Web desk: Iraq investigates motive after a man sets himself on fire during Facebook livestream
Iraqi authorities are investigating a disturbing incident involving a young man who set himself on fire during a Facebook livestream. Police say the act was linked to ongoing criminal cases, not social media fame.
The man survived and is receiving treatment at a hospital in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, officials said.
According to Iraqi media, the man went live on Facebook before using a highly flammable fuel. Viewers watched the act in real time. Emergency responders rushed him to a hospital. Doctors later stabilized his condition.
The incident adds to a growing trend of suicide attempts broadcast live on social media. Officials say such cases raise serious concerns about online behavior and mental health risks.
A Nineveh police source said the man is from Hammam al-Alil, south of Mosul.
Investigators said courts convicted him in 2021 and 2022 in drug-related cases. More recently, a court issued a new order against him in absentia. The charges include drug trafficking and promotion.
Authorities believe legal pressure triggered the act.
Police said the man was part of a five-member drug trafficking network. Security forces arrested the other members earlier. He fled Nineveh and later reappeared during the livestream.
Officials said he had evaded law enforcement for several weeks.
Security agencies are coordinating with Kurdistan regional authorities, police said.
Once doctors confirm his recovery, authorities will begin legal proceedings against him.
Meanwhile, officials urged social media users to seek help during distress. They also warned against normalizing self-harm content online.
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