The document summarizes the Arab Spring, a series of protests and demonstrations that began in Tunisia in December 2010 and spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Governments were overthrown in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. There were also major protests and government changes in Yemen, Syria, Bahrain, Algeria, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. The protests were driven by factors like authoritarian rule, poverty, corruption, and unemployment. Protesters called for democracy, human rights, and regime change. The response from authorities was often violent. Over 30,000 people have died across the region during the ongoing protests and uprisings.

1. FROM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Spring#cite_note-2
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Arab Spring
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arab Spring
‫يال عرب ال رب يع‬
Clockwise from top left: Protesters gathering in
Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt; Demonstrators
marching through Habib Bourguib Avenue in Tunis,
Tunisia; Political dissidents in Sana'a, Yemen,
demanding the resignation of the president;
Protesters gathering in Pearl Roundabout in
Manama, Bahrain; Hundreds of Thousands in
Douma, Damascus, Syria; Demonstrators in Bayda,
Libya.
18 December 2010 – present
Date
(0 years, 357 days)
Location Arab World (see list of countries)
Ongoing (as of 1 December 2011)
 Tunisian President Ben Ali
ousted, and government
overthrown.
Status  Egyptian President Hosni
Mubarak ousted, and
government overthrown.
Continued popular protest
against military provisional
government.
 Libyan leader Muammar

2. Gaddafi killed after a civil
war with foreign military
intervention, and government
overthrown.
 Yemeni President Ali
Abdullah Saleh agrees to step
down within days after
months of popular protests.
 Civil uprisings against the
governments of Syria and
Bahrain, despite government
changes.
 Kuwait, Lebanon and Oman
implementing government
changes in response to
protests.
 Morocco, Jordan
implementing constitutional
reforms in response to
protests.
 Ongoing protests in Algeria,
Iraq, and other countries.
 Demographic structural
factors[1](see section
Motivations)
 Authoritarian states
 Extreme poverty
 Government corruption
Causes  Human rights violations
 Inflation
 Kleptocracy
 Sectarianism
 Unemployment
 Democracy
 Human rights
Goals  Free and fair elections
 Regime change
 Civil disobedience
 Civil resistance
 Demonstrations
 Online activism
 Protest camps
 Rebellion
Characteristics  Revolution
 Self-immolations
 Strike actions
 Uprising
 Urban warfare
Casualties
30,634–37,228+ (International estimate;
Death(s)
see table below)

3. The Arab Spring (Arabic: ‫ ال رب يع ال عرب‬ar-Rabīʻ al-ʻArabiyy), otherwise known as the Arab Awakening, is a
revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world that began on Saturday, 18
December 2010. To date, there have been revolutions in Tunisia[2] and Egypt;[3] a civil war in Libya resulting in the
fall of its government;[4] civil uprisings in Bahrain, [5] Syria,[6] and Yemen, the latter resulting in the resignation of
the Yemeni prime minister;[7] major protests in Algeria,[8] Iraq,[9] Jordan,[10] Kuwait,[11] Morocco,[12] and Oman;[13]
and minor protests in Lebanon,[14] Mauritania, Saudi Arabia,[15] Sudan,[16] and Western Sahara.[17] Clashes at the
borders of Israel in May 2011 and the Palestine 194 movement are also inspired by the regional Arab Spring.[18]
The protests have shared techniques of civil resistance in sustained campaigns involving strikes, demonstrations,
marches and rallies, as well as the use of social media to organize, communicate, and raise awareness in the face of
state attempts at repression and Internet censorship.[19]
Many demonstrations have met violent responses from authorities,[20][21][22] as well as from pro-government
militias and counter-demonstrators.[23][24][25] A major slogan of the demonstrators in the Arab world has been ash-
shab yurid isqat an-nizam ("the people want to bring down the regime").[26]
Contents
[hide]
 1 Overview
o 1.1 Summary of protests by country
 2 Background
o 2.1 Motivations
o 2.2 Recent history
 3 Tunisian revolution
 4 Egyptian revolution
 5 Libyan civil war
 6 Syrian Civil War
 7 Yemeni uprising
 8 Bahraini uprising
 9 Concurrent incidents
o 9.1 Algeria
o 9.2 Iraq
o 9.3 Israeli border areas
o 9.4 Jordan
o 9.5 Kuwait
o 9.6 Morocco
o 9.7 Oman
o 9.8 Saudi Arabia
o 9.9 Others
 10 Analysis
o 10.1 Ethnic scope
o 10.2 Impact of the Arab Spring
o 10.3 International reactions
 11 See also
 12 References
 13 Further reading
 14 External links
[edit] Overview

4. The series of protests and demonstrations across the Middle East and North Africa has become known as the "Arab
Spring",[27][28][29] and sometimes as the "Arab Spring and Winter",[30] "Arab Awakening"[31][32][33] or "Arab
Uprisings"[34][35] even though not all the participants in the protests are Arab. It was sparked by the first protests
that occurred in Tunisia on 18 December 2010 following Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation in protest of police
corruption and ill treatment.[36][37] With the success of the protests in Tunisia, a wave of unrest sparked by the
Tunisian "Burning Man" struck Algeria, Jordan, Egypt, and Yemen,[38] then spread to other countries. The largest,
most organised demonstrations have often occurred on a "day of rage", usually Friday after noon prayers.[39][40][41]
The protests have also triggered similar unrest outside the region.
As of November 2011, governments have been overthrown in three countries. Tunisian President Zine El Abidine
Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia on 14 January following the Tunisian revolution protests. In Egypt, President Hosni
Mubarak resigned on 11 February 2011 after 18 days of massive protests, ending his 30-year presidency. The
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown on 23 August 2011, after the National Transitional Council
(NTC) took control of Bab al-Azizia. He was killed on 20 October 2011, in his hometown of Sirte after the NTC
took control of the city.
During this period of regional unrest, several leaders announced their intentions to step down at the end of their
current terms. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir announced that he would not seek re-election in 2015,[42] as did
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whose term ends in 2014,[43] although there have been increasingly violent
demonstrations demanding his immediate resignation.[44] Protests in Jordan have also caused the sacking of two
successive governments[45][46] by King Abdullah.[47] Another leader, President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen,
announced on 23 April that he would step down within 30 days in exchange for immunity,[48] a deal the Yemeni
opposition informally accepted on 26 April;[49] Saleh then reneged on the deal, prolonging the Yemeni uprising.[50]
The geopolitical implications of the protests have drawn global attention,[51] including the suggestion that some
protesters may be nominated for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.[52] Tawakel Karman from Yemen was one of the
three laureates of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize as a prominent leader in the Arab Spring.
Algeria
Libya
Egypt
Sudan
Mauritania
—Tunisia
Morocco

