2011 Jordanian protests

This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses. This article is incomplete and may require expansion or cleanup. Please help to improve the article, or discuss the issue on the talk page. (January 2011) 2011 Jordanian protests Location  Jordan Date 7 January 2011 – ongoing Characteristics Demonstrations. Death(s) 0 Injured 0 A series of protests are taking place in Jordan, which resulted in the firing of the cabinet ministers of the government. Contents 1 Background 2 Protests 3 Government response to protests 4 Popular reaction to the cabinet change 5 See also 6 References // Background The 2010-2011 Tunisian uprising and 2011 Egyptian protests have raised hopes for political change in the region. Together with unrest elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa, including the disturbances in Jordan, they are part of the 2010-2011 Arab world protests.citation needed Jordan's economy continues to struggle, weighed down by a record deficit of $2bn this year.1 Inflation in Jordan has risen by 1.5 per cent to 6.1 per cent in December 2010, and unemployment and poverty have become rampant, estimated at 30 and 25 per cent respectively.1 The government is also accused of impoverishing the working class with regressive tax codes which forced the poor to pay a higher proportion of their income as tax. The parliament is accused of serving as a "rubber stamp" to the executive branch.1 Jordanian Police Ford Crown Victoria in Karak, Jordan. Jordan has a history of persecuting activists and journalists. The country amended its penal code in August 2010 and passed a Law of Information System Crimes, to regulate the Internet. Revised laws continue to criminalize peaceful expression and extend those provisions to Internet expression. Jordanian authorities prosecuted peaceful dissidents and prohibited peaceful gatherings to protest government policies. Dissidents confined by the General Intelligence Department routinely sign confessions. According to a report by Amnesty International, intelligence agents in Jordan frequently use torture to extract confessions from suspects.2 Protests The Muslim Brotherhood, one of the largest opposition groups in Jordan, on January 26 urged Jordanians to pour into streets later in the week to protest against Prime Minister Samir Rifai's economic policies and the political situation in the country.1 Demonstrators protested rising prices and demanded the dismissal of the Prime Minister and his government, but they have not directly challenged the king, criticism of whom is banned in Jordan. The demonstrators have been peaceful and have not been confronted by the police. So far no deaths, injuries or riots have been reported; however the protests' leaders said that the king had failed to take substantial steps to address mounting public resentment and they warned that unless real changes are made, that unrest could worsen. King Abdullah II, a key U.S. ally, has come under pressure recently from various protesters which include a coalition of Islamists, secular opposition groups and a group of retired army generals, all of whom are calling for substantial political and economic reforms.3 Ali Habashnah, one of the retired generals desiring reforms, said that unrest has spread to rural areas dominated by Bedouin tribes. These tribes have been a traditional backbone of the monarchy. It was the first time, he said, that the Bedouins had joined with other groups in demands for change.3 On 28 January, following Friday prayers, 3,500 activists from the Muslim Brotherhood, trade unions, and communist and leftist organisations demanded that Samir Rifai step down as prime minister and that the government control rising prices, inflation and unemployment.4 Protests were reported in Amman and six other cities.5 Thousands took to the streets in the capital, Amman, as well as several other cities shouting, "We want change." Banners complained of high food and fuel prices and demanded the resignation of the prime minister, an appointee of the king.6 Government response to protests On February 1, the Royal Palace announced that King Abdullah II has sacked the government as a consequence of the street protests and has asked Marouf al-Bakhit, an ex-army general, to form a new Cabinet.7 The king told Bakhit his authority will be to "take quick, concrete and practical steps to launch a genuine political reform process,". The reforms should put Jordan on the path "to strengthen democracy," and provide Jordanians with the "dignified life they deserve," the monarch said.8 The king asked al-Bakhit for a "comprehensive assessment ... to correct the mistakes of the past." and also the statement said Abdullah demanded an "immediate revision" of laws governing politics and public freedoms.9 Popular reaction to the cabinet change "A measure like today's measure will increase anger, not defuse it, because