Saudi
Arabia has often been criticized for the legislation and action it takes
towards its citizens. Although the Arab Spring was not as prominent or
problematic in Saudi Arabia it did have a domino effect. A movement that took
place in 2011, 2012, and is still occurring in Saudi Arabia, was in response to
the Saudi governments discriminatory actions towards the Shia population in the
country. The protests were organized by Faisal Ahmed Abdul-Ahad through Facebook.
He organized protests to be led on March 11th, that were named ‘Day
of Rage.’ The basis of the protests were human rights, the people were unhappy
with regime and wanted a change. Many people were angered by the actions taken
by the government towards Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr. Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr was arrested
on no legitimate basis. During his time in jail, he was tortured mercilessly, and
was later executed in the 2016 mass execution. The execution of Sheikh Nimr Al-
Nimr sparked outrage in all communities within Saudi Arabia.
The
protests took place in front of government buildings in the cities of Riyadh,
Ta’if, and Tabuk. People were trying to arrange for the release of prisoners
that were being held without probable cause or any valid charge. Organizers of
the protesters were trying to argue for the release of prisoners irrespective
of their sect, shia and sunni. While there were a lot of protests and even
international calls for the release of illegally detained prisoners, it had no
effect on the House of Saud.
The
protests were not limited to only anti-shia sentiments, the protests that
continued in the spring of 2011, May specifically, were also to call for the
Peninsula Shield Force, the military of the GCC, to be taken out of Bahrain.
During the protests, many protestors were shot dead by Saudi forces for partaking
in anti-government protests. With the death toll of protesters rising, more and
more protests would pop up. The government issued laws that made protesting
illegal and any speech that opposes the government against the law.
In
the course of the protests, the movement #Women2Drive also began, recently
Prince Khalid bin Salman announced that although guardianship laws will still
be in effect, women will be granted the right to drive alone. The movement
began when Manal al- Sharif and other Saudi women organized a campaign. Sharif
was the first woman arrested as a part of the movement. Following her example,
many other women drove cars and some were even sentenced to lashes. These women
started the movement that is now liberating women and although there are many
restrictions that come with the right to drive, it is a step in the right
direction.
Saudi
Arabia’s armed forces were quite involved in the protests that took place,
fatalities occurred on both sides. One of the reasons why the movements that
took place in Saudi Arabia were not successful is because they were not supported
by the army. The army plays a central role when it comes to successful
movements. The people were not able to get public officers, such as the army or
police on their side. Another reason why the movement was not successful is
because there is so much media censorship that many of the injustices that were
occurring were not known to the international community. While social media was
a big part of the movement especially when it came to Sheikh Nimr Al Nimr and
his execution. There were protests in retaliation to his execution throughout
the Western world, it became one of the worst human rights atrocities committed
by the Saudi Arabian government.
The
protests that took place during the Arab Spring within Saudi Arabia, were a
result of political and economic unrest that the people of Saudi Arabia were
tired of dealing with. From anti-shia sentiments, to wrongful imprisonment, and
women’s rights a movement of change began during this time. Many issues came to
the forefront because people thought that there is a chance for change
throughout the Arab world. Although the movements did not bring immediate
change to the country and caused many problems as well as deaths, they set the
ball in motion for many changes that are occurring in the country today. No
movements are successful overnight, and Saudi Arabia is definitely not an
exception. Since Saudi Arabia is a more conservative country and a strict
follower of Sharia law, change does not occur easily. However, the government
is enacting changes slowly so that people are easily accustomed to the change.
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