5. Western
Sahara
Saudi Arabia
Jordan
Lebanon—
Israeli border—
Syria
Iraq
—Kuwait
—Bahrain
Oman
Yemen
Government overthrown Sustained civil disorder and governmental changes Protests and governmental changes
Major protests Minor protests Protests outside the Arab world
[edit] Summary of protests by country
Status of
Country Date started Outcome Death toll Situation
protests
• Overthrow of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali;
• Government
Ben Ali flees into exile in Saudi Arabia
overthrow on
14 January
• Resignation of Prime Minister
2011
Ghannouchi
• Protests
18 December • Dissolution of the political police[53] Government
Tunisia ended March 223[56][57]
2010 • Dissolution of the RCD, the former ruling overthrown
2011
party of Tunisia and liquidation of its
• Pressure on
assets[54]
elected
• Release of political prisoners
government
• Elections to a Constituent Assembly on
continues
23 October 2011[55]
28 December Subdued since • Lifting of the 19-year-old state of Major
Algeria 8[60]
2010 April 2011 emergency[58][59] protests
17 (non Protests and
12 January
Lebanon Limited • A 40% increase in wages [61]
government governmental
2011
related)[62][63] changes
Jordan 14 January Ongoing • King Abdullah II dismisses Prime 1 [66][67]
Protests and

6. Status of
Country Date started Outcome Death toll Situation
protests
2011 Minister Rifai and his cabinet[64] governmental
changes
• Months later, Abdullah dismisses Prime
Minister Bakhit and his cabinet after
complaints of slow progress on promised
reforms[65]
17 January Subdued since
Mauritania 1[68] Protests
2011 May 2011
17 January Subdued since • President Bashir announces he will not
Sudan 1[70] Protests
2011 April 2011 seek another term in 2015[69]
• Economic concessions by Sultan
Qaboos[71][72][73][74]
Protests and
17 January Ended May
Oman 2–6[78][79][80] governmental
2011 2011 • Dismissal of ministers[75][76]
changes
• Granting of lawmaking powers to Oman's
elected legislature[77]
• Economic concessions by King
Abdullah[81][82]
Large Protests
Saudi 21 January • Male-only municipal elections to be held [85][86]
in Eastern 2 Protests
Arabia 2011 22 September 2011[83][84]
Saudi Arabia
• King Abdullah announces women's
approval to vote and take part in next Shura
Council and municipal elections, in 2015
• Overthrow of Hosni Mubarak;
Mubarak charged for killing unarmed
protesters
• Resignation of Prime Minister(s) Nazif
and Shafik[87]
• Government
• Assumption of power by the Armed
overthrown on
Forces[88]
25 January 11 February Government
Egypt • Suspension of the Constitution, 875[95]
2011 2011 overthrown
dissolution of the Parliament[89]
• Protests
• Disbanding of State Security
ongoing
Investigations Service[90]
• Dissolution of the NDP, the former ruling
party of Egypt and transfer of its assets to
the state[91]
• Prosecution of Mubarak, his family and
his former ministers[92][93][94]
• Resignation of MPs from the ruling
party[96]
• President
signs transition Sustained
• On 4 June, President Ali Abdullah Saleh
deal on 23 civil disorder
3 February is injured in an attack on his compound in 1,784-
Yemen November and
2011 the Yemeni capital Sana'a. Saleh returned to 1,870[100]
2011 governmental
Yemen on 23 September 2011[97]
• Protests changes
• On 23 November, Saleh signed a power-
ongoing
transfer agreement brokered by the Gulf
Cooperation Council in Riyadh, which will

7. Status of
Country Date started Outcome Death toll Situation
protests
end his 33-year reign[98][99]
• Prime Minister Maliki announces that he
will not run for a 3rd term;[101]
10 February Subdued since Major
Iraq 35[103]
2011 August 2011 protests
• Resignation of provincial governors and
local authorities[102]
• Economic concessions by King
Hamad;[104]
Sustained
civil disorder
14 February • Release of political prisoners;[105]
Bahrain Ongoing 51[107] and
2011 • Negotiations with Shia
governmental
representatives;[106]
changes
• GCC intervention at the request of the
Government of Bahrain
• Overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi;
Gaddafi killed by NTC forces on 20
October
• Opposition forces seize control of all
[108][109][110]
• Government major Libyan cities.
overthrown on
23 August 2011 • Formation of the National Transitional
• War ended Council[111][112]
17 February 25,000[117]– Government
Libya 23 October
2011 30,000[118] overthrown
2011 • UN-mandated NATO, Jordanian, Qatari,
• Intervention Swedish, and Emirati military
ended on 31 intervention[113]
October 2011
• Civil war ended with an NTC victory on
23 October 2011.[114][115][116]
• Intervention ended with NATO
withdrawal on 31 October 2011
Subdued since
31 March 2011,
• Resignation of Cabinet[120] Protests and
18 February resumed in
Kuwait 0[122] governmental
2011 September and
• Resignation of the Government[121] changes
ended in
November.[119]
• Political concessions by King Mohammed
VI;[123]
Protests and
20 February Subdued since [125]
Morocco 1 governmental
2011 July 2011 • Referendum on constitutional reforms;
changes
• Respect to civil rights and an end to
corruption[124]
Western 26 February Subdued since
0 Protests
Sahara 2011 May 2011
• Release of some political Sustained
15 March 3,045–
Syria Ongoing prisoners;[126][127] civil disorder
2011 4,300[135]
• End of Emergency Law; and

8. Status of
Country Date started Outcome Death toll Situation
protests
government
• Dismissal of Provincial Governors;
[128][129]
changes
• Military action in Hama, Daraa, Homs
and other areas;[130]
• Resignations from Parliament;[131]
• Resignation of the Government;[132]
• Large defections from the Syrian army
and clashes between soldiers and
defectors;[133]
• Formation of the Free Syrian Army
• Formation of the Syrian National
Council[134]
• Syria suspended from the Arab League
Israeli border Ended 5 June 30– Major
15 May 2011
areas 2011 40[136][137] protests
30,634–
37,228+
Total death
(International
toll:
estimate,
ongoing)
[edit] Background
[edit] Motivations
Numerous factors have led to the protests, including issues such as dictatorship or absolute monarchy, human
rights violations, government corruption (demonstrated by Wikileaks diplomatic cables),[138] economic decline,
unemployment, extreme poverty, and a number of demographic structural factors,[139] such as a large percentage of
educated but dissatisfied youth within the population.[140] Also, some[who?] attribute the 2009 Iranian protests as one
of the reasons behind the Arab Spring.[141] The catalysts for the revolts in all Northern African and Persian Gulf
countries have been the concentration of wealth in the hands of autocrats in power for decades, insufficient
transparency of its redistribution, corruption, and especially the refusal of the youth to accept the status quo.[142]
Increasing food prices and global famine rates have also been a significant factor, as they involve threats to food
security worldwide and prices that approach levels of the 2007–2008 world food price crisis.[143] Amnesty
International singled out Wikileaks' release of US diplomatic cables as a catalyst for the revolts.[144]
In recent decades rising living standards and literacy rates, as well as the increased availability of higher education,
have resulted in an improved human development index in the affected countries. The tension between rising
aspirations and a lack of government reform may have been a contributing factor in all of the protests.[142][145][146]
Many of the Internet-savvy youth of these countries have, increasingly over the years, been viewing autocrats and
absolute monarchies as anachronisms. A university professor of Oman, Al-Najma Zidjaly referred to this upheaval
as youthquake.[142]
Tunisia and Egypt, the first to witness major uprisings, differ from other North African and Middle Eastern nations
such as Algeria and Libya in that they lack significant oil revenue, and were thus unable to make concessions to
calm the masses.[142]
[edit] Recent history

