The Arab Spring What is the Arab Spring

The Arab Spring •

What is the ‘Arab Spring? ’ • Began in the winter of 2010/spring of 2011 and is still happening now! • Pro-democracy protesters across North Africa and the Middle East rose up against the dictatorial regimes that had ruled their home countries for years.

How did the ‘Arab Spring’ begin? • Began in Tunisia when a 26 year old street vendor, Mohamed Bouazizi, set himself on fire after a policewoman confiscated his unlicensed vegetable cart and its goods on Dec. 17, 2010. It wasn’t the first time it had happened! http: //www. bbc. co. uk/news/world-middle-east-16212447

Countries the ‘Arab Spring’ has impacted • • • Tunisia Jordan Egypt Syria Libya Morocco Iran Algeria Bahrain Saudi Arabia Yemen Oman

Tunisia • Leader: President Zine al. Abidine Ben Ali, ruled for 24 years (now in exile) • Country where the Arab Spring began! • In October of 2011, the moderate Islamist Ennahda party won the country’s first democratic elections.

Tunisia • President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali resigned in January of 2011 after weeks of protests against poverty, injustice, the greed of the political elite, and corruption. • He was forced from power after nearly a quarter of a century and flew to exile in Saudi Arabia. • On June 20, 2011, the former leader and his wife were sentenced in absentia to 35 years in jail by a court in Tunis. Some of his former ministers have also faced trial. • Around 300 people died during the unrest, which led to the toppling of Mr. Ben Ali. • In October, the moderate Islamist Ennahda party won the country's first democratic elections. Some 80 new parties officially registered for the polls with Ennahda winning more than 41% of the vote to secure 90 seats in the 217 member parliament. • One key reform enacted even before the election was the dissolution of the notorious political police and state security apparatus, which were blamed for many human rights abuses.

Jordan • Leader: King Abdullah II, in power since 1999. • Protesters have been demanding better employment prospects and cuts in food and fuel costs. • Replaced his prime minister, and promised to give up his power and appoint prime ministers and cabinet members, though he has not given a specific date.

Jordan • Unrest has simmered since January of 2011 but while protesters have clashed with the security forces, and one man was killed in the capital Amman in March, the country has seen nothing like the deadly violence in Syria and Egypt. • Protesters have been demanding electoral reforms that would see the prime minister directly elected and more powers granted to parliament. • King Abdullah II has replaced his prime minister with Marouf al-Bakhit, a former general and ambassador to Israel, together with a new cabinet. • In a speech to mark the 12 th anniversary of his rule, the king also promised to give up his power to appoint prime ministers and their cabinets, though he has not given a precise indication as to when this will take place. • A powerful Islamist opposition group, the Islamic Action Front, has called for the dissolution of parliament and has criticized the king's efforts to initiate reform. • Jordan is a small country with few natural resources, but it has played a pivotal role in the power balance in the Middle East, as one of only two Arab nations to have made peace with Israel.

Egypt • Leader: President Hosni Mubarak, in power for 30 years. • Left office after 18 days of protests in the capital of Cairo. • He has been put on trial (accused of ordering the killings of protesters). He has been suffering from poor health.

Egypt • The military has been running the country since President Hosni Mubarak, in power for three decades, resigned on February 11, 2011. • As time passed since Mr. Mubarak's departure, dissatisfaction grew with the pace of change and the refusal of the military to give a firm date for presidential elections. • Violence in late 2011 prompted a statement from Egypt's military leader, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, in which he promised presidential elections by the end of June 2012. • Much of the unrest in Egypt was driven by poverty, rising prices, social exclusion and anger at corruption and personal enrichment among the political elite, as well as a demographic bulge of young people unable to find work. • At least 846 people were killed during the uprising that toppled Mr. Mubarak and more than 6, 400 people were injured, according to an Egyptian government factfinding panel. Those figures do not include those killed or injured in the more recent unrest.

Egypt - Today • The army, led by Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, is overseeing Egypt’s transition to democracy. • The new parliamentary assembly met for the first time after elections in January of 2012. • Protests and clashes between the military and Egyptian protestors over a new constitution, presidential elections, and military oversight have continued to plague Egypt.

Libya • Leader: Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was in power for 40 years. He was ousted when rebels took the capital of Tripoli in August of 2011. • After an 8 month civil war and with NATO’s help, Gaddafi was captured and killed (Oct. 31). • The National Transitional Council (NTC) which led the revolt is now recognized by the UN as Libya’s legitimate ruling body.

