) : Trois pères de famille tentent de s'immoler par le feu El Watan 2011-02-21 2011-02-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20110225005143/http://www.elwatan.com/actualite/issers-boumerdes-trois-peres-de-famille-tentent-de-s-immoler-par-le-feu-21-02-2011-112730_109.php 2011-02-25 dead October 4 October: A 19-year-old immolated himself after he was refused permission to resit the Baccalaureate exam at his former secondary school in Oranhttp://www.english.rfi.fr/france/20111004-student-not-allowed-re-sit-baccalaureat-sets-himself-fire Student sets himself on fire over exam resit refusal 4 October 2011 2011-10-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20111020203324/http://www.english.rfi.fr/france/20111004-student-not-allowed-re-sit-baccalaureat-sets-himself-fire 2011-10-20 live 8 October: An Algerian woman 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 amounting to 28,000 dollars.http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2011/Oct-08/150804-homeless-algerian-mother-sets-herself-child-on-fire.ashx#ixzz1aDkuvqZw Homeless Algerian mother sets herself, child on fire 8 October 2011 2011-10-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20111009113154/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2011/Oct-08/150804-homeless-algerian-mother-sets-herself-child-on-fire.ashx#ixzz1aDkuvqZw 2011-10-09 live See also Self-immolations in Tunisia 2013 Bulgarian self-immolations References Category:Protests in Algeria Algeria Self-Immolations Category:2011 in Algeria *Self-Immolations Category:2011 disasters in Algeria