9. The current wave of protests is not an entirely new phenomenon, resulting in part from the activities of dissident
activists as well as members of a variety of social and union organizations that have been active for years in
Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, and other countries in the area, as well as in the territory of Western Sahara.[147]
Tunisia experienced a series of conflicts over the past three years, the most notable occurring in the mining area of
Gafsa in 2008, where protests continued for many months. These protests included rallies, sit-ins, and strikes,
during which there were two fatalities, an unspecified number of wounded, and dozens of arrests.[147][148] The
Egyptian labor movement had been strong for years, with more than 3,000 labor actions since 2004.[149] One
important demonstration was an attempted workers' strike on 6 April 2008 at the state-run textile factories of al-
Mahalla al-Kabra, just outside Cairo. The idea for this type of demonstration spread throughout the country,
promoted by computer-literate working class youths and their supporters among middle-class college students.[149]
A Facebook page, set up to promote the strike, attracted tens of thousands of followers. The government mobilized
to break the strike through infiltration and riot police, and while the regime was somewhat successful in
forestalling a strike, dissidents formed the "6 April Committee" of youths and labor activists, which became one of
the major forces calling for the anti-Mubarak demonstration on 25 January in Tahrir Square.[149]
In Algeria, discontent had been building for years over a number of issues. In February 2008, United States
Ambassador Robert Ford wrote in a leaked diplomatic cable that Algeria is 'unhappy' with long-standing political
alienation; that social discontent persisted throughout the country, with food strikes occurring almost every week;
that there were demonstrations every day somewhere in the country; and that the Algerian government was corrupt
and fragile.[150] Some have claimed that during 2010 there were as many as '9,700 riots and unrests' throughout the
country.[151] Many protests focused on issues such as education and health care, while others cited rampant
corruption.[152]
In Western Sahara, the Gdeim Izik protest camp was erected 12 km south-east of El Aaiún by a group of young
Sahrawis on 9 October 2010. Their intention was to demonstrate against labor discrimination, unemployment,
looting of resources, and human rights abuses.[153] The camp contained between 12,000 and 20,000 inhabitants, but
on 8 November 2010 it was destroyed and its inhabitants evicted by Moroccan security forces. The security forces
faced strong opposition from some young Sahrawi civilians, and rioting soon spread to El Aaiún and other towns
within the territory, resulting in an unknown number of injuries and deaths. Violence against Sahrawis in the
aftermath of the protests was cited as a reason for renewed protests months later, after the start of the Arab
Spring.[154]
The catalyst for the current escalation of protests was the self-immolation of individuals such as Mohamed
Bouazizi, which brought together various groups dissatisfied with the existing system, including many
unemployed, political and human rights activists, labor, trade unionists, students, professors, lawyers, and
others.[147] These groups have become an unprecedented movement that has built sufficient momentum to engender
the current scope of events.[citation needed]
[edit] Tunisian revolution
Protesters in downtown Tunis on 14 January 2011

10. Main article: Tunisian revolution
Following the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi in Sidi Bouzid, a series of increasingly violent street
demonstrations through December 2010 ultimately led to the ouster of longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
on 14 January 2011. The demonstrations were preceded by high unemployment, food inflation, corruption,[155] lack
of freedom of speech and other forms of political freedom,[156] and poor living conditions. The protests constituted
the most dramatic wave of social and political unrest in Tunisia in three decades,[157][158] and have resulted in
scores of deaths and injuries, most of which were the result of action by police and security forces against
demonstrators. Ben Ali fled into exile in Saudi Arabia, ending his 23 years in power.[159][160]
Following Ben Ali's departure, a state of emergency was declared and a caretaker coalition government was
created, which included members of Ben Ali's party, the Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD), as well as
opposition figures from other ministries. However, the five newly appointed non-RCD ministers resigned almost
immediately.[161][162] As a result of continued daily protests, on 27 January Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi
reshuffled the government, removing all former RCD members other than himself, and on 6 February the former
ruling party was suspended;[163] later, on 9 March, it was dissolved.[164] Following further public protests,
Ghannouchi himself resigned on 27 February, and Beji Caid el Sebsi became Prime Minister.
[edit] Egyptian revolution
Main article: 2011 Egyptian revolution
See also: Supreme Council of the Armed Forces#Actions
Celebrations in Tahrir Square after Omar Suleiman's statement concerning Hosni Mubarak's resignation
Following the uprising in Tunisia and prior to his entry as a central figure in Egyptian politics, potential
presidential candidate Mohamed ElBaradei warned of a 'Tunisia-style explosion' in Egypt.[165]
Protests in Egypt began on 25 January and ran for 18 days. Beginning around midnight on 28 January, the
Egyptian government attempted, somewhat successfully, to eliminate the nation's Internet access, in order to
inhibit the protesters' ability to organize through social media.[166] Later that day, as tens of thousands protested on
the streets of Egypt's major cities, President Mubarak dismissed his government, later appointing a new cabinet.
Mubarak also appointed the first Vice President in almost 30 years.
On 10 February, Mubarak ceded all presidential power to Vice President Omar Suleiman, but soon thereafter
announced that he would remain as President until the end of his term.[167] However, protests continued the next
day, and Suleiman quickly announced that Mubarak had resigned from the presidency and transferred power to the
Armed Forces of Egypt.[168] The military immediately dissolved the Egyptian Parliament, suspended the
Constitution of Egypt, and promised to lift the nation's thirty-year "emergency laws". It further promised to hold
free, open elections within the next six months, or by the end of the year at the latest. [citation needed] A civilian, Essam
Sharaf, was appointed as Prime Minister of Egypt on 4 March to widespread approval among Egyptians in Tahrir
Square.[169] Protests have continued through the end of 2011, however, in response to Sharaf and the Supreme
Council of the Armed Forces' perceived sluggishness in instituting reforms.[170]