Libya • Libya's uprising began in mid-February when, inspired by the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, hundreds came out onto the streets of several towns and cities demanding the end of Col Gaddafi's rule • The authorities responded with violence, opening fire on protesters, as the rallies grew and spread across the country. The revolt soon evolved into an armed conflict pitting forces loyal to Col Gaddafi - based in Tripoli in the west - against rebel forces based in the eastern port city of Benghazi. • In March, the UN Security Council passed a resolution which authorized "all necessary measures" - except troops on the ground - to protect civilians. Coalition operations were largely confined to air attacks, initially aimed at imposing a no-fly zone and later widened to include government targets. Following six months of fighting, rebel forces took Tripoli in late August, after gaining pockets of territory in the west. Thousands of people poured out of their homes in celebration at the ousting of Col Gaddafi.

Libya • After four decades in power, Col Gaddafi and his family went on the run. On 31 October the former leader was captured and killed on the outskirts of Sirte. • Three weeks later, his son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Libya's intelligence chief, Abdullah al-Sanussi, were captured trying to flee the country and now face trial in Libya. • Several thousand people have been killed and many more have been injured in the conflict and Amnesty International has reported extensive human rights abuses by both sides. The UN believes at least 335, 000 people have fled Libya since the beginning of the conflict, including at least 200, 000 foreign nationals.

Syria • Leader: Bashar al-Assad, in power since 2000 (inherited power from his father). • Since March of 2011, at least 5, 000 Syrians have been killed according to the UN. • Protestors are calling for political freedom, an end to corruption, action on poverty, and an end to the emergency law of 1963. • Syrian govt. claims the protestors are ‘terrorists and armed gangs’. • The U. S. and EU have imposed sanctions on Syria, but the conflict has not ended.

Syria • The wave of popular unrest sweeping the Arab world came late to Syria but since the first protests in March 2011 in the city of Deraa, at least 5, 000 Syrians have been killed, according to the UN. • With a leadership determined to cling to power, and a revolt that shows no sign of easing, correspondents say any resolution looks a distant prospect. • Mr. Assad has promised reform since 2000, when he inherited power from his father Hafez, but little has changed. • Events in Syria, one of Israel's most bitter enemies and a strong ally of Lebanon's Hezbollah militants, could have a major impact on the wider Middle East.

Algeria • Leader = President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, in power since 1999. • Strikes and protests has pressured Algeria to change its constitution to allow private radio and television stations to exist for the first time in 40 years. • President Bouteflika has promised constitutional reforms and has lifted the country’s state of emergency laws.

Algeria • President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has been under pressure to change the constitution and limit presidential terms after protests that began in January. • Attempts by protesters to march through the capital, Algiers, have been broken up by huge numbers of riot police. The trigger for the unrest appears to have been mainly economic - in particular sharp increases in the price of food. • On 16 April, Mr. Bouteflika promised to amend the constitution to "strengthen democracy". • The country's state of emergency was lifted in February after 19 years. • In September, President Bouteflika announced sweeping media reforms which will allow private radio and television stations to exist for the first time in almost four decades.

Morocco • Leader: King Mohammed VI, in power since 1999. • Morocco is facing economic crisis, but its monarchy has a lot of public support. • Protesters want a symbolic monarchy and a limit on the King’s authority. • King Mohammed announced a series of constitutional reforms and can no longer appoint the prime minister.

Morocco • In June, King Mohammed VI announced a series of constitutional reforms in response to February's nationwide protests, but unrest has continued. • The reforms were passed in a referendum on 1 July, with 98% voting in favor, according to the ruling authorities. The changes reduced the king's wide-ranging powers. Where previously he had a free hand in selecting a prime minister, under the new constitution he has to nominate someone from the largest party in parliament. • Many protesters want a full constitutional monarchy, with more powers transferred from the king than the new constitution allows.

Iran • Leaders: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (since 2005), & Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (since 1989) • Unrest over 2009 presidential election led to thousands of protesters in the streets in Feb. of 2011. • Security forces cracked down, and will not allow large demonstrations.

Iran • Thousands of people rallied in the capital Tehran in solidarity with prodemocracy protests across the Middle East. They wanted a recount and another election for the 2009 presidential election which they claim was fraudulent. • Security forces cracked down on the protest. Two people were killed and many more injured. • Rallies held in the days following, as well as on February 20, were also suppressed. The authorities have succeeded in preventing any more large demonstrations from taking place. • All forms of Iranian media were banned from covering the protests, though the demonstrators were still able to release information by utilizing social media like Facebook and Twitter.

Bahrain • Leader: King Hamad, in power since 1999. • Tiny island, closely allied with U. S. • The monarchy retaliated harshly to the protests and was accused of torturing and executing protestors and using excessive force.

