ex Ponto

Adib Abdulmajid: After decades of dictatorship and tyranny, the Middle East is witnessing a renaissance lead by an increasing number of pro-democracy movements. The details might differ between countries, but the goals are the same across the region: freedom, democracy and a better life.

Democracy is an unfamiliar concept for the new generations in the Middle East. After living under the umbrella of tradition and social restrictions -- in addition to political suppression – exhaustion eventually found its way into some Middle Eastern societies, leading to the revolutionary movements calling for freedom.

Tunisia
After the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi on December 17 2010, an intensive campaign of civil resistance began in Tunisia. A series of street demonstrations took place, precipitated by high unemployment, corruption, poor living conditions and a lack of free speech. Scores of people were killed or injured during Tunisia's popular revolution because of the inhumane actions of the police and security forces.

In his last official speech after 23 years in power, Tunisian president Zine El Abdine Ben Ali stated that there would be "no life-long presidency." The ensuing protests led to his ouster 28 days later on January 14 2011, when he officially resigned after fleeing to Saudi Arabia.

Egypt
The Tunisian protests inspired similar movements throughout the Arab world; the Egyptian revolution against the rule of Hosni Mubarak began as a campaign of non-violent civil resistance through marches, labor strikes, a series of demonstrations and acts of civil disobedience.

The state of emergency laws, police brutality, lack of free elections, uncontrollable corruption and economic issues were persuasive reasons for millions of Egyptian protestors from a range of socio-economic and religious backgrounds to demand the overthrow of Mubarak's regime.

Despite being peaceful in nature, the Egyptian revolution left hundreds of people dead and thousands injured following violent clashes between security forces and protesters.

As pressure grew on his regime, Mubarak, whose rule lasted for three decades, declared in his last speech that he wasn't intending to run for re-election.

On February 11 2011, following weeks of popular protests and pressure, Mubarak's resignation was announced, ending three decades of dictatorship. The pro-democracy Egyptians who participated in the revolution against the regime and called for freedom, justice and a responsive non-military government, were victorious.

Libya
The North African state of Libya was no exception to the anti-tyranny movements sweeping the region, given its geographical location between the revolutionary nations of Tunisia and Egypt.
On February 15 2011, protests against the dictatorship of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who ruled Libya for more than four decades, started to take place on Libyan streets. They soon turned into a full-fledged armed conflict after security forces fired on crowds of protesters.

The movement escalated into a rebellion that spread across the country, with forces loyal to Gaddafi pitted against those seeking to oust his government. Addressing the pro-democracy activists and rebels who were calling for him to step down, Gaddafi stated, "If I were an official president, I would throw my resignation letter in your faces. I'm a rebel myself, and I will never give up."

The intervention of the United Nations Security Council played a significant role in weakening the rule of Gaddafi and the Libyan National Transitional Council was established with the goal of achieving democratic change in line with the aspirations of the Libyan people.

After eight months of fighting and tension, during which tens of thousands of Libyans became victims of the bloody clashes, Gaddafi was captured and killed on October 20 by Libyan rebels as he tried to escape from the city of Sirte. The National Transitional Council then declared the liberation of Libya.

Syria
Over four decades, persecution and repression were rife in Syria. The ruling family of Bashar al-Assad twisted the concept of a republic and turned it into one of private property; tyranny reached its highest levels, and corruption began eating away at Syria's institutions. Activists and opposition figures were detained and subject to all kinds of inhumane acts. Syrian citizens couldn't even dream of free speech.

On March 15 2011, Syrians decided to end their suffering; a peaceful revolution was declared against Assad's regime. The sacrifices that the Syrian people are still making every day in their ongoing push against dictatorship have been described as "unprecedented."

Protesters' demands include President Assad's resignation and a power sharing agreement between the Baath Party and other polical parties. They are also asking for equal rights for Kurdish citizens and broad political freedoms for everyone, including freedom of the press and freedom of speech.

As expected, the Syrian authorities hit back against the peaceful movement with an iron fist; consequently, thousands of Syrians have been killed and tens of thousands detained and tortured. Yet the regime's brutal crackdown to try to end the crisis has been in vain because the will of the people is the only permanent reality.

Threat of instability
Dictators survive by creating divisions in the societies they rule -- by using the fear of a civil war among minority groups as a trump card and by claiming their rule to be necessary to maintain peace.

Assad's regime repeatedly brings up the possibility of civil war in Syria in an attempt to threaten Syrians and the international community with the prospect of total instability in the country should the regime step down.

Syrian society, which includes many ethnic and religious groups, has shown over the months of the revolution a remarkable national spirit of unity. Through the pain of participation and the sighs of freedom, all the false divisions that the regime has built up over the decades have vanished.

The Syrians have sent a clear message to the world that the only threat for Syria is the current tyrannical regime and that a new Syria will be born in the post-Assad era -- an equal state for Arabs, Kurds, Christians and Muslims; a country of fairness, pluralism and democracy.

One of the main concerns of the international community regarding the changes and developments in the Middle East are the unachieved goals of the so-called pro-democracy movements.

The first step toward a real democracy is to oust dictators and tyrants; thus, instability is an inevitable destiny, as are the other difficulties so many Middle Eastern societies face in eradicating the influences that remain after decades of persecution and oppression.

Only then will the stories of the liberation movements in the Middle East be mentioned and detailed in the books of future generations, to praise and appreciate the courage and sacrifice of their fathers and forefathers.