11. [edit] Libyan civil war
Thousands of demonstrators gather in Bayda
Main article: 2011 Libyan civil war
After the success of the revolution in Tunisia, a protest on living conditions began on 14 January in Bayda, Libya,
where protesters clashed with police and attacked government offices.[171][172] Anti-government protests began in
Libya on 15 February 2011. By 18 February, the opposition controlled most of Benghazi, the country's second-
largest city. The government dispatched elite troops and mercenaries in an attempt to recapture it, but they were
repelled. By 20 February, protests had spread to the capital Tripoli, leading to a television address by Saif al-Islam
Gaddafi, who warned the protestors that their country could descend into civil war. The rising death toll,
numbering in the thousands, drew international condemnation and resulted in the resignation of several Libyan
diplomats, along with calls for the regime's dismantlement. [citation needed]
On 26 February 2011, amidst ongoing efforts by demonstrators and rebel forces to wrest control of Tripoli from
the Jamahiriya, the opposition set up an interim government in Benghazi to oppose Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's
rule.[173][174] However, despite initial opposition success, government forces subsequently took back much of the
Mediterranean coast.
On 17 March, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 was adopted, authorising a no-fly zone over
Libya, and "all necessary measures" to protect civilians. Two days later, France, the United States and the United
Kingdom intervened in Libya with a bombing campaign against pro-Gaddafi forces. A coalition of 27 states from
Europe and the Middle East soon joined the intervention. The forces were driven back from the outskirts of
Benghazi, and the rebels mounted an offensive, capturing scores of towns across the coast of Libya. The offensive
stalled however, and a counter-offensive by the government retook most of the towns, until a stalemate was formed
between Brega and Ajdabiya, the former being held by the government and the latter in the hands of the rebels.
Focus then shifted to the west of the country, where bitter fighting continued. After a three-month-long battle, a
loyalist siege of rebel-held Misrata, the third largest city in Libya, was broken in large part due to coalition air
strikes. The four major fronts of combat were generally considered to be the Nafusa Mountains, the Tripolitanian
coast, the Gulf of Sidra,[175] and the southern Libyan Desert.[176]
In late August, anti-Gaddafi fighters captured Tripoli, scattering Gaddafi's government and marking the end of his
42 years of autocracy. Many institutions of the government, including Gaddafi and several top regime officials,
regrouped in Sirte, which Gaddafi declared to be Libya's new capital.[177] Others fled to Sabha, Bani Walid, and
remote reaches of the Libyan Desert, or to surrounding countries.[178][179] However, Sabha fell in late
September,[180] Bani Walid was captured after a grueling siege weeks later,[181] and on 20 October, fighters under
the aegis of the National Transitional Council seized Sirte, killing Gaddafi in the process.[182]
[edit] Syrian Civil War
Main article: 2011 Syrian Uprising

12. Tens of thousands prayed at the Central Square of Homs calling for the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad.
Protests in Syria started on 26 January, when one case of self-immolation was reported. Protesters have been
calling for political reforms and the reinstatement of civil rights, as well as an end to the state of emergency, which
has been in place since 1963.[183] A "day of rage" was set for 4–5 February, but it was uneventful.[184][185]
On 6 March, the Syrian security forces arrested about 15 children in Daraa in Southern Syria for writing slogans
against the regime. Children were tortured brutally. Daraa is the first city to protest against the Baathist regime,
which has been ruling Syria since 1963.
Thousands of protestors gathered in Damascus, Aleppo, al-Hasakah, Daraa, Deir ez-Zor, and Hama on 15
March,[186][187][188] with recently released politician Suhair Atassi becoming an unofficial spokesperson for the
"Syrian revolution".[189] The next day there were reports of approximately 3000 arrests and a few martyrs, but there
are no official figures on the number of deaths.[190] On 18 April 2011, approximately 100,000 protesters sat in the
central Square of Homs calling for the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad. Protests continued through July
2011, the government responding with harsh security clampdowns and military operations in several districts,
especially in the north.[191]
On 31 July, Syrian army tanks stormed several cities, including Hama, Deir Ez-Zour, Al-Bukamal, Daraa,
Medmah. At least 136 people were killed in the most violent and bloody day since the uprising started.[192]
[edit] Yemeni uprising
Main article: 2011 Yemeni uprising
Protests in Sana‘a
Protests occurred in many towns in both the north and south of Yemen starting in mid-January. Demonstrators
initially protested against governmental proposals to modify the constitution of Yemen, unemployment and
economic conditions,[193] and corruption,[194] but their demands soon included a call for the resignation of President
Ali Abdullah Saleh,[195][194][196] who had been facing internal opposition from his closest advisors since 2009.[197] A
major demonstration of over 16,000 protesters took place in Sana'a on 27 January,[198] and soon thereafter human
rights activist and politician Tawakel Karman called for a "Day of Rage" on 3 February.[199] According to Xinhua

13. News, organizers were calling for a million protesters.[200] In response to the planned protest, Ali Abdullah Saleh
stated that he would not seek another presidential term in 2013.[201] On 3 February, 20,000 protesters demonstrated
against the government in Sana'a,[202][203] others participated in a "Day of Rage" in Aden[204] that was called for by
Tawakel Karman,[199] while soldiers, armed members of the General People's Congress, and many protestors held a
pro-government rally in Sana'a.[205] Concurrent with the resignation of Egyptian president Mubarak, Yemenis again
took to the streets protesting President Saleh on 11 February, in what has been dubbed a "Friday of Rage".[206] The
protests continued in the days following despite clashes with government advocates.[207] In a "Friday of Anger"
held on 18 February, tens of thousands of Yemenis took part in anti-government demonstrations in the major cities
of Sana'a, Taiz, and Aden. In the capital, Sana'a, the crowd marched towards the Presidential Palace, chanting anti-
government slogans, despite the attempts of riot police to stop them. Three people were killed in the
demonstrations, one of whom was killed by a hand grenade in Taiz. There were also reports of gunfire in Aden
during a rally, and as the riots continued overnight protesters set fire to a local government building. Security
forces killed one demonstrator, and killed another demonstrator during protests the following day. [208] Protests
continued over the following months, especially in the three major cities, and briefly intensified in late May into
urban warfare between Hashid tribesmen and army defectors allied with the opposition on one side and security
forces and militias loyal to Saleh on the other.[209]
After Saleh pretended to accept a Gulf Cooperation Council-brokered plan allowing him to cede power in
exchange for immunity only to back away before signing three separate times,[210][211] an assassination attempt on 3
June left him and several other high-ranking Yemeni officials injured by a blast in the presidential compound's
mosque.[212] Saleh was evacuated to Saudi Arabia for treatment, but he handed over power to Vice President Abd
al-Rab Mansur al-Hadi, who has largely continued his policies[213] and ordered the arrest of several Yemenis in
connection with the attack on the presidential compound.[212] While in Saudi Arabia, Saleh kept hinting that he
could return any time and continued to be present in the political sphere through television appearances from
Riyadh starting with an address to the Yemeni people on 7 July.[214] On 12 September, Saleh issued a presidential
decree while still receiving treatment in Riyadh authorizing Vice President Abd al-Rab Mansur al-Hadi to
negotiate a deal with the opposition and sign the GCC initiative.[215] On 23 September, three months since the
assassination attempt, Saleh returned to Yemen abruptly, defying all earlier expectations.[216] Pressure on Saleh to
sign the GCC initiative eventually led to his signing of it in Riyadh on 23 November, effectively ending his 33-
year-old rule of Yemen and setting the stage for the transfer of power. [217] Tawakul Karman got 2011 Nobel Peace
Prize for her role in supporting women rights and involvement in the Arab Spring.
[edit] Bahraini uprising
Main article: 2011 Bahraini uprising

