Tunisia: Mother Of Key Uprising Figure Detained

July 13, 2012
The mother of Mohamed Bouazizi, the street vendor whose self-immolation unleashed the uprising that led to President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's ouster in 2011, has reportedly been detained and charged with insulting an official.

Manoubia Bouazizi was detained in a court in Sidi Bouzid after an altercation with a judge.

Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire out of despair after police confiscated his unlicensed fruit and vegetable cart.

On July 13, another of Manoubia Bouazizi's sons, Salem, was quoted as saying his mother argued with a clerk of the court, not the judge, who had embarrassed her and pushed her.

He said his mother was at the courthouse to sign documents that would allow her to receive government compensation awarded to "martyrs of the revolution."
Based on reporting by AFP, and Businessnews.com.tn