2011–2012 Saudi Arabian protests

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Lihaas (talk | contribs) at 05:26, 3 March 2011 (→‎International reactions). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

2011 Saudi Arabian protests
Date21 January 2011 – Ongoing
Casualties
Death(s)2
Injuries0

The 2011 Saudi Arabian protests have been influenced by the 2010–2011 Middle East and North Africa protests. On 29 January, hundreds of people protested over poor infrastructure in Jeddah following flooding[1][2] and an online campaign for major political and economic changes started. Forty women demonstrated on 5 February for the release of prisoners held without trial.[3] Plans were made for a "Day of Rage" on 11 March, contributing to a rise in oil prices.[4][5][6] One of the main online organisers, Faisal Ahmed Abdul-Ahadwas, was alleged to have been killed by Saudi security forces on 2 March,[7][8] by which time one of the Facebook groups discussing the plans had over 17,000 members.[7]

Background

Main article: Politics of Saudi Arabia

The politics of Saudi Arabia takes place in a framework of a particular form of absolute monarchy whereby the King of Saudi Arabia is both head of state and the head of government, but where decisions are to a large extent made on the basis of consultation among the senior princes, with the King functioning as primus inter pares and ultimate arbiter. The Basic Law adopted in 1992 declared that Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by the male descendants of King Abd Al Aziz Al Saud, and that the Qur'an is the constitution of the country, which is governed on the basis of Islamic law (Shari'a). An unidentified 65-year-old man died on 21 January after setting himself on fire in the town of Samtah, Jizan. This was apparently the kingdom's first known case of self-immolation.[9][10]

Protests

29 January

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.[1] Police stopped the demonstration about 15 minutes after it started. About 30 to 50 people were arrested.[2] On the same day, an online campaign started on Facebook, making demands that included calling for Saudi Arabia to become a constitutional monarchy, and for "an end to corruption, an even distribution of wealth, and a serious solution for unemployment".[3]

5 February

On 5 February, about 40 women wearing black clothes demonstrated in Riyadh, calling for the release of prisoners held without trial.[3]

10 February

On 10 February, a Thomson Reuters report claimed that 10 intellectuals, human rights activists and lawyers came together to create the Umma Islamic Party – considered to be the first political party in Saudi Arabia since the 1990s – to demand the end of absolute monarchy in the country.[11] On 18 February, all ten founding members of the party were arrested and ordered to withdraw demands for political reform in exchange for their release.[12]

17 February

According to Reuters Africa, a small protest was held by Shi'a in the small town of Al-Awamiyah, near Qatif in the Eastern Province[13] to demand the release of three political prisoners held since protests in the town on March 19, 2009 protesting an arrest warrant against the town's Shiite imam, Sheikh Nimr Bagir al Namr. The prisoners were identified as Ali Ahmad al Faraj, the sheikh's 16-year old nephew, and two others, Ali Salih Abdul Jabbar and Makki Al Abbas.[14] The three prisoners were released on February 20.[15]

23 February

On 23 February, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, after returning to the country following three months spent abroad for health treatment, announced a series of benefits for citizens amounting to $10.7 billion. These include funding to offset high inflation and to aid young unemployed people and Saudi citizens studying abroad, as well the writing off some loans. As part of the Saudi scheme, state employees will see their incomes increase by 15 per cent, and additional cash has also been made available for housing loans. No political reforms were announced as part of the package, though the 86-year-old monarch did pardon some prisoners indicted in financial crimes.[16]

24 February

A protest was held in Qatif by Shi'a Muslims to demand the release of additional political prisoners. [17] Video posted to YouTube confirms the existence and location of the protest, showing the roundabout 350 meters south of Ohud Road on King Abdelaziz Road.[18]

25 February

A group called Jeddah Youth for Change called for a rally in Jeddah on 25 February.[19]

Late February

Brian Whitaker of The Guardian interpreted[20] the creation of a website for people to publish complaints about government services, "shakra.com",[21] the circulation of at least three online petitions calling for political and legal reforms[20] and a call for reform that is "the result of meaningful interaction and dialogue among the different components of a society" by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal[22] as protest actions that "in a Saudi context [are] momentous".[20]

11 March - "Day of Rage"

A "Day of Rage" is planned by Saudi Arabians on 11 March[4] at noon in solidarity with protests in Libya and Bahrain.[23] A Facebook page called for a "March 11 Revolution of Longing" and included demands for "the ousting of the regime" and for the national leader and the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia to be chosen by election.[5] It also called for elections for national leadership, more women's rights and for freeing political prisoners.[6] As of 2 March, one of the Facebook groups calling for the Day of Rage had more than 17,000 members.[7]

20 March

Calls for protests on 20 March as well have been made on a Facebook page.[24]

Arrests and other repression

About 30 to 50 people were arrested following the 29 January Jeddah demonstration.[2] On 18 February, the ten founding members of the Umma Islamic Party were arrested and ordered to withdraw demands for political reform in exchange for their release.[12]