14. Hundreds of thousands of Bahrainis taking part in the "March of Loyalty to Martyrs", honoring political dissidents killed by
security forces, on 22 February.
The 2011 protests in Bahrain were initially aimed at achieving greater political freedom and respect for human
rights, and were not intended to threaten the monarchy.[218] Lingering frustration among the Shiite majority with
being ruled by the Sunni government was a major root cause, but the protests in Tunisia and Egypt are cited as the
inspiration for the demonstrations.[219][220] The protests began in Bahrain on 14 February[218] and were largely
peaceful, until a raid by police on the night of 17 February against protestors sleeping at the Pearl Roundabout in
Manama, in which police killed three protestors.[221][222] Following the deadly raid, the protestors' aims expanded to
a call for the end of the monarchy. [223] On 18 February, government forces opened fire on protesters, mourners, and
news journalists,[224] prompting protesters to begin calling for the overthrow of the Bahraini monarchy and
government.[225] On 19 February, protesters occupied Pearl Roundabout after the government ordered troops and
police to withdraw.[226][227][228] On 22 February, an estimated one hundred thousand people, one fifth of the nation's
population, marched. On 14 March, at the request of the Crown Prince, GCC Saudi Arabian troops entered the
country,[229] and opened fire on the protesters, several of whom were killed.[230][231] Later thousands of Shia
protesters arose in Iraq and Qatif in opposition to the Saudi-led intervention in Bahrain.[232][233][234]
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa declared a three-month state of emergency on 15 March and asked the military to
reassert its control as clashes spread across the country.[235] It was later lifted on 1 June 2011.[236] On 16 March
2011, the protesters' camp in the Pearl Roundabout was evacuated, bulldozed, and set on fire by the Bahraini
Defense Force, riot police, and the Peninsula Shield Force, the military arm of the Gulf Cooperation Council,
which intervened reportedly at King Hamad's behest.[237] Later on 18 March, the Pearl Roundabout monument was
torn down as part of the crackdown on protesters.[238]
Since the lifting of emergency law on 1 June, several large rallies have been staged by the Shi'ite community
demanding the release of detained protesters, greater political representation, and an end to sectarian
discrimination. As of July 2011, medical personnel are being prosecuted for treating injured protesters, and several
human rights groups and news organizations have alleged they have been deliberately targeted by the Bahraini
government.[239]
[edit] Concurrent incidents
Concurrent with the events in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria and Yemen, protests flared up in other parts of the
region, some becoming violent, some facing strong suppression efforts, and some resulting in political changes.
[edit] Algeria
Main article: 2010–2011 Algerian protests
8 January protests in Algeria.
On 29 December, protests began in Algiers over the lack of housing, quickly escalating to violent confrontations
with the police. At least 53 people were reported injured and another 29 arrested.[240] Over the course of the
Algerian protests, three demonstrators were killed, over 800 were injured, and at least 1,100 were arrested. [citation

15. needed]
From 12–19 January, a wave of self-immolation attempts swept the country, beginning with Mohamed
Aouichia, who set himself on fire in Bordj Menaiel in protest at his family's housing. On 13 January, Mohsen
Bouterfif set himself on fire after a meeting with the mayor of Boukhadra in Tebessa, who had been unable to offer
Bouterfif a job and a house. Bouterfif reportedly died a few days later, and about 100 youths protested his death,
resulting in the mayor's dismissal by the provincial governor. At least ten other self-immolation attempts were
reported that week.[citation needed] On 22 January, the RCD party organised a demonstration for democracy in Algiers,
and though illegal under the State of Emergency enacted in 1992, it was attended by about 300 people. The
demonstration was suppressed by police, with 42 reported injuries. On 29 January, at least ten thousand people
marched in the northeastern city of Béjaïa.[241]
In an apparent bid to stave off unrest, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced on 3 February that the 19-year
state of emergency would be lifted,[242] a promise fulfilled on 22 February, when Algeria's cabinet adopted an order
to lift the state of emergency.[243][244] Bouteflika said on 15 April that he would seek revisions to the country's
constitution as part of a broad push for democratic reforms.[245]
[edit] Iraq
Main article: 2011 Iraqi protests
In an effort to prevent unrest, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced that he would not run for a third
term in 2014.[246] Nevertheless, hundreds of protesters gathered in several major urban areas (notably Baghdad and
Karbala) on 12 February, demanding a more effective approach to national security, to the investigation of federal
corruption cases, as well as increased government involvement in making public services fair and
accessible.[247][248][249] In response, the government promised to subsidize electricity costs.[250]
Israel's Haaretz reported that a 31-year-old man in Mosul died from self-immolation, while protesting high
unemployment. Haaretz also reported a planned 'Revolution of Iraqi Rage' to be held on 25 February near the
Green Zone.[251]
On 16 February, up to 2,000 protesters took over a provincial council building in the city of Kut. The protesters
demanded that the provincial governor resign because of the lack of basic services such as electricity and water. As
many as three people were killed and 30 injured. [citation needed] On 24 February, Hawijah, Mosul, and Baghdad
featured violent protests.[252]
[edit] Israeli border areas
Main article: 2011 Israeli border demonstrations
See also: Arab–Israeli conflict
Free Palestine rally in Cairo
Palestinians used Facebook to call for mass protests throughout the region on 15 May 2011, the 63rd annual
commemoration of the Palestinian exodus, locally known as Nakba Day. [253][254] A page calling for a "Third
Palestinian Intifada" to begin on 15 May garnered more than 350,000 "likes" before being taken down by