Bahrain • Predominantly Shia Muslim protesters have been demanding action to tackle economic hardship, the lack of political freedom and employment discrimination in favor of the ruling Sunni Muslim minority. • For weeks, the demonstrators occupied the center of the capital, Manama. King Hamad clamped down hard on March 16, clearing the protesters' camp in a show of force condemned by the UN as "shocking". • He imposed a state of emergency and used hundreds of soldiers from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to beef up security. Security measures remain in place to stop large gatherings and the authorities have continued to use force to break up small protests. • Forty-seven doctors and nurses who treated some of the wounded protesters have gone on trial, accused of disseminating false information about the casualties and attempting to topple the monarchy. • In November an independent commission published a report stating that "excessive force" had been used when the government crushed the protests. The report stated that detainees had been blindfolded, whipped, kicked, given electric shocks and threatened with rape to extract confessions. King Hamad expressed "dismay" at the findings and promised reforms to prevent abuses by the security forces.

Saudi Arabia • Leader: King Abdullah Al Saud, in power since 2005. • One of the wealthiest and most conservative countries in Middle East, home of the most sacred sights in Islam. • Opposition movements are banned. • The King supports the other Middle Eastern leaders and supplies them with soldiers to put down protesters.

Saudi Arabia • The challenge for the rulers of one of the region's wealthiest and most conservative nations has been to address pressure for reform. • Small protests have occurred over labor rights and against anti-Shia discrimination. Protestors have called for prisoners held without charge or trial to be released. Women have organized demanding electoral rights and have organized a right-to-drive campaign. • The kingdom has seen no mass pro-democracy protests and opposition movements are banned. However, there have been some small demonstrations by the Shia Muslim minority in solidarity with protesters in Bahrain. • King Abdullah, 87, is regarded in the Arab world as a supporter of wider Arab interests. If the Saudis have played a role in the "Arab Spring" at all, it has perhaps been to support fellow governments under pressure: Saudi soldiers were sent to Bahrain to help shore up the government and it was to Saudi Arabia that Tunisia's ousted leader, Zine al. Abidine Ben Ali, fled in January. The Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh flew to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment after being seriously injured in a rocket attack on his compound in June.

Yemen • Leader: President Ali Abdullah Saleh (in power for 33 years). • Poorest Middle Eastern country. • Protesters wanted President Saleh to step down and hold elections, and were against unemployment, economic conditions, and corruption. • Saleh responded violently with military troops attacking protesters. • Eventually he signed a deal for immunity (cannot be put in jail) and agreed to step down.

Yemen • Beginning in February 2011, hundreds of people were killed in violence between security forces and demonstrators calling for an end to the 33 -year rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. • In September, a new wave of violence broke out when about 50 protesters were killed and some 600 injured in a two-day crackdown in Sanaa. Witnesses say government snipers were firing on people from rooftops, while military aircraft shelled positions held by the protest-supporting troops. • On October 21 the UN Security Council called on the president to sign a deal brokered by Gulf states, under which he would step down in return for immunity from prosecution. The decision to offer him immunity was to avoid civil war.

Yemen • The deal eventually cleared the path for elections to take place, but many protesters are angry that Mr. Saleh will be not face justice for the suppression of the protests. • After stalling for months, Mr. Saleh finally signed an agreement on November 23 to begin the transfer of power to his deputy. • In January 2012, he left the country, travelling to the US for a short-term private medical visit. In February 2012, a presidential election was held in Yemen.

Oman • Leader: Sultan Qaboos bin Said, in power since 1970. • Oil rich country with close ties to the U. S. • Protesters want more jobs to be created, stabilized food prices, and greater power given to the semi-elected Consultative Council that checks corruption in the government.

Oman • Unprecedented protests erupted at the beginning of March, with the deaths of several people. • Following the mass protests Oman's ruler, Sultan Qaboos, promised to give some legislative and regulatory powers to the Consultative Council. The extent of the new powers it will have is not yet clear. • Oman has been ruled by Sultan Qaboos since he seized power from his father, Sultan Said bin Taimur, in 1970. The oil-rich country is a popular tourist destination and a long-standing ally of the US and UK.

What happens now? • Many of these countries have to decide what types of governments they want, now that their dictators have been kicked out! • Should they have a democracy or a theocracy? • Many Islamic fundamentalists have gained popularity in these countries and Western countries are worried that secular democracies will be difficult to maintain.

Reflection • Consider the similarities between the countries where the ‘Arab Spring’ took place. • What did most of the protesters want to accomplish? • What rights were they fighting for? Do you have these rights?

Social Media Protesters used social media websites like facebook and twitter to organize their movements and spread their message!

The Role of Technology in the Arab Spring • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=r. Zw. Nb 11 n 9 zk • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=8 En. Uzdk. L _WU • ↑ BBC video about social media and the Arab Spring

The Power of the Protester • TIME Magazine named the ‘Protester’ their 2011 Person of the Year. http: //www. bbc. co. uk/news/world-16192792