An altercation between mourners and security personnel broke out in Tunisia on Friday (14 October), following the death of a man from injuries acquired during a police chase a few weeks prior.
After Malek Sellimi’s funeral, protesters in Upper Omran, a working-class neighborhood on the outskirts of Tunis, pelted stones at security personnel.
The 24-year-old was being pursued by police in late August when he slipped into a ditch and hurt his neck.
He was transported to the hospital and spent seven weeks in intensive care before passing away.
To guarantee that Sellimi’s death was handled fairly, relatives have requested an investigation.
Security personnel in the nation are frequently accused of employing excessive force since the 2011 revolution that resulted in the overthrow of former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
According to the Tunisian Human Rights League, 14 men have died in recent years as a result of police involvement, and they allege that officers are rarely brought to justice.
Human rights activists also claim that since President Kais Saied seized power in a coup last July, the government has increasingly deployed harsh tactics akin to those employed by Ben Ali, the deposed former leader.