16. Facebook managers at the end of March after complaints from the Israeli government that the page encouraged
violence.[255][unreliable source?][256] The page called for mass marches to Palestine from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and
Jordan to commemorate the Nakba and demand the right of return for all Palestinian refugees.[257] Palestinians
from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank attempted to reach and cross the Israeli
border. However, they were all stopped and 12 were killed in clashes with Israeli security forces. Lebanese
security forces also made efforts, including the use of live fire according to some reports, to stop protesters from
approaching the Israeli border. Almost 300 people were injured, including 13 Israeli soldiers. There were also
clashes across east Jerusalem.[258]
On 5 June, 23 Syrian demonstrators were killed and over a hundred injured by Israeli troops after attempting to
enter the Israeli-held part of the Golan Heights.[259][260][261] "Anyone who tries to cross the border will be killed,"
Israeli soldiers warned through megaphones as people waving Palestinian flags streamed towards the frontier.
When protesters tried to cut the razor wire several meters short of the frontier fence, Israeli troops opened fire.
Several people were seen being carried away on stretchers.[262] In the aftermath, thousands began a sit-in near the
frontier,[263][unreliable source?] resulting in Syrian security forces creating a security buffer zone to prevent more
demonstrators from approaching the border.[259] Lebanese President Michel Sleiman accused Israel of genocide
over the incident,[264] UN High Commissioner on Human Rights Navanethem Pillay condemned the Israel Defense
Forces' use of force against unarmed, civilian protesters,[265] and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party called for an
international response to the incident, calling it a "massacre".[266] An Israeli military spokeswoman called the
violence "an attempt to divert international attention from the bloodbath going on in Syria."[260] Michael Weiss, a
spokesperson for Just Journalism, claimed that he had received leaked Syrian state documents showing that the
Syrian government organized the Nakba Day protests to draw attention away from the uprising in Syria proper.[267]
US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the U.S. believes President Bashar Assad's government was
actively supporting the Palestinian protests near the Israeli border.[268]
[edit] Jordan
Main article: 2011 Jordanian protests
On 14 January, protests commenced in the capital Amman, as well as at Ma'an, Al Karak, Salt and Irbid, and
others. The protests, led by trade unionists and leftist parties, occurred after Friday prayers, and called for the
government of Prime Minister Samir Rifai to step down.[269] The Muslim Brotherhood and 14 trade unions said
that they would hold a sit-down protest outside parliament the next day to "denounce government economic
policies".[270] Following the protest, the government reversed a rise in fuel prices,[271] but 5,000 protested on 21
January in Amman despite this effort to alleviate Jordan's economic misery.[272]
On 1 February, the Royal Palace announced that King Abdullah had dismissed the government on account of the
street protests, and had asked Marouf al-Bakhit, a former army general, to form a new Cabinet.[273] King Abdullah
charged Bakhit to "take quick, concrete and practical steps to launch a genuine political reform process". The
monarch added that the reforms should put Jordan on the path "to strengthen democracy", and provide Jordanians
with the "dignified life they deserve".[274] This move did not end protests, however, which peaked with a rally of
between 6,000 and 10,000 Jordanians on 25 February.[275] A protest camp led by students calling for democratic
reforms was established on 24 March in Gamal Abdel Nasser Circle in downtown Amman,[276] but at least one
person was killed and over 100 injured the next day after pro-government vigilantes clashed with the protesters in
the camp, forcing police to intervene.[277] These clashes and belated police interventions have become a hallmark
of the Jordanian protests, with a major rally in central Amman planned for 15 July being derailed by belligerent
regime supporters.[278]
As of November 2011, protests are ongoing. Under pressure from street demonstrations, Parliament called for the
ouster of the Bakhit government. King Abdullah duly sacked Bakhit and his cabinet and named Awn Shawkat Al-
Khasawneh to head the new government on 17 October.[46]

17. [edit] Kuwait
Main article: 2011 Kuwaiti protests
Protests by stateless Bedouins began in January and February, concurrent with many protests in the region.[279][280]
By June, protests grew in size from dozens to hundreds.[281]
Thousands protested in September,[282] and in October, oil workers went on strike.[283] Protests continued into
October, with the largest demonstrations since the start of the unrest early in the year.[284][285] In response, Prime
Minister Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah said the protests were "going too far" and threatened a security
crackdown.[286]
Late on 16 November, protesters occupied the National Assembly of Kuwait for several minutes and rallied in
nearby Al-Erada Square.[287] Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah called the brief occupation "an
unprecedented step on the path to anarchy and lawlessness".[288][289]
The largest political protest in Kuwaiti history was scheduled for 28 November to pressure the prime minister to
resign, but he and his cabinet submitted their resignation to the emir hours ahead of it. Late November, the emir
selected Defense Minister Sheik Jaber Al Hamad Al Sabah as the new prime minister, replacing the long-serving
Sheik Nasser Al Mohammad Al Sabah, who had survived several no-confidence votes in parliament and was the
target of opposition groups calling for his dismissal.
[290]
[edit] Morocco
Main article: 2011 Moroccan protests
In early February 2011, protests were held in Rabat, Fez and Tangier in solidarity with the Egyptian revolution.
Subsequently, a day of protest in favour of Moroccan constitutional reform and social justice was planned for 20
February and advertised on social networking sites.[291][292] Among the demands of the organisers was that the
constituional role of the king should be "reduced to its natural size".[293] The interior minister Taib Cherkaoui
affirmed the right of the protests to take place. On 20 February, around 37,000 people participated in
demonstrations across Morocco, according to government sources. Some protests were marred by violence and
damage to property. In Al Hoceima, five people died after protesters set fire to a bank.[294] On 26 February, a
further protest was held in Casablanca.[295]
On 9 March, in a live televised address, King Mohammed announced that he would begin a comprehensive
constitutional reform aimed at improving democracy and the rule of law. He promised to form a commission to
work on constitutional revisions, which would make proposals to him by June, after which a referendum would be
held on the draft constitution.[296]
On 20 March, a further protest was held in Casablanca to mark the end of the first month since the original 20
February demonstrations and to maintain pressure for reform. Protesters, numbering 20,000, demanded the
resignation of a number of senior politicians, including the prime minister, Abbas El Fassi, who they regarded as
corrupt.[297] On the same day, around 6,000 people demonstrated in Rabat.[298]
In June, a referendum was held on changes to the constitution, which became law on 13 September. Some
protesters felt that the reforms did not go far enough. On 18 September, 3,000 people demonstrated in Casablanca
and 2,000 in Tangier, demanding an end to the king's roles as head of the army and of religious affairs.[299] In
October, around 50 imams protested in Rabat against state control of their activities. [300]

18. Elections were held on the basis of the new constitution in November 2011, with electoral lists reserved for young
and female candidates and with the post of prime minster, previously an appointment of the king, being decided by
the outcome of the vote.[301]
[edit] Oman
Main article: 2011 Omani protests
Protesters set ablaze Lulu Hypermarket in Sohar, Oman on 28 February 2011
In the Gulf country of Oman, 200 protesters marched on 17 January 2011, demanding salary increases and a lower
cost of living. The protest shocked some journalists, who generally view Oman as a 'politically stable and sleepy
country'.[302] Renewed protests occurred on 18 February, with 350 protesters demanding an end to corruption and
better distribution of oil revenue.[303] Some protesters also carried signs with slogans of support for the Sultan.[304]
On 26 February, protesters in Sohar called for more jobs.[305] On the following day, tensions escalated with
protesters burning shops and cars.[306] The police responded using tear gas to contain and disperse the crowds of
protesters.[307] Demonstrations also spread to the region of Salalah, where protesters had reportedly been camping
outside the provincial governor's house since 25 February.[307][308] In Sohar, witnesses claimed that two protesters
were killed when police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.[78][79][80][309] Witnesses further reported that
protesters burnt a police station as well as the Wali's house (where the representative of the Sultan to Sohar
stays).[310] The Omani protesters insisted that they were not challenging the rule of Sultan Qaboos, who has been in
power since 1970, but were merely calling for jobs and reform.[311] The protesters even apologized to the Sultan for
allowing violence rattle the city of Sohar on 28 February 2011.[312]
The Sultan continued with his reform campaign by dissolving the Ministry of National Economy, setting up a state
audit committee, granting student and unemployment benefits,[313] dismissing scores of ministers, and reshuffling
his cabinet three times.[314] In addition, nearly 50,000 jobs are being created in the public sector, including 10,000
new jobs in the Royal Oman Police.[315]) The Omani Ministry of Manpower has furthermore directed various
companies (both private and public) to formulate their own employment plans. The Royal Army of Oman has also
initiated employment drives by publishing recruitment advertisements in newspapers, etc.[316] The government's
efforts largely placated protesters, and Oman has not seen significant demonstrations since May 2011, when
increasingly violent protests in Salalah were subdued.[317]
[edit] Saudi Arabia
Main article: 2011 Saudi Arabian protests

