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2011–2012 Saudi Arabian protests
Part of the Arab Spring
Saudi Arabia (orthographic projection).svg
Date 21 January 2011 – ongoing
Location Saudi Arabia
24°39′00″N 46°46′01″E / 24.65°N 46.767°E / 24.65; 46.767Coordinates: 24°39′00″N 46°46′01″E / 24.65°N 46.767°E / 24.65; 46.767
Causes
Goals
Characteristics
Status Ongoing
Concessions
given
Lead figures
Faisal Ahmed Abdul-Ahad[19][20][21]

(or Abdul-Ahadwas[20])

 King Abdullah
Number
Protesters: Thousands[22][23]
Online campaign: 26,000[24]
Casualties
Death(s): 10[25][20][26][27][28][29][30]
Injuries: 6 +[31]
Arrests: Riyadh: 15–50;[32][33][34] East.: 145[15]

The 2011–2012 Saudi Arabian protests were influenced by the Arab Spring that started with the 2011 Tunisian revolution. Protests started with a 65-year-old man's self-immolation in Samtah, Jizan on 21 January[25] and protests of a few hundred people in late January in Jeddah[35][36] and several times throughout February and early March in the cities of Qatif, al-Awamiyah, Riyadh, and Hofuf.[37][38] One of the main online organisers of a planned 11 March "Day of Rage",[39][40][41] Faisal Ahmed Abdul-Ahad[19] (or Abdul-Ahadwas[20]), was alleged to have been killed by Saudi security forces on 2 March,[20][21] by which time one of the Facebook groups discussing the plans had over 26,000 members.[24]

Small protests over labour rights took place in April 2011 in front of government ministry buildings in Riyadh, Ta’if and Tabuk[42][43][44] and in January 2012 in Riyadh.[45]

Protests against anti-Shia discrimination and calling for prisoners held without charge or trial to be released started in March 2011 in Qatif, al-Awamiyah and Hofuf in the Eastern Province,[22][23][46] grew stronger,[38][47][48][49] and extended to calls for the Peninsula Shield Force to be withdrawn from Bahrain[9][50] and for the Eastern Province to have a constitution and a legislature.[13] Jane Kinninmont of Chatham House stated, "many Saudi Shia were alarmed to see their government send tanks into Bahrain to support the Bahrain government as it crushed a peaceful uprising there."[51] Four protestors were shot dead by Saudi authorities in late November in Qatif region protests and funerals,[26] two on 12/13[27][52] and 26 January 2012,[28] and two on 9 and 10 February 2012.[53][29][30][54] In the early 2012 demonstrations, protestors chanted slogans against the House of Saud and Minister of Interior, Nayef, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia,[55][56] called Nayef a "terrorist", "criminal" and "butcher"[57] and an effigy of Nayef was thrown at tanks.[57] Police described two of the fatal shootings as responses to unidentified gunmen who had shot first.[30][58]

Women organised a Facebook women's suffrage campaign called "Baladi", stating that Saudi Arabian law gives women electoral rights.[59] In April 2011, women in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam tried to register as electors for the 29 September municipal elections despite officials stating that women could not participate.[59][11] In May and June, Manal al-Sharif and other women organised a women's right-to-drive campaign, with the main action to take place on 17 June. Al-Sharif drove a car in May and was detained on 22 May and from 23‒30 May.[12][60][61] From 17 June to late June, about seventy cases of women driving were documented.[62][63][64] In late September, Shaima Jastania was sentenced to 10 lashes for driving in Jeddah, shortly after King Abdullah announced women's participation in the 2015 municipal elections and eligibility as Consultative Assembly members; King Abdullah overturned the sentence.[65][66] Al-Sharif and Samar Badawi filed lawsuits against Saudi authorities in the Grievances Board, a non-Sharia court,[67] because of the rejection of their driving licence applications.[68]

Contents

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).

