Leïla Ben Ali
Encyclopedia
Leïla Ben Ali is the wife of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
, the former president of the Tunisian Republic. She is the current president of the Arab Women Organization (AWO) and chair of the Basma Association
, a charitable organization working to secure employment for the disabled. In July 2010, Mrs. Ben Ali founded SAIDA
, to improve care for cancer patients in Tunisia. During the Tunisian revolution
in 2010/11, she fled with her husband and three children into exile in Saudi Arabia
. During her time as spouse of the president, she is believed of having enriched herself and her family through gross corruption
and embezzlement
of state money to finance a lavish lifestyle, factors which contributed to the protests against the regime of Ben Ali at the end of 2010. She is currently wanted by Interpol
on behest of the Tunisian judiciary for high treason
and money laundering
.
She also started SAIDA, an initiative to improve cancer treatment, in 2010. She frequently gave speeches, was present at official ceremonies and occasionally read her husband’s speeches. She regularly travelled with the president on official visits to other countries. Mrs. Ben Ali was also active in S.O.S. Gammarth and El Karama, which provided care for orphans and promoted human rights, respectively.
, Leila Ben Ali symbolizes the "greed" of the presidential family. An American diplomatic cable leaked by Wikileaks
described how Ambassador Robert F. Godec often heard “barbs about their lack of education, low social status and conspicuous consumption.” During the 2010–2011 Tunisian protests, rioters specifically targeted homes they believed belonged to the Trabelsi extended family. It was reported that Leila Ben Ali removed 1.5 tons of gold bars (worth about $65 million) from the Central Bank of Tunisia
(representing half of the Tunisian gold reserves) before fleeing the country when her husband was ousted on 14 January 2011; however, the removal was denied by the bank. The Swiss government announced that it was freezing millions of dollars held in bank accounts by her family.
On 20 June 2011, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Leila Beli were sentenced to 35 years in prison in absentia
after being found guilty of theft and unlawful possession of cash and jewelry.
A report came out that Leila may have attempted suicide by poisoning herself in her residence in Abha
.
), Halima and Mohamed Zine El Abidine.
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was...
, the former president of the Tunisian Republic. She is the current president of the Arab Women Organization (AWO) and chair of the Basma Association
Basma Association
The BASMA Association for the Promotion of Employment of the Disabled is a Charitable association. It was established on March 7, 2000, by Mrs...
, a charitable organization working to secure employment for the disabled. In July 2010, Mrs. Ben Ali founded SAIDA
Saida
-Places:* Saida, a village in Barkote Block, Deogarh District of Orissa, India* Saida, a village in Mandi Bahauddin District of he Punjab province of Pakistan* Saïda, Algeria, a city in Algeria* Saïda Province, a province of Algeria-Other uses:...
, to improve care for cancer patients in Tunisia. During the Tunisian revolution
Tunisian revolution
The Tunisian Revolution is an intensive campaign of civil resistance, including a series of street demonstrations taking place in Tunisia. The events began in December 2010 and led to the ousting of longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011...
in 2010/11, she fled with her husband and three children into exile in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. During her time as spouse of the president, she is believed of having enriched herself and her family through gross corruption
Corruption
Corruption usually refers to spiritual or moral impurity.Corruption may also refer to:* Corruption , an American crime film* Corruption , a British horror film...
and embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
of state money to finance a lavish lifestyle, factors which contributed to the protests against the regime of Ben Ali at the end of 2010. She is currently wanted by Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
on behest of the Tunisian judiciary for high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
and money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
.