19. Poster for the Saudi Arabia's #women2drive Movement, artwork by Carlos Latuff
In Saudi Arabia hundreds of people protested against the poor infrastructure in Jeddah following flooding.[318][319]
At the same time, an online campaign began calling for major political and economic changes. On 5 February,
forty women demonstrated for the release of prisoners held without trial.[320] Several protests of a few hundred
demonstrators each took place in late February, and also in early March in the north-east, mostly in Qatif[321] but
also in Hofuf, in al-Awamiyah, as well as in Riyadh.[322] Security in the north-east was tightened on 5 March,[323]
and a 'significant' police presence in Riyadh[324] and Jeddah[325] prevented protests from occurring on 11 March. A
day earlier, three protesters were injured by police gunfire in Qatif.[321] Nonetheless, protests calling for the release
of prisoners took place outside the Ministry of the Interior in Riyadh on 12 March.[326][327]
Following the crackdown during the 2011 Bahraini uprising, frequent demonstrations of a few hundred to a few
thousand[328] people occurred in and around Qatif from 15[329] to 25[330][331] March, which demanded the release of
prisoners and the withdrawal of the Peninsula Shield Force from Bahrain.[332][333] On 22–23 March, men-only
municipal elections to elect half the members of local councils were announced for 22 September 2011.[83][84]
On 17 June, the anti-government movement "Women2Drive" has organized a drive-in to demand fairer treatment
of women in the country. It was sparked by the arrest and imprisonment of Manal al-Sharif[334] for driving a
vehicle with another woman. al-Sharif has been called a modern Rosa Parks.[335] Reports of desperation within the
government surfaced as the rally is expected to highlight one of the worst gender rights' regimes in the world.[336]
On 9 June, several women were arrested north of Riyadh for practicing in a parking lot.[337][338][339] On 15 June,
female drivers in the United States have organized a protest in solidarity with Saudi women, planning to encircle
the Saudi embassy in Foggy Bottom.[340] During the month three females from Minnesota, supported by an
advocacy group, announced a gender discrimination complaint against the kingdom's livery services in Rochester
to coincide with the "Women2Drive" campaign.[341][342]
[edit] Others
"The Laique pride" rally in Beirut Central District, Lebanon

20. • In Lebanon, hundreds or protesters rallied in Beirut on 27 February in a march referred to as "The Laique
pride", calling for reform of the country's confessional political system. At the same time, a peaceful sit-in took
place in Saida.[343] On 13 March, tens of thousands of supporters of the March 14 Alliance called for the
disarmament of Hezbollah in Beirut, rejecting the supremacy of Hezbollah's weapons over political life. They also
showed support for the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) after the fall of the Hariri government
and the creation of the Mikati government.[344] The Syrian Uprising also has leaked over the border[345]
• In Mauritania, Yacoub Ould Dahoud, a protester, burned himself near the Presidential Palace on 17 January,
in opposition to the policies of Mauritanian president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz[346] The following week,
hundreds of people took to the streets of the capital Nouakchott. The mayor of the city of Aoujeft, Mohamed El
Moctar Ould Ehmeyen Amar, resigned from the ruling party to politically support what he called "the just cause of
youngsters".[347] In addition to the capital Noukchott, cities such as Atar, Zouerate, and Aleg also organised
sporadic protests.[348] Despite minor economic concessions by the authorities, on 25 April protesters again took to
the streets to call for the resignation of the prime-minister, Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf.[349]
• In Sudan, protests took place on 30 January and 1 February, when hundreds called for Sudanese President
Omar al-Bashir to step down. On 21 February, President Omar al-Bashir announced that he would not seek to run
in the next presidential election (in 2015).[350]
• In the United Arab Emirates, a group of intellectuals petitioned their ruler for comprehensive reform of the
Federal National Council, including demands for universal suffrage. About 160 people signed the petition, many of
whom were academics and former members of the FNC.[351] On 12 April, Ahmed Mansoor, a prominent blogger
and pro-democracy activist, was charged with possession of alcohol. According to his lawyer, two other men, a
blogger and a political commentator, were detained a few days earlier, a charge denied by the police.[352] In May,
the government started expanding its network of surveillance cameras, as a preventive measure against revolts.[353]
In June, Mansoor and four other reform activists, including an economics professor, Nasser bin Gaith,[354] pleaded
not guilty to insulting the ruling family, endangering national security and inciting people to protest, after being
charged.[355] On 13 November they began a hunger strike[356], while on 27 November they were sentenced, Ahmed
Mansoor receiving three years in prison, while the others being sentenced to two-year jail terms, only to be
pardoned the following day.[354]
• In the Palestinian Territories, the Palestinian Authority prevented demonstrations in support of protesters in
Tunisia and Egypt. On 3 February, Palestinian police dispersed an anti-Mubarak demonstration in downtown
Ramallah, detaining four people, confiscating a cameraman's footage, and reportedly beating protesters. A smaller
pro-Mubarak demonstration was permitted to take place in the same area and was guarded by police.[357] On 15
October, an anti-Assad protest expressing solidarity with Palestinian refugees in Syria affected by the unrest there
took place in the Gaza Strip, and was attended by 150 people. Hamas police forces dispersed the demonstration,
claiming that it was held without a permit.[358]
On 1 February, the Palestinian Authority announced that it would hold municipal elections in July. The Israeli
newspaper Haaretz reported that this announcement was a reaction to the anti-government protests in Egypt. The
elections were postponed to 22 October, then suspended indefinetely due to an internal division within the
Palestinian Authority over candidates for many of the municipalities and councils, and fears that Hamas supporters
would back Palestinian Authority opponents.[359] On 14 February, amid pan-Arab calls for reform, Palestinian
Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad submitted his resignation along with that of his cabinet to President
Mahmoud Abbas.[360] After consultations with other factions, institutions, and civil society groups, Abbas asked
him to form a new government.[361] The reshuffle had long been demanded by Fayyad as well as members of
Abbas's Fatah faction.[361]
• In Western Sahara, young Sahrawis held a series of minor demonstrations to protest labour discrimination,
lack of jobs, looting of resources, and human rights abuses.[153] Although protests from February 2011 onward
were related to a series of Sahrawi demonstrations outside El Aaiun that originated in October 2010 and died down