Protests timeline

Main article: Timeline of the 2011–2012 Saudi Arabian protests (disambiguation)

January–April 2011

Main article: Timeline of the 2011–2012 Saudi Arabian protests (January–April 2011)

Protests started with a 65-year-old man's self-immolation in Samtah, Jizan on 21 January[25] and protests of a few hundred people in late January in Jeddah, triggered by flooding,[35][36] and several times throughout February and early March in the cities of Qatif, al-Awamiyah, Riyadh, and Hofuf.[37][38] A "Day of Rage" was planned for 11 March.[39][40][41] One of the main organisers, Faisal Ahmed Abdul-Ahad[19] (or Abdul-Ahadwas[20]), was alleged to have been killed by Saudi security forces on 2 March,[20][21] by which time one of the Facebook groups discussing the plans had over 26,000 members.[24] On 11 March, several hundred people protested in Qatif, Hofuf and al-Amawiyah.[69] Khaled al-Johani demonstrated in Riyadh despite a massive police presence,[69] was interviewed by BBC Arabic Television, and has since then been detained in `Ulaysha Prison.[70][71] Al-Johani became known online as "the only brave man in Saudi Arabia".[70]

The Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA) and the Saudi organisation Human Rights First Society called for ACPRA co-founder Mohammed Saleh Albejadi to be released following his arbitrary arrest in Buraidah on 21 March by Mabahith, the internal security agency.[72][73] In April, several small protests over labor rights took place in front of government ministry buildings in Riyadh, Ta’if and Tabuk.[42][43][44] Protests, made up mainly of Shia protestors, continued in late March and April in Qatif and smaller cities in the Eastern Province such as al-Awamiyah, and Hofuf.[38][22][23][46] The protestors called for the release of prisoners, for the Peninsula Shield Force to be withdrawn from Bahrain,[9][50] for equal representation in key offices and for reforms in political positions, as they feel marginalised.[46]

In response to the 22–23 March announcement of men-only municipal elections in late September 2011 to elect half the members of local councils,[16][17] women organised a Facebook women's suffrage campaign called "Baladi", stating that Saudi Arabian law gives women electoral rights.[59] In April, women in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam tried to register as electors for the 22 September municipal elections despite officials stating that women could not participate.[59][11]

May–December 2011

Main article: Timeline of the 2011–2012 Saudi Arabian protests (May–December 2011)

In May and June, motivated by the Arab Spring,[74] Manal al-Sharif and other women organised a women's right-to-drive campaign, with the main action to take place on 17 June. Al-Sharif drove a car in May and was detained on 22 May and from 23‒30 May.[12][60][61] Other women also drove cars, including actress Wajnat Rahbini, who was arrested after driving in Jeddah on 4 June and released a day later.[75] From 17 June to late June, about seventy cases of women driving were documented.[62][63][64] In late September, Shaima Jastania was sentenced to 10 lashes for driving in Jeddah, shortly after King Abdullah announced women's participation in the 2015 municipal elections and eligibility as Consultative Assembly members. King Abdullah cancelled the sentence.[65][66]

Protests in the Qatif region continued in May[47][48][49] and in October protests, police shot live ammunition at protestors.[13] The protestors called for Eastern Province to have its own constitution and legislative assembly, and for their association Society for Development and Change to be legally registered.[13] In late November, Nasser al-Mheishi, Ali al-Felfel, Munib al-Sayyed al-`Adnan and Ali Abdullah al-Qarairis were shot dead by security forces in the Qatif region in successive protests and funerals.[26][76][77][78] The protests continued in December.[79]

Hundreds of people protested n Riyadh and Buraidah in December, calling for the release or trial of prisoners.[26]

Since January 2012

Main article: Timeline of the 2011–2012 Saudi Arabian protests (from January 2012)

A protest for labor rights took place in Riyadh on 14 January[45] and a sit-in calling for the Syria Ambassador to be expelled occurred on 5 February in Jeddah.[80]

