Ahmad Baladi, an Iranian man in his early twenties, set himself on fire to protest against the demolition of his family’s food stand in Khuzestan, Iran, on Sunday Morning, according to the BBC's Persian language news website.
Baladi sustained burns covering 70% of his body and was treated for burns in the Talghani Burn Unit Hospital in Ahvaz, according to the BBC Persian report.
The incident occurred after Baladi clashed with municipality enforcement officers who were demolishing his family's food stall.
Mojahid Baladi, Ahmad's father, spoke to Fars News Agency about the incident.
“When he saw the workers tearing down the stall, he begged them to wait, but no one listened," Mojahid Baladi said. "One of the officers, in response to his threat of self-immolation, said. ‘Go ahead and burn yourself, let’s see how it feels.’ After that, they broke the windows, and the situation escalated,” he said.
Long-term contract with the municipality for the food stand
"We have a twenty-year contract with the municipality, with rent adjustments every three years," Mojahid said about the food stand being demolished, even though the municipality owns the building.
The Public Prosecutor's office of Khuzestan said in a statement that it is launching a “thorough and comprehensive judicial investigation.” The prosecutor’s office called for an impartial review of the incident, BBC Persian noted.
The report also quoted the prosecutor's office as saying anyone looking to exploit the incident to inflame the public would be met with firm action.
A group of citizens, as well as Baladi’s family members, gathered outside the hospital to protest the demolition, voicing their opinions to Mohammed-Reze Mowali-Zadeh, the governor of Khuzestan, who came to speak with them.
The municipality claims the demolition was "peaceful and legal, and carried out with judicial authorization," and went on to clarify that the food stand had failed to comply with a court-ordered eviction.