Death of Arab Spring 'martyr' which led to uprisings may not be all it seems

That the grave of Mohamed Bouazizi (26) is conspicuously bereft of visitors paying their respects may have something to do with the reluctance shown by locals to direct people here.

Located deep in the countryside outside Lessouda, some 8km north of the city of Sidi Bouzid, the cemetery is not easily found. Several requests for directions were met with a vague wave into the distance and advice to ask someone else.

The reason becomes apparent only later: facilitating a pilgrimage by outsiders and tourists would inevitably confer even greater heroic status upon the young street vendor who, global legend would have it, died of burns last January after setting himself alight 18 days previously in desperation and protest following a humiliating public slap from a policewoman as she confiscated his vegetable cart.

As visitors to this economically depressed region eventually realise, the people of Sidi Bouzid have heard enough talk of heroes and are wary of propagating a myth they say is unwarranted and downright inaccurate.
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