Tunisian teacher self-immolates following student bullying

The name of Tunisian teacher Fadel Jelouli has dominated social media following his death in an incident that sparked widespread outrage across Tunisia and mobilized the country’s teachers’ union.

According to Tunisian radio station Mosaïque FM, Jelouli, an Islamic education teacher at a middle school in Mahdia, set himself on fire at his residence. He was rushed to a hospital in Ben Arous, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Local reports indicate that Jelouli’s tragic act followed relentless bullying by a group of his students. The harassment reportedly included prolonged mockery, the sharing of images and videos online that showed him being insulted, and frequent humiliation in public spaces.

The reports detailed how Jelouli became a target for certain students who harassed him even outside of school. Videos circulated online show the teacher attempting to defend himself, including one clip where he is seen chasing a student and throwing stones.

The online backlash intensified after these videos were posted, with some accusing Jelouli of resorting to violence against students. This public criticism reportedly compounded the psychological strain he was already under.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Secondary Education Union in Chbba announced a general strike in schools, a move that saw thousands of teachers across Tunisia joining in solidarity. The strike was also a protest against the prevalence of bullying and its devastating psychological impact.

Meanwhile, Fared Ben Jeha, spokesperson for the Monastir and Mahdia courts, stated that investigations are ongoing to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the factors that drove Jelouli to take such drastic action.