The Arab Spring

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The Arab Spring

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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.

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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
  wasnt the first time it had happened!
• http//www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-162124
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Countries the Arab Spring has impacted

• Tunisia
• Jordan
• Egypt
• Syria
• Libya
• Morocco
• Iran
• Algeria
• Bahrain
• Saudi Arabia
• Yemen
• Oman

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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 countrys first democratic
  elections.

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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.

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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.

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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 12th 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.

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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.

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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 fact-finding panel. Those
  figures do not include those killed or injured in
  the more recent unrest.

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Egypt - Today

• The army, led by Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein
  Tantawi, is overseeing Egypts 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.

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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 NATOs help,
  Gaddafi was captured and killed (Oct. 31).
• The National Transitional Council (NTC) which led
  the revolt is now recognized by the UN as Libyas
  legitimate ruling body.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 countrys state of
  emergency laws.

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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.

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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 Kings authority.
• King Mohammed announced a series of
  constitutional reforms and can no longer appoint
  the prime minister.

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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.

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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.

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Iran

• Thousands of people rallied in the capital Tehran
  in solidarity with pro-democracy 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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

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The Role of Technology in the Arab Spring

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vrZwNb11n9zk
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v8EnUzdkL_WU
• ? BBC video about social media and the Arab
  Spring

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The Power of the Protester

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

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