people will believe they are not being taken seriously," said Labib Kamhawi, an economist and political analyst. "This is a cosmetic measure. The government itself does not initiate policies, it only implements them, so the Cabinet change does not mean anything."10 Jordan's most powerful opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, dismissed the changes as cosmetic. "We reject the new prime minister and we will continue our protests until our demands are met," said Hamza Mansour, leader of the Islamic Action Front, the Brotherhood's political arm.11 Despite the unrest, support for the king remains strong. "I'm upset by the social problems, the economic problems, the political problems, and the parliament doesn't represent the people," said a local lawyer Tarek alMasri. However, he added, "I cannot imagine the country without the royal family. They strike a balance between the people and the government. I trust them."12 See also Jordan portal Human rights portal Democracy in the Middle East Government of Jordan 2010–2011 Arab World protests (Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia) References ^ a b c d "Thousands protest in Jordan". al-jazeera. 28 January 2011. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/2011128125157509196.html. Retrieved 28 January 2011.  ^ Human Rights In Hashemite Kingdom Of Jordan (2009-11-18). "Jordan - Amnesty International Report 2010". Amnesty.org. http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/jordan/report-2010. Retrieved 2011-02-01.  ^ a b "Jordan's King Abdullah II ousts prime minister, cabinet in wake of mass protests". Washingtonpost.com. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/31/AR2011013103692.html. Retrieved 2011-02-02.  ^ "Thousands protest in Jordan - Middle East". Al Jazeera English. 2011-01-28. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/2011128125157509196.html. Retrieved 2011-02-01.  ^ http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/01/jordan.government/ ^ Jordan’s King Dismisses Cabinet as Tremors Spread Through Region ^ "Jordan's Royal Palace says king sacks government in wake of street protests". Associated Press. 01 February 2011. http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5i7CT0mQSAPfDG6qfNW8mDM7KBNpw?docId=5820261. Retrieved 01 February 2011.  ^ Derhally, Massoud A. "Jordan's King Abdullah Replaces Prime Minister". Bloomberg.com. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-01/jordan-s-prime-minister-rifai-resigns-king-asks-bakhit-to-form-government.html. Retrieved 2011-02-01.  ^ "Jordan's king fires Cabinet amid protests". Apnews.myway.com. http://apnews.myway.com//article/20110201/D9L410G00.html. Retrieved 2011-02-01.  ^ Lutz, Meris. "King of Jordan fires Cabinet". Latimes.com. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-jordan-cabinet-20110202,0,1165950.story. Retrieved 2011-02-01.  ^ "Jordan's king fires Cabinet amid protests". Apnews.myway.com. http://apnews.myway.com//article/20110201/D9L44PTG1.html. Retrieved 2011-02-01.  ^ "Jordan's King Abdullah II ousts prime minister, cabinet in wake of mass protests". Washingtonpost.com. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/31/AR2011013103692_2.html. Retrieved 2011-02-02.  v · d · e2010–2011 Arab world protests Countries Tunisia · Algeria · Jordan · Egypt · Yemen People Mohamed Bouazizi · Tawakel Karman · Mohamed ElBaradei · Zine El Abidine Ben Ali · Hassan al-Turabi · Hosni Mubarak · Omar Suleiman · Samir Rifai · Ali Abdullah Saleh Political parties Al-Islah · National Association for Change · Muslim Brotherhood Other issues International reactions to the 2011 Egyptian protests · Domestic responses to the 2011 Egyptian protests v · d · e Jordan topics History Transjordan  · Nabataeans  · Islamic Empire  · Ottoman Empire Government and politics Prime Ministers of Jordan  · Foreign relations of Jordan  · Public holidays in Jordan Geography River Jordan  · Cities  · Nature reserves in Jordan  · Extreme points of Jordan  · Dead Sea · Petra  · Water supply and sanitation Economy International rankings  · Tourism in Jordan  · Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation  · Oil shale in Jordan  · Jordan Atomic Energy Commission Military Royal Jordanian Land Force  · Royal Jordanian Air Force  · Royal Naval Force  · Royal Special Forces  · Royal Maintenance Corps (Jordan)  · General Intelligence Directorate  · Arab Legion  · Jordanian military ranks  · King Abdullah Design and Development Bureau Transportation and Communications Royal Jordanian Airlines  · Newspapers Health and Education Medical education in Jordan  · Universities in Jordan  · Human rights in Jordan  · Scouting and Guiding in Jordan  · Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research  · Private Hospitals Association  · Hospitals in Jordan People King Abdullah I  · King Talal  · King Hussein  · King Abdullah II  · Queen Rania Portal