Syrian refugee in Uruguay douses himself with gas in protest

MONTEVIDEO (Uruguay) — A Syrian refugee unhappy with his resettlement in Uruguay doused himself with gasoline yesterday (Oct 7) as a form of protest while meeting with government officials.

Interior Ministry official Fernando Gil told The Associated Press that Mr Merhi Alshebli was detained after the incident yesterday afternoon.

The dousing happened inside Mr Alshebli’s home in Juan Lacaze, a town about 150 kilometres west of Montevideo. A government statement released late yesterday said officials from the Secretary of Human Rights, which oversees the refugees’ resettlement, were meeting with Mr Alshebli about his request for a visa to go to another country.

“The team once again explained to him the state of Uruguay can’t grant entry visas for other countries,” said the statement.

The incident happened after hours of exchanges with Mr Alshebli, and afterward the group filed a complaint with police, according to the statement.

It wasn’t immediately known if Mr Alshebli tried to set himself afire or how the incident was resolved.

Mr Alshebli’s son, Ibrahim, said his father was being held in the neighbouring city of Rosario. The case will be examined by a judge, said Inspector Enuversindo Correa, sub-director of the Colonia police force, which oversees the city of Juan Lacaze.

Last year, the small South American nation of 3.3 million took in five Syrian families as refugees. However, the Syrians have complained of high costs and contend the government has not helped them enough. AP