Tunisian Hero Gets A Statue

Tunisian youngster, Muhammed Bouazizi, whose self immolation a year ago sparked protests all across Tunisia, gets honoured by a statue in Sidi Bouzid.



The 26-year old fruitseller, whose "ambition was to trade up from a wheelbarrow to a pick-up truck" (BBC News), set himself alight in protest against President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali's 23-year old rule. The action led to widespread protests all over Tunisia which resulted in the fall of Ben Ali's government. It was the first one of its kind, marking the start of the Arab Spring.

The BBC reports: "The 26-year-old fruit and vegetable salesman had supported eight people on less than $150 (£100) a month, and his ambition was to trade up from a wheelbarrow to a pick-up truck.

His family say he refused to pay three council inspectors bribes, so they seized his goods and beat him. He was refused an audience with the governor so he poured a can of petrol over himself and lit a match."
The commemoration ceremony was held in the under-developed town of Sidi Bouzid and was attended by Tunisia's new President Moncef Marzouki.