Ahwaz erupts in anger after death of student who set himself on fire to prevent demolition of family food stall

Grief and anger spread across the city of Ahwaz on Tuesday morning following the announcement of the death of 20-year-old university student Ahmed Al-Baldi, who set himself on fire in protest against the municipal decision to demolish his family’s food stall.

Local sources reported that Al-Baldi, who had been taken to Taleghani Hospital in Ahwaz with severe burns covering 70% of his body, succumbed to his injuries.

Incident Details and Alleged Injustice
The incident occurred when forces affiliated with the Municipality of the Third District in Ahwaz, accompanied by law enforcement officers, attempted to demolish the food stall owned by the family of Mujahid Al-Baldi in Zaytun Park, without the owner being present.

Human rights sources stated that Al-Baldi’s mother and his son Ahmed were at the site, sitting inside the stall in an effort to prevent the demolition, but the authorities continued with the operation.

According to reports, the Deputy Director of Municipal Services for the Third District forcibly pulled Mujahid Al-Baldi’s wife and expelled her from the location.

Following this treatment, described as “unjust and violent,” and in protest against the perceived injustice, Ahmed Al-Baldi set himself on fire using gasoline in front of the officers and municipal personnel.

Arrests and Legal Orders
The incident triggered widespread reactions on social media, where users posted images of the deceased student and strongly criticized “the injustice and unlawful actions of the Ahwaz Municipality.” A group of citizens and relatives of Al-Baldi also organized a protest in front of Taleghani Hospital in the city.

In the aftermath, Amir Khalafian, the public and revolutionary prosecutor affiliated with Iran in Ahwaz, announced legal measures including temporary detention and bail release of the city’s mayor and the head of the municipal executive office, as well as the issuance of arrest warrants against three other individuals connected to the incident.

Khalafian also noted that “many individuals who attempted to create tension and chaos online are now free on bail,” referring to the protesters on social media.

In a related development, security forces arrested three activists from Ahwazi Arab media and civil society Hassan Salamat, Jawad Saidi, and Sadiq Al-Bushouka for publishing news related to the incident and criticizing it.