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Subscribe to RSSTUNIS, Tunisia -- The mother of the Tunisian peddler whose suicide sparked the Arab Spring was arrested after getting into a scuffle with a court official, a family member said on Friday.
Salem Bouazizi, brother of Mohammed Bouazizi, whose death made him a symbol for the frustrations of many, said their mother was arrested for allegedly attacking the official in Sidi Bouzid, the central town where Tunisia's revolution began.
Bouazizi said his mother, Manoubia Bouazizi, 60, returned an insult after the court employee insulted her, pushed her and slammed a door in her face, refusing to assist her application for documents.
According to the AFP news agency, Salem Bouazizi said the documents she was there to sign would have allowed her to receive compensation from the government given to "martyrs of the revolution."
Tunisia declares curfew after riots
"This is an insult to the mother of a martyr," he said, demanding her immediate release.
"My mother was humiliated. The authorities must learn to respect people. We're not going to let this go," Bouazizi told AFP.
The prosecutor opened an investigation and interviewed witnesses for hours following the incident, AFP reported. One witness said Manoubia Bouazizi had "threatened to set fire to the court," according to testimony obtained by AFP.
Tunisia Live, which describes itself as the first English-language Tunisian news website, reported that Manoubia Bouazizi could face a fine and up to a month in jail; this could not be independently verified.
There was no immediate comment from the justice ministry.
Self immolation
Mohammed Bouazizi set himself on fire on a street on December 17, 2010, infuriated after a policewoman confiscated his goods, and died the following month.
His act sparked a wave of protests that spread through Tunisia's neglected hinterlands to the capital, forcing veteran dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali to flee on January 14, 2011.
Ben Ali's departure sent shockwaves around the Arab world and sparked uprisings that ultimately overthrew leaders in Egypt and Libya last year.
The families of those killed in the Tunisian revolution have complained that the government has done little compensate them or to improve the position of the country's worst off.
Msnbc.com staff and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
Those uppity peons need to know their place!
That's Republican talk Roadkill to those of us who don't understand Sarcasm.
Remember this: "Tact is for those who aren't intelligent enough to use Sarcasm" It's a great TACTic for those who try to inject humor in to an otherwise droll or oppressive post, however. Great Going.
You just Had to make this about American politics. So annoying.
It's always about politics unless you are a Republican; don't you know that only Democrats and Independents turn things to Politics according to the GOP? I think it's called kicking sand to cover their own S__t.
'News' is a joke.
When you can not obtain a job to feed yourself and/or your family. People resort to extreme measures, few go quietly...
The masses bought into the idea that going to school would result in a well paying job. Many buried themselves in debt, obtaining degrees that are now worthless, in this faltering world economy...
Things are going down-hill for many people and it will be decades prior to the middle-class returning to many countries. Even in the booming countries of Asia...
Spot on! But I'm almost positive this is it, everywhere for everyone. There will only continue to be the same sort of oppressive measures in one form or another to retain influence and control for the few at the top and those directly below them. Awhile back here and elsewhere it was learned that education was not really the answer, specifically that such could retain power for a few at the top. Such don't really want an educated populace in the long run. Exactly because contrary to popular belief, there's just no money, capital gains or profits in it for them if too many become motivated and capable of becoming self reliant for real. Or can otherwise justify higher wages for themselves. Such only works temporarily if there's just a few involved over hordes of struggling masses who aren't so educated.
Looked up the definition of, "capitalism" lately? There's just no way to enable liberty and justice for all via, "All wealth, power and influence being strictly maintained in the hands of a few". Took awhile to come to a head. But here we are!
AC Robertson: "The masses bought into the idea that going to school would result in a well paying job. Many buried themselves in debt, obtaining degrees that are now worthless, in this faltering world economy...
" And just exactly who sold the masses this bill of goods? Who's line is? - "All problems can be solved with education", " 'They' (who ever 'they' are, usually a minority), need more education"
At the turn of the last century, the American Dream, The Ideal, was to be one's own boss, to own one's own business and home, i.e. property. Because none was available to those of lower status, especially in the old world countries. It was all controlled by the ruling class, the bourgeois.
By the middle of the century, the Dream was the same, however, but the mantra had become "You should to go to school, to get a good job, so that you don't have to work as hard as I did."
Then towards the end of the century the LIBERALS, the teachers UNIONS, The MEDIA all preach
"You have to go to school, to get a good job." Why no talk about, education leading to you own business, your independence?
Why do we no longer preach independent, entrepreneurial goals. Entrepreneur has become synonymous with "greedy pig". One must remember that every Hollywood Actor or singer pop star (most are college drop outs) is an entrepreneur, so why aren't the media going after those greedy bastards for ripping off the young populace and making millions at the box office, why is it only those greedy bastards on Wall Street?