21. the following month, protesters cited inspiration from the events in other parts of the region. Noam Chomsky,
viewed the October protests as the starting point from which 'the current wave of protests actually began'.[362]
[edit] Analysis
[edit] Ethnic scope
Many analysts, journalists, and involved parties have focused on the protests as being a uniquely Arab
phenomenon, and indeed, protests and uprisings have been strongest and most wide-reaching in majority-Arabic-
speaking countries, giving rise to the popular moniker of Arab Spring—a play on the so-called 1968 Prague
Spring, a democratic awakening in what was then communist Czechoslovakia—to refer to protests, uprisings, and
revolutions in those states.[363][364][365] However, the international media has also noted the role of minority groups
in many of these majority-Arab countries in the revolts. In addition, this series of revolutions has been marked by
the absence of Arab Nationalist banners and rhetoric among the masses in favor of principles of human rights,
freedom, democracy and cultural diversity, even in absolute majority-Arab countries.
In Tunisia, the country's small Jewish minority was initially divided by protests against Ben Ali and the
government, but eventually came to identify with the protesters in opposition to the regime, according to the
group's president, who described Jewish Tunisians as "part of the revolution".[366][367] While many in the Coptic
minority in Egypt had criticized the Mubarak government for its failure to suppress Islamic extremists who attack
the Coptic community, the prospect of these extremist groups taking over after its fall caused most Copts to avoid
the protests, with Pope Shenouda III of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria calling for them to end.[368] The
international media pointed to a few Copts who joined the protests.[369][370]
Owing to the fact that the uprisings and revolutions erupted first in North Africa before spreading to Asian Arab
countries, and that the Berbers of Libya[371] participated massively in the protests and fightings under Berber
identity banners, some Berbers in Libya often see the revolutions of North Africa, west of Egypt, as a reincarnated
Berber Spring[372][373][374] and some call it the "Berber-Arab Spring"[citation needed]. In Morocco, through a
constitutional reform, passed in a national referendum on 1 July, among other things, Amazigh—a standardized
version of the 3 Berber languages of Morocco was made official alongside Arabic.[375] During the civil war in
Libya, one major theater of combat has been the western Nafusa Mountains, where the indigenous Berbers have
taken up arms against the regime while supporting an interim government based in the majority-Arab eastern half
of the country.[376][377]
In northern Sudan hundreds of non-Arab Darfuris have joined anti-government protests,[378] while in Iraq and
Syria, the ethnic Kurdish minority has been involved in protests against the government,[379][380] including the
Kurdistan Regional Government in the former's Kurdish-majority north, where at least one attempted self-
immolation was reported.[381][382][383]
[edit] Impact of the Arab Spring
Main article: Impact of the Arab Spring
The regional unrest has not been limited to countries of the Arab world. The early success of uprisings in North
Africa was inspired by the uprisings of disenchanted people in the Middle Eastern states of Iran[384][385] and
Turkey[386] to take to the streets and agitate for reforms. These protests, especially those in Iran,[387] are considered
by many commentators to be part of the same wave that began in Iran and later Tunisia and has gripped the
broader Middle Eastern and North African regions.
In the countries of the neighboring South Caucasus—namely Armenia,[388] Azerbaijan,[389] and Georgia[390]—as
well as some countries in Europe, including Albania,[391] Croatia,[392] and Spain;[393] countries in sub-Saharan
Africa, including Burkina Faso,[394] Djibouti,[395] and Uganda;[396][397] and countries in other parts of Asia,

22. including the Maldives[398] and the People's Republic of China,[399] demonstrators and opposition figures claiming
inspiration from the examples of Tunisia and Egypt have staged their own popular protests.
The bid for statehood by Palestine at the UN on 23 September 2011 is also regarded as drawing inspiration from
the Arab Spring after years of failed peace negotiations with Israel. In the West Bank, schools and government
offices were shut to allow demonstrations backing the UN membership bid in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus and
Hebron; echoing similar peaceful protests from other Arab countries.[400]
The 15 October 2011 global protests and the Occupy Wall Street movement, which started in the United States and
has since spread to Asia and Europe, drew direct inspiration from the Arab Spring, with organizers asking U.S.
citizens "Are you ready for a Tahrir moment?"[401] The protesters have committed to using the "revolutionary Arab
Spring tactic" to achieve their goals of curbing corporate power and control in Western governments.[402]
[edit] International reactions
Main article: International reactions to the Arab Spring
Protests in many countries affected by the Arab Spring have attracted widespread support from the international
community, while harsh government responses have generally met condemnation.[403][404][405][406] In the case of the
Bahraini, Moroccan, and Syrian protests, the international response has been considerably more
nuanced.[407][408][409][410]
Some critics have accused Western governments, including those of France, the United Kingdom, and the United
States, of hypocrisy in the way they have reacted to the Arab Spring.[411][412] Noam Chomsky accused the Obama
administration of endeavoring to muffle the revolutionary wave and stifle popular democratization efforts in the
Middle East.[413]
Protests have also affected oil prices, contributing to the 2011 energy crisis. The International Monetary Fund said
oil prices were likely to be higher than originally forecast due to unrest in the Middle East and North Africa, major
regions of oil production.[414]
Kenan Engin, a German-Turkish political scientist, identified the new uprising in Arab and Islamic countries as the
"fifth wave of democracy" because of evident features qualitatively similar to the "third wave of democracy" in
Latin America that took place in the '70s and '80s.[415][416]
[edit] See also
Middle East portal
Africa portal
Politics portal
Social movements portal
 Berber Spring
 Arab Revolt: uprising by Arabs against the Ottoman Empire during World War I (1916–18)
 Civil resistance
 List of modern conflicts in the Middle East
 List of modern conflicts in North Africa
 List of ongoing military conflicts
 2011 Israeli social justice protests
 Spring (political terminology)

23.  Revolutionary wave
 Revolutions of 1989: began with changes in Poland and eventually led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union
 Revolutions of 1848: Series of popular rebellions beginning with the French Revolution of 1848, then spreading
throughout Europe. Also known as the Spring of Nations.
 People Power Revolution: became the inspiration of the Revolutions of 1989
 Freedom in the World
 List of freedom indices
[edit] References
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Interdisciplinar'' 13 (2011): 139–169". Cliodynamics.ru. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
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Science Monitor. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
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Telegraph. The Telegraph (London). Retrieved 12 June 2011.
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Toronto Star. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
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Retrieved 12 June 2011.
10. ^ "Thousands protest in Jordan". Al Jazeera English. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
11. ^ "Kuwaiti stateless protest for third day". Middle East Online. 20 February 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
12. ^ "Morocco King on holiday as people consider revolt". Afrol.com. 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
13. ^ Vaidya, Sunil (27 February 2011). "One dead, dozen injured as Oman protest turns ugly". Gulf News. Retrieved 12
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