According to a Deutsche Presse-Agentur report on 2 March, Saudi activists have alleged that one of the main administrators of one of the Facebook groups calling for a "Day of Rage" on 11 March, Faisal Ahmed Abdul-Ahadwas, has been killed by Saudi security forces, who removed his body in order to "hide evidence of the crime".[7][8]

Domestic political response

On 10 February, a Thomson Reuters report claimed that 10 intellectuals, human rights activists and lawyers came together to create the Umma Islamic Party – considered to be the first political party in Saudi Arabia since the 1990s – to demand the end of absolute monarchy in the country.[11] On February 18 however, all ten members of the party were arrested and ordered to withdraw demands for political reform in exchange for their release.[12]

International reactions

Financial markets

On 21 February, oil prices rose in response to the 2011 Libyan protests and speculation regarding the 11 March Saudi Arabian Day of Rage.[4] The Saudi Tadawul stock market index fell to a seven month low on stability concerns.[25]

On the week of 27 February, global stock prices fell as oil prices increased and silver reached a 30-year high price on stability concerns in the region.[26] Regional stock market indices also fell on concern for Saudi stability.[27]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Flood sparks rare action". Montreal Gazette. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  2. ^ a b c "Dozens detained in Saudi over flood protests". The Peninsula (Qatar)/Thomson-Reuters. 29 January 2011. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b c Laessing, Ulf; Alsharif, Asma (5 February 2011). "Saudi women protest, web activists call for reform". Swiss Info/Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original on 16 February 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b c Spencer, Richard (21 February 2011). "Libya: Muammar Gaddafi's regime on the brink of collapse". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b Awad, Ammar (23 February 2011). "Protests continue across the Arab world". Toronto Star/Thomson Reuters/AP. Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b "Middle East unrest: Saudi and Bahraini kings offer concessions". The Guardian. 23 February 2011. Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ a b c d "Report: Saudi Facebook activist planning protest shot dead". Monsters and Critics/DPA. 2011-03-02. Archived from the original on 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2011-03-02. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ a b Bustamante, Tom (2011-03-02). "Iraq Oil Refinery Attack Shows Need for EarthSearch (ECDC) Systems". Wall Street Newscast. Archived from the original on 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2011-03-02. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "Man dies after setting himself on fire in Saudi Arabia". BBC News. 23 January 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  10. ^ Mifthah, Mohideen (22 January 2011). "Man dies in possible first self-immolation in Saudi". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  11. ^ a b Laessing, Ulf (10 February 2011). "Pro-reform Saudi activists launch political party". Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original on 11 February 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) Cite error: The named reference "threuters_umma_created" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  12. ^ a b c "Saudi authorites detain founders of new party". Washington Post. 18 February 2011. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFLDE71J0NZ20110220?sp=true
  14. ^ http://www.hns-info.net/spip.php?article17955
  15. ^ http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFLDE71J0NZ20110220?sp=true
  16. ^ "Saudi king announces new benefits". Al Jazeera English. 23 February 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  17. ^ http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/6478/World/Region/Saudi-Shiites-stage-another-protest-in-oil-provinc.aspx
  18. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrLvW9kmBOM&feature=related
  19. ^ http://www.presstv.ir/detail/166978.html
  20. ^ a b c Whitaker, Brian (2011-03-01). "Saudi Arabia's subtle protests are serious". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2011-03-02. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ "Site lets public air grievances about services". Arab News. 2011-02-26. Archived from the original on 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2011-03-02. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ Al-Waleed bin Talal (2011-02-24). "A Saudi Prince's Plea for Reform". New York Times. Archived from the original on 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2011-03-02. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ http://www.presstv.ir/detail/166931.html
  24. ^ Cohn, Carolyn (2011-03-02). "Saudi, Bahraini debt insurance costs rise - Markit". Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original on 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2011-03-02. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthor= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-02/dubai-shares-slump-to-seven-year-low-on-saudi-arabia-concern.html
  26. ^ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-02/asian-stocks-fall-as-oil-surges-on-mideast-silver-rises-to-30-year-high.html
  27. ^ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-02/dubai-shares-slump-to-seven-year-low-on-saudi-arabia-concern.html

Further reading

  • Alrabaa, Sami (2010). Veiled Atrocities: True Stories of Oppression in Saudi Arabia. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books. ISBN 9781616141592.
  • Al-Rasheed, Madawi (2007). Contesting the Saudi State: Islamic Voices from a New Generation. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521858364.
  • Hamzawy, Amr (2008). "The Saudi Labyrinth: Is There a Political Opening?". In Ottaway, Marina; Choucair-Vizoso, Julia (eds.). Beyond the Façade: Political Reform in the Arab World. Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. pp. 187–210. ISBN 9780870032394.

External links

Template:World protests in 21st century

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2011–2012_Saudi_Arabian_protests&oldid=416862785"