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2010–2011 Arab world protests
File:25th Demonstration Against The Government in Cairo in Tahrir square.png
Demonstrators in Egypt on January 25, 2011
DateDecember 18, 2010 – ongoing

The 2010–2011 Arab world protests or the Arab Revolutions [1] are an unprecedented[2] series of major uprisings, demonstrations and protests in the Middle Eastern countries of Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Algeria, and Jordan, with minor incidents occurring in Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Sudan, Libya, and Lebanon.[3][4][5][6][7][8]Protests involved on the topic are occuring worldwide. These began on December 18, 2010 with the uprising in Tunisia, following the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi, who committed suicide to protest police corruption and ill-treatment.[9][10] Due to similar hardships in the region and successful protests in Tunisia, a chain of unrest was started which was followed by protests in Algeria, Jordan, Egypt and Yemen.[11][12] The first revolution in the protests was in Tunisia (Jasmine Revolution) when former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia. World attention is now focused on Egypt, which saw massive protests on January 28, 2011. After four days of protests, President Mubarak has offered reforms but not his personal resignation, which is the goal of the protesters. The protests in Egypt have drawn large attention and concern from across the world, because of an alliance which exists between Mubarak and the West, to which Mubarak has been an important ally in the War on Terror.[13]

Distribution of Arabic as sole official language (green) and one of several official or national languages (blue).
A political cartoon by Carlos Latuff depicting Hosni Mubarak facing the Tunisian knock-on domino effect

Timeline of protests

Date started Country Date ended Type(s) of protests
December 18, 2010  Tunisia major street demonstrations[original research?]
December 28, 2010  Algeria major street demonstrations
January 13, 2011  Libya January 16, 2011 minor protests over housing[original research?]
January 14, 2011  Jordan minor protests
January 17, 2011  Mauritania January 17, 2011 self-immolation
January 17, 2011  Oman January 17, 2011
January 18, 2011  Yemen major street demonstrations[original research?]
January 21, 2011  Saudi Arabia January 21, 2011 self-immolation
January 24, 2011  Lebanon
January 25, 2011  Egypt major street demonstrations
January 28, 2011  Palestine

Protests

Tunisia

Main article: 2010–2011 Tunisian uprising

The 2010–2011 Tunisian Revolution, is a continuing series of street demonstrations taking place throughout Tunisia from December 2010 onwards. The demonstrations and riots were reported to have started over unemployment, food inflation, corruption, freedom of speech and poor living conditions. The protests led to the ousting of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who stepped down from the presidency and fled Tunisia on 14 January 2011 after 23 years in power.

Algeria

Main article: 2011 Algerian protests

On 29 December, clashes with police were also reported in neighbouring Algiers, Algeria, over protests about the lack of housing. At least 53 people were reported to have been injured and another 29 were arrested In total, three demonstrators were killed, more than 800 people were wounded, and at least 1100 were arrested.

From January 12 to January 19, a wave of self-immolation attempts swept the country, beginning on the 12th with Mohamed Aouichia, who set himself on fire in Bordj Menaiel in protest over his family's housing. On January 13, Mohsen Bouterfif set himself on fire after a meeting with the mayor of Boukhadra in Tebessa who was unable to offer Bouterfif a job and a house. Bouterfif was reported to have died a few days later; about 100 youths protested his death, causing the provincial governor to sack the mayor. At least ten other self-immolation attempts were reported that week.

On 22 January the RCD party organised a demonstration for democracy in Algiers attended by about 300 people, illegal under the State of Emergency in force since 1992; it was suppressed by the police, with 42 injuries.

On 29 January, at least 10 thousand people marched in the city of northeastern city of Bejaia.

