Self-immolation of a street vendor in Khorramabad; Governor: Officers warned him but he "resisted"

A street vendor set himself on fire in protest against the officers' actions against the checkpoint, but those present at the scene extinguished the fire and took him to the hospital.

According to reports, on Wednesday evening, February 13, a street vendor set himself on fire after officers gathered up his belongings at the Khorramabad Municipality checkpoint. It is said that people extinguished the fire and transported the street vendor to the hospital.

According to Mehr News Agency, Ali Mehrzad Safdari, head of the Lorestan Pre-Hospital Emergency Center, confirmed the self-immolation of the street vendor, said he did not know the reason for the incident, and described his condition as "good."

In an interview with Tasnim News Agency, Khorramabad Governor Jafar Tolabi confirmed the self-immolation of the street vendor, but said that officers at the Khorramabad Municipality checkpoint extinguished the fire and transferred him to the hospital.

The governor of Khorramabad claimed that after being warned by municipal officers, the vendors in Imam Hussein Square packed up their belongings, "but the person in question clashed with municipal forces due to resistance and attempted self-immolation."

Stating that we requested that officers treat the vendors with respect "given the economic situation," he said that the officers present at the scene "claim that no physical confrontation occurred."

Six years ago, Younes Asakereh, a street vendor from Khorramshahr, set himself on fire during a similar protest and lost his life. Since then, several cases of street vendor self-immolations have been reported.

Source: Voice of America