A Tribute To A Historic Figure

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Muhammad Al Bou azizi
The fruit seller who caused revolution. Muhammad Al Bou azizi set himself on fire after he was stopped from selling his goods. It was an act that caused protests across Tunisia -- and the fall of President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali.

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The protests were triggered when on 17 December, in the central town of Sidi Bouzid, Mohamed Bou'azizi, a street vendor of cheap plastic toys/ vegetables was asked by the police for a permit to sell. He replied that he had a diploma and wanted to have a skilled job instead. The police confiscated Mohamed Bou'azizi's goods and assaulted him. Mohamed Bou'azizi then bought gasoline with his last money and attempted to commit suicide by burning himself alive in front of the Sidi Bouzid City Hall.

Last month, Mohamed Bouazizi wrote a Facebook message to his mother hours before setting himself on fire. Here is the messge:

"I will be traveling my mom, forgive me, Reproach is not helpful, i am lost in my way it is not in my hand, for give me if disobeyed words of my mom, blame our times and do not blame me, i am going and not coming back, look i did not cry and tears did not fall from my eyes, Reproach is not helpful in time of Treachery in the land of people, i am sick and not in my mind all what happened, i am traveling and i am asking who leads the travel to forget."

At least, 15 suicide attempts by burning were reported so far in Egypt, Suadi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan Algeria and Mauritania in protest of social and political injustice.

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Sidi Bou Said
The city where it all began.