Protests in the Qatif region continued in January[81] and February,[53] with security forces using live fire against protestors, killing four, and arresting medical personnel.[82] Security forces shot dead Issam Mohamed Abu Abdallah in al-Awamiyah on 12[27] or 13 January,[52] Montazar Sa'eed al-Abdel in al-Awamiyah on 26 January,[28] and Munir al-Midani[53][29] and Zuhair al-Said[30][54] on 9 and 10 February. In the 70,000 strong funeral for Abdallah on 16 January in al-Awamiyah and the daily Qatif region protests that followed, protestors chanted slogans against the House of Saud and Minister of Interior, Nayef, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.[55][56][83] In mid-February, two medical personnel were arrested for having clandestinely treated injured protestors.[82] In a 10 February protest and a 13 February funeral, an effigy of Nayef was thrown at tanks and participants described Nayef as a "terrorist", "criminal" and "butcher".[57] Police described two of the fatal shootings as responses to unidentified gunmen who had shot first.[30][58]

Manal al-Sharif and Samar Badawi, also active in the women to drive movement, announced that they had filed lawsuits against Saudi authorities in the Grievances Board, a non-Sharia court,[67] because of the rejection of their driving licence applications.[68]

Response

Domestic

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.[84] 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.[85]

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 percent, 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.[86]

On 6 March, the Saudi Arabian Council of Senior Scholars, headed by Grand Mufti Abd al-'Aziz al-Ashaikh, issued a fatwā (religious opinion) opposing petitions and demonstrations, declaring, "Therefore the council hereby reaffirms that only the reform and [counsel] that has its legitimacy is that which may bring welfare and avert the evil, whereas it is illegal to issue statements and take signatures for the purposes of intimidation and inciting the strife. ... reform should not be by demonstrations and other means and methods that give rise to unrest and divide the community. ... The Council affirms prohibition of the demonstrations in this country and [that] the legal method which realizes the welfare without causing destruction rests on the mutual advice."[87][88] The fatwa included a "severe threat against internal dissent",[6] stating, "[The Prophet] again said: 'He who wanted separate affairs of this nation who are unified, you should kill him with sword whoever he is' (narrated by Muslim)." In late March, Abd al-'Aziz al-Ashaikh called for a million copies of the fatwa to be printed and distributed.[88]

On 22–23 March 2011, officials of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural affairs announced that men-only municipal elections to elect half the members of local councils would be held in September 2011.[16][17] Associated Press described the election announcement as having "coincided with rumblings of dissent in Saudi Arabia stemming from the wave of political unrest in the Arab world."[89]

Arrests and other repression

About 30 to 50 people were arrested following the 29 January Jeddah demonstration.[36] 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.[85]

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-Ahad[19] (or Abdul-Ahadwas[20]), was killed by Saudi security forces, who removed his body in order to "hide evidence of the crime".[20][21]

On 5 March, thousands of security forces were sent to the north-east, causing delays on the road to Dammam.[90] On the same day, following about two weeks of small protests in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of the Interior warned that the "ban [on] all sorts of demonstrations, marches, sit-ins" imposed by Saudi law would be enforced.[38]

On 9 March, Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal stated that the government would not tolerate any street protests against it, while also saying that the "best way to achieve demands is through national dialogue".[91]

On 21 March, Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA) co-founder Mohammed Saleh Albejadi (also Al-Bjady) was arrested in Buraidah by Mabahith, the internal security agency. ACPRA stated that the arrest was arbitrary, in violation of the Basic Law of Saudi Arabia and the Law of Criminal Procedures.[72] [73] Both the ACPRA[72] and Human Rights First Society[73] called for his immediate, unconditional release.

On 27 March 2011, Human Rights Watch estimated that the "scale of arrests [rose] dramatically during the preceding two weeks", up to about 160 protestors and critics being held without charge.[15]

In early January 2012, Saudi authorities published the names of a list of 23 people who were allegedly involved in the October 2011 Awamiyah/Qatif protests, calling for their arrests.[92][93] Ministry of Interior spokesman Mansour al-Turki alleged that the protestors "were working according to a foreign agenda" and were "sponsored financially or supplied with weapons and were working as part of an organization".[92] Shah Ali al-Shokan (or Shaukan) from Tarout Island, one of the 23, was arrested by Mabahith on 2 January 2012.[94] Hussain Ali Abdullah al-Baraki, Mosa Ja'far Mohammad al-Mabyouq, and two others among the 23 were also arrested on 2 January.[95] The Ministry of Interior claimed that al-Shokan, al-Baraki and al-Mabyouq had turned themselves in voluntarily.[95] On 10 January, Aqeel al-Yaseen was wounded in al-Awamiyah by security forces, arrested and transferred to a Mabahith facility in Dammam, and forbidden family visits.[96]

