Man burns himself alive in Alexandria, Egypt in protest

An Egyptian taxi driver set himself on fire in front of an army centre in Sidi Gaber, east Alexandria on Saturday, reportedly in protest against the country’s high prices and poor living conditions.

Witnesses reported that Ashraf Mohammed Shaheen, 30, started criticising the government and the country’s high prices, before pouring gasoline on himself and setting himself alight.

One eyewitness told The New Arab that passers-by rushed to put out the fire and called an ambulance, which took him to Amiri Hospital.

The directorate of health affairs in Alexandria issued a statement, saying the man, Ashraf Mohammed Shaheen, was a 30 year old taxi driver from Kafr El Dawar.

“The man’s condition is serious - he poured (gasoline) on himself, causing burns to more than 95 per cent of his body.

“Another man named Abdul Alim Muhammad Abdul Alim, 32, was injured while trying to save him.

Dr. Tarek Khalifa, the hospital director, said "his condition is in a dangerous situation.

“The ambulance brought a young man suffering from third-degree burns all over his body, and carried out the necessary first aid, but that.”

“A large proportion of burnt tissue has been destroyed , and this requires long-term treatment.”