Middle Eastern Revolutions 2011

Many people know about the revolutions in the Middle East, but how did it all begin? In Tunisia, a man set himself on fire, but why?

He was a poor man who owned a fruit stand named Mohammad Bouazizi, who was just trying to make enough money to support his family. Suddenly a female police officer came over to him. “Sir, “ she said, “you must give some of your profits to the government.” He pulled his cart away, ignoring her.

Later on a different block, she came again. “Sir, give the government some of your profits or I’ll have you arrested.” Bouazizi again walked away. He wanted her to stop bugging him. When he was not looking, the police officer handcuffed him and took him to jail.

In jail, handcuffed to a wooden bench, Bouazizi had a thought: he had had enough. He found a match, lit it and ignited the bench. That fire burned him alive. It also burned in the hearts of the citizens of the Middle East. They too had had enough. That was what began the protests in Tunisia, which soon spread to Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain and Syria.

In Egypt, then-President Hosni Mubarak wanted his son to take power when he retired. After the Egyptians saw that it was possible to get a dictator out, they began protesting. After weeks of protest, Mubarak resigned.

In Libya, the protests against President Muammar el Gaddafi have been so intense that protestors were massacred. After that, a group in Benghazi began killing soldiers and eventually a civil war broke out. Gaddafi is not interested in giving up his power. Because of this, NATO has launched airstrikes against Gaddafi’s heavy weapons. This means that the conflict in Libya could be the start of a long-term war.

In Syria, President Bashar al Assad tries to make new laws, but many people want him to leave.

Even if there are differences in these countries, there is one main message: these countries don’t have democracy. Most of the rulers have been in power for decades so the people haven’t ever voted in real elections. It will be hard to force the rulers to leave, but even after they leave, there will be questions.

Who will take power? Will the new rulers be faced with protests also? Will the new rulers be democratic or will they be Islamic? The situation in the Middle East leaves a great deal of uncertainty.