Ahmad Baledi, a 20-year-old student, set himself on fire in protest against the demolition of his family’s kiosk by the Ahvaz municipality. He suffered burns on about 70% of his body and has been hospitalized in Taleghani Hospital in Ahvaz, where his condition is reported to be critical.
The Karun Human Rights Organization reported that on the morning of November 2, municipal forces from District 3 of Ahvaz, accompanied by police officers, went to the workplace of Mojahed Baledi in Zeytoon Park and demolished his kiosk without notifying him or securing his presence.
At the time, Mojahed Baledi’s wife and their son Ahmad were present at the scene and staged a sit-in inside the kiosk to prevent its destruction. However, the agents continued with the demolition.
According to the report, the deputy for services at Ahvaz District 3 municipality “acted violently and unprofessionally,” grabbing Mojahed Baledi’s wife by the hand and throwing her out of the kiosk.
In response to this “violent and unjust act,” Ahmad Baledi poured gasoline on himself and set himself on fire in front of the officers as an act of protest against the “injustice committed.”
According to eyewitnesses, some officers at the scene made no effort to prevent the tragedy and instead watched indifferently — even mockingly.
In recent years, there have been numerous cases in Iran of workers setting themselves on fire or committing suicide due to dismissals, harsh working conditions, delayed or unpaid wages, economic hardship, and other pressures.
In one of the most recent cases, on November 3, another Arab citizen in Ahvaz, named Kamal Baledi, took his own life due to psychological distress and financial hardship.
A kiosk that had official permission 25 years ago
The Karun Human Rights Organization reported that about 25 years ago, Mojahed Baledi obtained an official municipal license to set up a small kiosk and restaurant in Zeytoon Park, Ahvaz.
According to the organization, this kiosk was one of the few Arab-owned establishments among more than 400 kiosks operating across the city of Ahvaz.
In recent years, he had repeatedly been subjected to pressure and discriminatory treatment by some local officials, and there had been several prior attempts to demolish his kiosk.
The Karun Human Rights Organization expressed deep regret over this incident, calling for serious legal action against those responsible for this inhumane act, and emphasized that the violated rights of the Baledi family must be restored and properly addressed.
As of the time of this report, neither the Ahvaz municipality nor the police had issued any response regarding the incident.