And we DO NOT NEED TO CREATE JOBS, in this country, we need to create opportunity in this country. We don't need jobs, we need business. As a failed entrepreneur, I can tell you we need to reduce the amount of governmental BS. The restrictive and burdensome regulation. (For instance. I own a skid steer loader service, and I use a pick up and trailer to move my equipment around. The truck and trailer are tagged at 24K pounds, so if I put any more than 24K lbs on it I get a ticket for being over loaded. Yet I have to have a Class A CDL and all the expense that goes with it because the vehicle and trailer are "RATED" 29K pound. I got a 1 ton dually for safety reasons, and I am paying for it.
@ DumbFarmBoy
Less restriction on business and how is that working out for you?
In Germany, there is a law that requires each corporation to put labor representatives at the top so the lower class has a voice and to control the corporations.
The result: A strong economic, a little over 5% unemployment. See, it is not so bad after all.
Let's look at capitalist: Global banking, global work sources with few restriction and what do we have? Let's just say countless countries are in the dump and it nearly destroy the world economic. It's started with housing bubble, then the bank bail out and corruption and malpractice of corporations everywhere.
Do not blame just the schools...
Many HR will not even talk to you, unless you have a degree in the profession you are applying for...
The US Gov requires a BS to apply for almost any management position...
Thailand requires a BS for ALL Politicians and most of their government positions. But Thailand also supplies FREE educations for Doctors, other medical fields, teachers, etc. Their historical unemployment is 1% and their Medical care is FREE...
One of the main reason I left the USA, was the increasing regulations/cost to run a business. The first business I opened was in 1970 and even then it required thousands of USD to just comply with the; codes, licenses, and required insurance. This was required prior to opening the door or purchasing goods or training staff...
A poor person in the USA and many countries can not afford to open a business. Unless they are cutting corners that could put them in JAIL. When Bill Gates was running his business out of his garage, which violates many building codes. Did he have the required permits and insurance???
DumbFarmBoy. Just a few questions, as I don't know what state you are in.
If the rated capacity of your set up is 29K lbs, why is only licensed for 24K?
Is that the highest weight available in your state? I assume from you description that you are talking about a standard type American full size pickup truck, pulling a dual axle trailer (hopefully equipped w/ electric brake system) How big is your skid steer. Maybe the intent is when pulling a machine of that size and weight, they would prefer a heavy duty 8 wheel trailer, commonly used for machines the size of a standard back hoe, pulled by a larger vehicle, such as a dump truck. You know, the big yellow ones with 4 tires per axle and the ring and pintle type hitch?
Not trying to slam on you, not at all. Don't have enough info to make informed comment. But if your current set up truly can safely carry the weight, it seems as if the laws need to be changed. Or you have some corrupt cops looking for fine money. If it truly is rated for 29K, and actually weighs less, you are not overloaded, no matter what the plates say. Sounds like just another excuse for a money grab to me. Hope you get it worked out somehow!
SSDD in Tunisia
The Muslim world is reaping what it has sewn for centuries. When you hold females as "one third value of a male", this is the living legacy of that. The continual degradation of females, and third class status will be the defining reason the nations of Islam with never move forward, forever third world status for most. Truly a pathetic culture of male domination and barbarism. How's the "Arab spring" working for you? Ignorance prevails, along with the continuation of male domination.
Are we talking 'Arab Fall' here?
From the beginning, Mat, a lot of us Inter-nuts said that it was really an Extremist Muslim Winter.
"Arab Failure" ... Just another version of the Hatfields and McCoys in this case ... Hopefully, they'll slaughter each other ... There never was an "Arab Spring" ... That was nothing but a phrase made up by US/Western lame-stream media. It had no meaning to begin with and still doesn't. There is no democracy in Islam ... Muslims scream such from every corner of the Earth every day along with "death to democracy, we hate democracy", etc., ad nauseum/infinitum.
AC Robertson, You said it all. My term for it, 'Economic Slavery'. Artificially created economic framework, based in stimulating competition amongst us, lowers our human value, and leaves us killing one another for what little scraps fall on the floor. As long as we push the values up the pyramid they could care less. Poverty is not a lack of money, we already have that, poverty is a lack of conscience and we buy into it thereby placing the chains around our own necks. FIAT money my @$$!. The US is better at disguising it. We are the ones exporting wars, war machines, young blood and foreign aid. We have been lulled to sleep in our lay-Z-boys and buy into the propaganda fed on TV.
mathuin,
Check the demographics of the countries that have experienced the riots, the average age is extremely low and unemployment is very high...
