Leïla Ben Ali

During her time as First Lady of Tunisia, she is believed to have enriched herself and her family through gross corruption and embezzlement of state money to finance a lavish lifestyle,[4] factors that contributed to the protests against the regime of Ben Ali at the end of 2010.

A "hard hitting" 2009 book by French journalists Nicholas Beau and Catherine Graciet traced her rise from the daughter of a dried fruit seller to First Lady.

[7] She then had an affair with industrial magnate, Farid Mokhtar, a friend of the Prime Minister who introduced her to the highest levels of Tunisian society.

[citation needed] Under her leadership the association has provided micro-finance loans, secured employment for many and opened a center for the disabled in October 2010.

[9] The center provided technical training in a number of fields including computer science, embroidery, carpentry, theater and music.

[8] Two French authors wrote an extensive book titled "La regente de Carthage" detailing the corruption of Leïla, her family and in-laws.

[16] According to the French newspaper Le Monde Diplomatique, Leïla Ben Ali symbolizes the "greed" of the presidential family.

[17] A leaked American diplomatic cable described how Ambassador Robert F. Godec often heard "barbs about their lack of education, low social status and conspicuous consumption."

Entrance to Leila's and Ben Ali 's palace built in Sidi Bou Said , in 2002