And five years ago today, a Tunisian street vendor named Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire. On December 17, 2010, the 26-year-old protested authorities’ harassment as he tried to sell fruit and vegetables in a market. The act led to protests across Tunisia, which eventually brought about the ouster of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, followed by the Egyptian revolution and the Arab Spring.
Fifth Anniversary of Self-Immolation of Tunisian Street Vendor Mohamed Bouazizi
HeadlineDec 17, 2015