Deaths
Name Age From Date of Death Cause of Death
Faisal Ahmed Abdul-Ahad[19] (or Abdul-Ahadwas)[20]
(Administrator of Facebook group calling for 11 March "Day of Rage", according to DPA)[19][20]		 27[20] Before 2 March 2011[19][20] Killed by the Saudi security forces, who removed his body in order to "hide evidence of the crime".[20][21]
Nasser al-Mheishi[76][97] (or Nasir al-Muhaishi)[26] 19[77] Qatif 20 November 2011 Shot by the police during a protest.[26][76]
Ali al-Felfel[76] 24[78] Qatif 21 November 2011 Shot in the chest by police during a funeral for Nasser al-Mheishi.[26][76]
Munib al-Sayyed al-Adnan[78] 20[78] Shweika[78] 23 November 2011 Shot in the head by police during protest over al-Mheishi and al-Felfel killings.[26]
Ali Abdullah al-Qarayrees[78] 26[78] Al-Awamiyah 23 November 2011 Shot by police during protest over al-Mheishi and al-Felfel killings.[26]
Issam Mohamed Abu Abdallah[27] 22[27] Al-Awamiyah Late 12 January 2012[27] or dawn 13 January 2012[52] Shot by security forces during protest.[27][52][98]
Montazar Sa'eed al-Abdel[28] Al-Awamiyah[28] 26 January 2012[28] Shot by security forces during protest.[28]
Muneer al-Midani[29] 21[58] Qatif[53][29] 9 February 2012[53][29] Shot in the heart by security forces during protest.[29]
Zuhair al-Said[30] (or Zaheer Abdullah Saeed)[99] 21[54] Al-Awamiyah[30] 10 February 2012[30] Shot in the stomach by security forces during protest,[30] died in hospital.[99]
Hajer al-Yazidi[100] Abha[101] 7 March 2012[101] Epileptic student injured in head during protest, died of head wound.[101]
Censorship

In mid-March, Thomson Reuters' chief correspondent in Saudi Arabia, Ulf Laessing, who had reported from Riyadh since 2009, had his journalistic accreditation withdrawn because of his reporting on the early 2011 Saudi Arabian protests, effectively forcing him to leave Saudi Arabia.[15][102]

International

Exiled Saudi physicist and political dissident Mohammad al-Massari described police attacks on women in the 3 March Qatif demonstration as a strategic error, saying, "They made a stupid mistake by attacking women and so on because they think Shia women do not have ... the honor protection like the rest of the women in the country. But attacking women in Saudi Arabia, in an Islamic country is very severe, very negative and catastrophic ... and this will have dire repercussions."[103]

Media

Journalist Robert Fisk said that the protests were known as the "Hunayn Revolution,"[by whom?] after the Battle of Hunayn fought between Muhammad and the Hawazin.[90]

Other

On 21 February, oil prices rose in response to the 2011 Libyan civil war and speculation regarding the 11 March Saudi Arabian Day of Rage.[39] The Saudi Tadawul stock market index fell to a seven month low on stability concerns.[104]

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.[105] Regional stock market indices also fell on concern for Saudi stability.[104]

See also

Portal icon Saudi Arabia portal
Portal icon Human rights portal
Portal icon Politics portal

References

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Further reading

  • Alrabaa, Sami (2010). Veiled Atrocities: True Stories of Oppression in Saudi Arabia. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books. ISBN 978-1-61614-159-2. 
  • Al-Rasheed, Madawi (2007). Contesting the Saudi State: Islamic Voices from a New Generation. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-85836-4. 
  • Hamzawy, Amr (2008). "The Saudi Labyrinth: Is There a Political Opening?". In Ottaway, Marina; Choucair-Vizoso, Julia. Beyond the Façade: Political Reform in the Arab World. Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. pp. 187–210. ISBN 978-0-87003-239-4. 

External links


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