Mother of man who set off Tunisia revolt sentenced

July 20, 2012 Associated Press

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — The mother of the fruit-seller whose self-immolation
touched off Tunisia's uprising has received a four-month suspended
sentence Friday for "verbally assaulting" a judge, after being jailed for
a week.

One of Manoubia Bouazizi's sons, Manoubia Bouazizi, touched off Tunisia's
revolution — and ultimately the Arab Spring — when he set himself on fire
after being slapped by a policewoman reprimanding him for selling fruit
without a license.

The 61-year-old woman was jailed a week ago after the argument. Another
son, Salem, has said the altercation was exaggerated. He said the judge
bumped into her and they exchanged words, but that his mother did not know
she was talking to a judge.

Mondher Bedhiafi, a spokesman for Tunisia's department of justice, said
the sentence was reduced after the complaint was withdrawn.