Libya

From 13 January to 16 January 2011, upset at delays and corruption, protesters in Darnah, Benghazi, Bani Walid and other cities in Libya broke into and occupied housing that the government was building. [14][15] By 27 January the government had responded to the unrest with a $24 billion investment fund to provide housing and development. [16]

Jordan

Main article: 2011 Jordanian protests

On 14 January 2011, protests took place in Jordan's capital Amman, Maan, Karak, Salt and Irbid and other cities. The protests, led by trade unionists and leftist parties, came after Friday prayers, and called for the government led by Prime Minister Samir Rifai to step down. They chanted anti-government slogans and called Rifai a "coward." One banner in the protest read "Jordan is not only for the rich. Bread is a red line. Beware of our starvation and fury," while protesters chanted "Down with Rifai's government. Unify yourselves because the government wants to eat your flesh. Raise fuel prices to fill your pocket with millions." Tawfiq al-Batoush, a former head of the Karak municipality, said: "We are protesting the policies of the government, high prices and repeated taxation that made the Jordanian people revolt."[17] The Muslim Brotherhood and 14 trade unions said they would hold a sit-down protest outside parliament the next day to "denounce government['s] economic policies." Parallels were drawn with the Tunisian protests.[18]

The Jordanian government reversed a fuel price rise following the protest.[19] Al Jazeera stated that protests are expected to continue for several weeks because of increasing food prices.[19]

On 21 January 2011, 5,000 people in Amman took part in the largest protest so far.[20]

Egypt

Protesters marching on 25 January. Demonstrators later moved to al-Tahrir Square, in Downtown Cairo, where the main protests were being held.
Main article: 2011 Egyptian protests

On 16 January, Egypt's EGX stock market index fell on speculation the instability would spread.[21] Protests in Egypt then also led to a restaurant owner, Abdou Abdel-Moneim Jaafara, setting himself on fire. On 18 January, two other self-immolations, one by a lawyer in Cairo and another by an unemployed 25-year-old in Alexandria, were reported.[22] Many Egyptians set up Facebook pages calling for 25 January, Egypt's 'National Police Day' to be "a day of revolution against torture, poverty, corruption and unemployment."[23]

Potential presidential candidate Mohamed ElBaradei warned of a "Tunisia-style explosion" in the country.[24]

Starting about 00:10 to 00:35 28 January (Cairo time), in an unprecedented action in the history of Internet censorship, the Egyptian government has almost entirely cut off Egypt from the rest of the Internet.[25]

Later that day, as tens of thousand protested on the streets of Egypt's major cities, President Mubarak formally fired his government, and appointed a new one, which included the first Vice President in almost 30 years.

Yemen

Main article: 2011 Yemeni protests

Protests occurred in many towns in both the north and south of Yemen for several days in mid-January against Yemeni governmental proposals to modify the constitution of Yemen, rejecting the proposals as insufficient, and over unemployment and economic conditions.[26] Protests on 20 January included thousands of protestors in Ta'izz.[26] Protests in Aden took place on 18, 19[27] and 20 January.[26] In Aden, car tires were burnt, roads were blocked, and at least seven people, both soldiers and protestors, were injured.[27] Protests in Sanaa appeared to be weakening as of 20 January 2011.[26] Two of the protests occurred at Sanaa University, with a slogan "Leave before you are forced to leave", which Reuters interpreted as a criticism of "autocratic Arab leaders, including Saleh."[26]

The leader of the Yemeni Congregation for Reform, the largest opposition party in Yemen, Mohammed al-Sabry, stated, "We want constitutional amendments but we want amendments that don't lead to the continuance of the ruler and the inheritance of power to his children."[26]

Mauritania

There were also similar protests in Mauritania where Yacoub Ould Dahoud, a protester, burned himself near the Presidential Palace in opposition to the policies of Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.[28][29]

Oman

In the Gulf country of Oman, 200 protesters marched demanding a raise in salaries and lower costs of living on the 17th of January, a protest that shocked news reporters who have viewed Oman as a politically stable and sleepy country.[30]

Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, an unidentified 65-year man died on 21 January 2011 after setting himself on fire in the town of Samtah, Jizan. This was apparently the kingdom's first known case of self-immolation.[31][32] On 29 January, hundreds of protesters gathered in the city of Jeddah in a rare display of criticism against the city's poor infrastructure after deadly floods swept through the city, killing eleven people. Dozens of protesters were later detained by the police.[33]

Sudan

Sudan arrested the head of the Popular Congress Party, Hassan al-Turabi, as well as five other members of the party, after he called for a similar style protest to oust the ruling government over electoral fraud, stoking inflation and abrogating civil liberties[34][35] at a time when Sudan is facing a secessionist referendum.

Self-Immolations

Since Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation in Tunisia led to the successful overthrow of the Ben Ali regime, a number of self-immolation protests emulating Bouazizi's have taken place in other Arab republics. In Algeria, Mohsen Bouterfif set himself on fire after a meeting with a town mayor failed in helping him find employment and housing on January 13, 2011. He later died of his wounds. Another Algerian man attempted but failed to burn himself.[36] In Egypt, Abdou Abdel-Moneim Jaafar, a 49-year-old restaurant owner, set himself alight in front of the Egyptian Parliament.[37] In Saudi Arabia, an unidentified 65-year-old man died on January 21, 2011, after setting himself on fire in the town of Samtah, Jizan. This was apparently the kingdom's first known case of self-immolation.[31][32]

Copycat incidents
Name Residence Date of
self-immolation		 Date of
death		 Ref(s)
1 Algeria Mohsen Bouterfif Boukhadra 13 January 2011 16 January 2011 [38]
2 Algeria Aouichia Mohammad Bordj Menaïel 15 January 2011
—
 [39]
3 Algeria Boubacar Boyden Jijel 15 January 2011
—
 [40]
4 Algeria Mamier Lotfi El Oued 16 January 2011
—
 [41]
5 Algeria Senouci Touat Mostaganem 16 January 2011
—
 [39]
6 Mauritania Yacoub Ould Dahoud Tidjikja 17 January 2011 22 January 2011 [39]
7 Egypt Abdou Abdel-Moneim Jaafar El-Qanater 17 January 2011
—
 [39][37]
8 Egypt Mohammed Farouk Hassan Cairo 18 January 2011
—
 [42]
9 Egypt Ahmed Hashim al-Sayyed Alexandria 18 January 2011 18 January 2011 [43][44]
10 Egypt Mohammed Ashour Sorour Cairo 18 January 2011
—
 [43]
11 Saudi Arabia Unidentified Samtah 21 January 2011 21 January 2011 [31][32]
"—" denotes that the individual survived.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2010–2011 Arab world protests.