This is a bad combination and many countries in Asia are trying to prevent the consequences, from happening in their countries...
The old saying - Youth & exuberance is usually defeated by old age & trickery
Wait! You mean I missed The Arab Summer and it's Fall already? Damn, knew I slept too long last night.
proves the old adage correct once again "be careful what you wish for"....think SHE has it bad?.. just what do you think is going to happen in those places that now are controlled by the Muslim "brotherhood"?
Did anyone actually think that any of these places wouldn't be controlled by Islam??
She was arrested for causing a disturbance in the court building. The new gooberment has laws. The people have to obey the laws.
yep.....stoning will take place tomorrow at...........
jerry:
they have conditioned you well
heres how it works in the real world (this is an example-ok-so relax)
can you kick my ass?
thats what I thought
now shut the @!$%# up
I sense a hot Arab summer coming.
and if Assad gets his way in Syria....free gas for everyone..................................
People only ride Scooters to cover their Flatulence!
Now that she has become a "victim", the USA will welcome her with open arms.
Like all those Somali
jihadisrefugees Obama let in.Yesterday in the early evening I woke from a nap & went to feed the cat. At that moment there was a knock at my door. I was told it was the police so I opened it to see what they wanted. At first they looked confused and embarrased like I wasn't what they expected. So then they started making @!$%# up out of thin air. Which finally lead them to trying to accuse me of using marijuana. Someone says they smelled marijuana coming from my place. At that point I damn well knew they weren't here on any legitimate police function and they didn't have cause to be at my door so I shut it in their faces. You see I don't use pot. I gave it up over twenty-two years ago because it f**ks with me. I can't use it. And I don't drink either. I also had a massive stroke six years ago. I didn't hear the @!$%#s leave so I looked out the window and sure enough they hadn't. So I opened my door wondering if they were just standing there. But no, now they had moved across the hall and were harassing the elderly black lady with lung cancer. Presumably because she's black. You see we have to live in public housing because we'll never be able to go back to work ever. And these two F'ing screws have the idea that because we're poor they can just show up and roust us like some East German Stazi. I'm not putting up with this @!$%#. If this kind of crap can be pulled in Stevens Point, WI, the human race doesn't stand a chance anymore. Not just in Tunisia. The democrats may be right that we need more police on the streets but then republicans may also be right in saying we shouldn't have to foot the bill for the two @!$%#s who were at my door for no good reason. This is a reflection on you Stevens Point, WI. That's why I'm posting this. Let the world know what kind of bull@!$%# you're pulling. How do you like it? M.T. Bar
Excellent point. But I think this thread is about the mother of the street vendor who kicked off The Arab Spring. -You sure you ain't smokin' something? If so, give me some. :)
mt:
you sound like a nice person-the kind of neighbor Id like to have if I had any neighbors.
School yourself up on how to deal with the po-lice (u-tube)
them- knock-knock
you- what!
them- police
you -what!
them - rumor opinion and here-say "smell of pot"
you - articulate which RCW your gonna pick-slide the warrant under the door,while I get my camera phone
another story about uppity muslims , gettin uppity . What a surprise ..
injustice will do that to you.
Manoubia Bouazizi deserves respect. All people deserve respect.
right
Same game different dictator.
It wasn't any uprising that caused a revolution in Libya. It was more like NATO's bombs repeatedly falling on the rebels' opponents.
I thought it was determined that Mohammed Bouazizi's immolation was an accident during a protest that was not supposed to result in his injury, but just be a symbolic act, although a spark from a cigarette ignited the fuel and the rest is history.
golly synth - where did you hear that?
When is someone going to run onto the street, and set themselves on fire in the US?
I just want too see what happens.
Mmmm?
Big red shiny fire truck comes along, and a lot of people look onward as they continue to go for that fast food lunch.
Naaaaaaa.......forget about it.
It seems like they have gotten the same thing as we have: "Change you can't believe in"
Thanks for nothing Obama !
Most likely the Tunisian president, Moncef Marzouki, (I hope he will) will have to issue a pardon for her release and perhaps, if there's an investigation, dismiss the judge from his job, order him to be put on trial or other disciplinary measures for "infringing on the rights of people" and order another bureaucratic overhaul on the judiciary (first one was on Ben Ali's judges). Right now, the president is busy meeting with the new Egyptian president in Cairo. Tunisia is still a fragile state, with parts of the lower-echelon of Ben Ali-era bureaucrats like that judge who arrested Ms. Bouzazi who are still in positions of power and are yet to be dismiss from their posts by the higher cabinet. So far, Tunisia has been moving on a right direction, but on a snail's pace.
nice article