Happy new year!
Happy new year!
عام سعيد! كل عام وأنتم بخير!
2011 is coming to its end, and in a few hours’ time, we will welcome a new year. I believe that 2011 has marked a turning point in the history of the Arab world, as it witnessed many revolutions in several Arab countries, one of which turned into a civil war in Libya. 2011 is indeed the year of the Arab spring with revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Libya, Bahrain and Syria. For the first time in decades, the Arab peoples decided to have their voices heard and to seize their right to democracy and freedom. The revolutions have been inspiring and refreshing to most people, however they have taken a heavy toll in each country. At the end of 2011, the revolution continues in Syria!
For more information about the Arab Spring, follow the links: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/mar/22/middle-east-protest-interactive-timeline
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Spring
2011 has also witnesses a change in the map of the Arab world. A new state was established in South Sudan. For more information about South Sudan, follow the link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Sudan
The Palestinian people submitted a request to join the United Nations as a full member state, and Palestine was granted full membership at UNESCO. For more information, follow the link:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/31/us-palestinians-unesco-idUSTRE79U1ZY20111031
2011 has seen the first democratic elections in Tunisia and Egypt with Islamic parties winning the majority of the Parliamentary seats in both countries.
2011 has indeed been a very eventful year for the Arab peoples, and it has changed the Arab world dramatically! I hope that 2012 brings stability, justice, peace and prosperity to all the Arab peoples and to the whole wide world.