References

  1. ^ http://mideast.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/01/26/will_the_arab_revolutions_spread
  2. ^ "The Arab World's 'Unprecedented' Protests - Council on Foreign Relations". Cfr.org. 2011-01-20. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  3. ^ Thousands in Yemen Protest Against the Government
  4. ^ Protest spreads in the Middle East - The Big Picture - Boston.com
  5. ^ "Mauritanie: mécontent du régime, un homme s'immole par le feu à Nouakchott - Flash actualité - Monde - 17/01/2011". leParisien.fr. 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  6. ^ "BBC News - Man dies after setting himself on fire in Saudi Arabia". Bbc.co.uk. 2011-01-23. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  7. ^ "PressTV - Sudan opposition leader arrested". Presstv.ir. 2011-01-19. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  8. ^ http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/01/2011127111226715315.html
  9. ^ Slap to a Man’s Pride Set Off Tumult in Tunisia
  10. ^ Peddler's martyrdom launched Tunisia's revolution
  11. ^ UPDATE 1-Egypt, Algeria, Jordan risk political unrest -S&P | Reuters
  12. ^ Inspired by Tunisia and Egypt, Yemenis join in anti-government protests
  13. ^ AFP January 27, 2011 (1986-01-28). "Unrest across the Arab world". Vancouversun.com. Retrieved 2011-01-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "Libyans protest over delayed subsidized housing units". 2011-01-16.
  15. ^ Mohamed Abdel-Baky (2011-01-16). "Libya protest over housing enters its third day".
  16. ^ {{cite web | title= Libya sets up $24 bln housing fund amid Arab protests | url = http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=69087 | date = 2011-01-28
  17. ^ "Jordanians march against inflation – Middle East". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
  18. ^ Johnny McDevitt. "Jordanians protest against soaring food prices".
  19. ^ a b Andoni, Lamis (2011-01-16). "To the tyrants of the Arab world..." Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2011-01-18. Retrieved 2011-01-19. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ al-Khalidi, Suleiman (2011-01-21). "Thousands of Jordanians protest economic conditions". Reuters. Retrieved 2011-01-21. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |deadurl= (help)
  21. ^ Namatalla, Ahmed A (2011-01-16). "Egypt Stocks Drop Most in Six Weeks on Concern Tunisia Unrest May Spread". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
  22. ^ "Egyptian man dies after setting himself alight". BBC News. 2011-01-19. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
  23. ^ "Man sets himself on fire in Cairo protest".
  24. ^ Jack Shenker. "Warning Egypt could follow Tunisia".
  25. ^ "Egypt: AP Confirms Government has Disrupted Internet Service". pomed.org. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
  26. ^ a b c d e f "Protests erupt in Yemen, president offers reform". Reuters. 2011-01-11. Archived from the original on 2011-01-20. Retrieved 2011-01-20. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ a b "Seven people wounded in Aden province". Yemen Post. 2011-01-20. Archived from the original on 2011-01-20. Retrieved 2011-01-20. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ "Wikiwix's cache". Wikiwix.com. 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2011-01-26. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  29. ^ "Mauritanie: mécontent du régime, un homme s'immole par le feu à Nouakchott". Le Parisien. 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
  30. ^ "Oman protestors call for fight against corruption - Culture & Society". ArabianBusiness.com. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  31. ^ a b c "Man dies after setting himself on fire in Saudi Arabia". BBC News. 23 January 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011. Cite error: The named reference "saudi" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  32. ^ a b c Mohideen Mifthah (22 January 2011). "Man dies in possible first self-immolation in Saudi". The Sunday Times, http://sundaytimes.lk/. Retrieved 23 January 2011. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help) Cite error: The named reference "saudi2" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  33. ^ "Flood sparks rare action". Montreal Gazette. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  34. ^ "Sudan opposition leader arrested". PressTV. 2011-01-19. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
  35. ^ "Al-Turabi arrested in Khartoum". Al Jazeera. 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
  36. ^ Ian Black Middle East editor. "Tunisia's protests spark suicide in Algeria and fears through Arab world". Guardian. Retrieved 2011-01-23. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  37. ^ a b "In Egypt, man sets himself on fire, driven by economic woes". English.ahram.org.eg. 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  38. ^ "Tunisia triggers copycat suicides". Al Jazeera. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  39. ^ a b c d "Tunisia copycat burnings in 3 North African countries". The Jordan Times, http://www.jordantimes.com/. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2011. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  40. ^ "Yacoub Ould Dahoud, Self-Immolation Victim, Is Part Of Growing Trend". The Huffington Post, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  41. ^ "Algerian father of four sets himself on fire to protest government". Monsters and Critics, http://www.monstersandcritics.com/. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  42. ^ Dina Zayed (18 January 2011). "Egyptians set themselves ablaze after Tunisia unrest". Reuters, http://www.reuters.com/. Retrieved 18 January 2011. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  43. ^ a b "Tunisia new government is fractured by resignations". yalibnan, http://www.yalibnan.com/. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2011. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  44. ^ "Mother of Ahmed Hashim al-Sayyed". Yahoo, http://news.yahoo.com/. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2011. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
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