Family and education
Leïla Ben Ali is the daughter of Mohamed and Saïda Trabelsi. She has 10 brothers and sisters. Prior to her 1992 marriage to Ben Ali, she was a hairdresser with little formal education. After her romantic relationship and subsequent marriage (in 1992) to then Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, she and her family rose to prominent positions in Tunisian business and became noted for their greed, power and ruthlessness. Leila Ben Ali and most of her relatives fled Tunisia to Saudi Arabia, France, Canada and Qatar on January 14, 2011, following the People's Revolution of Tunisia.Philanthropy
Leila Ben Ali has been active in philanthropy and humanitarian work in her role as first lady. She founded the Basma Association in 2000 to help secure employment for the disabled, and has chaired the organization ever since. Under her leadership the association has provided micro-finance loans, secured employment for many and opened a center for the disabled in October 2010. The center provides technical training in a number of fields including computer science, embroidery, carpentry, theater and music.She also started SAIDA, an initiative to improve cancer treatment, in 2010. She frequently gave speeches, was present at official ceremonies and occasionally read her husband’s speeches. She regularly travelled with the president on official visits to other countries. Mrs. Ben Ali was also active in S.O.S. Gammarth and El Karama, which provided care for orphans and promoted human rights, respectively.
Arab Women Organization
As acting president of the AWO, Leila Ben Ali established the Arab Women’s commission for International Humanitarian Law which serves to promote international humanitarian law by increasing awareness and providing training programs for governments and humanitarian organizations. She also made domestic violence prevention a major priority of the AWO, and called for greater public attention and reporting of violence against women in the home. In a recent interview in Trends Magazine, she asserted the importance of Arab women in sustainable development and bettering the Arab women’s image were her main objectives as president of the AWO.Awards
She was recognized for her contributions to these organizations in a variety of publications. In 2000, she was selected as the "World Family Personality" and in 2003 deemed "Person of the Year" in the Russian magazine The World of the Woman, for her activities to promote social welfare and women's rights. More recently, Trabelsi was chosen as one of the world's 50 most influential Arabs by Middle East Magazine, a publication based in London. She has been commended for her work with the AWO to increase women's capacity in all fields and positions, and for increasing cooperation among Arab states on women's issues. She was also recognized by the World Association of Women Entrepreneurs (FCEM) for her role in empowering women in economic development.Corruption
She became a lightning rod for dissatisfaction within a Tunisian society disgusted with the rise of her and her immediate family and Trabelsi family. Two French authors wrote an extensive book titled "La regente de Carthage" detailing the corruption of Leila, her family and in-laws. According to the French newspaper Le Monde DiplomatiqueLe Monde diplomatique
Le Monde diplomatique is a monthly newspaper offering analysis and opinion on politics, culture, and current affairs. It was first created mainly for a diplomatic audience as its name implies...
, Leila Ben Ali symbolizes the "greed" of the presidential family. An American diplomatic cable leaked by Wikileaks
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
described how Ambassador Robert F. Godec often heard “barbs about their lack of education, low social status and conspicuous consumption.” During the 2010–2011 Tunisian protests, rioters specifically targeted homes they believed belonged to the Trabelsi extended family. It was reported that Leila Ben Ali removed 1.5 tons of gold bars (worth about $65 million) from the Central Bank of Tunisia
Central Bank of Tunisia
The Central Bank of Tunisia is the central bank of Tunisia. The bank is located in Tunis and its current governor is Mustapha Kamel Nabli, who replaced Taoufik Baccar on 17 January 2011.-History:...
(representing half of the Tunisian gold reserves) before fleeing the country when her husband was ousted on 14 January 2011; however, the removal was denied by the bank. The Swiss government announced that it was freezing millions of dollars held in bank accounts by her family.
On 20 June 2011, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Leila Beli were sentenced to 35 years in prison in absentia
In absentia
In absentia is Latin for "in the absence". In legal use, it usually means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present. The phrase is not ordinarily a mere observation, but suggests recognition of violation to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings in a criminal trial.In...
after being found guilty of theft and unlawful possession of cash and jewelry.
A report came out that Leila may have attempted suicide by poisoning herself in her residence in Abha
Abha
Abha is the capital of Asir province in Saudi Arabia. It is situated at 2,200 metres above sea level in the fertile mountains of south-western Saudi Arabia near the National Park of Asir. Its mild climate makes it a popular tourist destination for Saudis...
.
Personal
She and her husband have three children together: Nesrine (born out of wedlock;recognized by her father, married to Mohammad Sakher El MateriSakher El Materi
Sakher El Materi is a Tunisian businessman. He is the son-in-law of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the former president of Tunisia....
), Halima and Mohamed Zine El Abidine.