Live

In Pictures

Gallery

Birthplace of the revolution

One man’s suicide by self-immolation in the town of Sidi Bouzid sparked a revolution.

Unknown outside the borders of Tunisia, the town of Sidi Bouzid is now known as the birth place of the revolution. Al Jazeera(***)s Ayman Mohyeldin and Yasmine Ryan travelled to the city to meet the family of the man whose self-immolation started the protests.
Unknown outside the borders of Tunisia, the town of Sidi Bouzid is now known as the birth place of the revolution. Al Jazeera(***)s Ayman Mohyeldin and Yasmine Ryan travelled to the city to meet the family of the man whose self-immolation started the protests.
16 Dec 2011
People have commemorated Mohamed Bouazizi at the spot where the 26-year-old fruit and vegetable seller, set himself on fire.
People have commemorated Mohamed Bouazizi at the spot where the 26-year-old fruit and vegetable seller, set himself on fire.
Advertisement
"I don(***)t want Mohamed(***)s death to be wasted," Menobia Bouazizi, his mother, said. "Mohamed was the key to this revolt."
"I don(***)t want Mohamed(***)s death to be wasted," Menobia Bouazizi, his mother, said. "Mohamed was the key to this revolt."
Frustrated with being harrassed by police officers and refused a meeting with a local official, Bouazizi set himself alight outside the local municipal office.
Frustrated with being harrassed by police officers and refused a meeting with a local official, Bouazizi set himself alight outside the local municipal office.
Hundreds of people braved threats of police action to accompany Bouazizi(***)s body to his grave, a few kilometres outside the town.
Hundreds of people braved threats of police action to accompany Bouazizi(***)s body to his grave, a few kilometres outside the town.
By all accounts, Bouazizi was honest, hardworking and well-liked in the community. He was known for giving free produce to very poor families, a close friend said.
By all accounts, Bouazizi was honest, hardworking and well-liked in the community. He was known for giving free produce to very poor families, a close friend said.
"He was very sincere," Basma Bouazizi, his shy 16-year-old sister, said. "We are like soulless bodies since he left."
"He was very sincere," Basma Bouazizi, his shy 16-year-old sister, said. "We are like soulless bodies since he left."
Advertisement
More from Gallery

Photos: Farmers’ protests overshadow India’s Republic Day parade

A farmer covers his face to protect himself from tear gas during the protest in New Delhi. [Adnan Abidi/Reuters]

In Pictures: Rioters battle Dutch police over COVID-19 lockdown

A man is arrested by police during clashes in Rotterdam on Monday. [Marco De Swart/EPA]

In Pictures: Global warming forces Bangladeshi tribals to migrate

"The water sources and forest where hill tribal people usually establish their settlements remain dry now even in the monsoon. We are forced to sell fruits gathered from the forest as agricultural cultivation is unavailable," said Macharu Marma, who lives in Lulain village. [Sulayman Hossain/Al Jazeera]

In Pictures: Capturing the start of Egypt’s revolution

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Cairo facing a massive police presence to demand the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak on January 25, 2011. [Mohammed Abed/AFP]
Most Read

‘Demographic crisis’: Poland population shrinking under pandemic

Marcin Jeziorek, wearing a protective mask, holds his baby, Mikolaj during a baptism ceremony, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at church of the Monastery of St Joseph in Warsaw, Poland on May 30, 2020 [Kacper Pempel/Reuters]

China’s Xi warns against ‘new Cold War’

China's President Xi Jinping urged unity in the face of the coronavirus pandemic [World Economic Forum/AFP]

US assures two-state solution for Israel-Palestine at UN

Biden's approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is expected to be a continuation of past Democratic administrations', and not a reset [File: Mohamad Torokman/Reuters]

Iran blocks Signal messaging app after WhatsApp exodus

In a tweet, Signal said it has been 'working around Iran’s censorship' since the app became the top downloaded content in Iranian app stores [Dado Ruvic/Reuters]