1989 Jordanian protests

The 1989 Jordanian protests (Arabic: هبة نيسان, April boon) started in Ma'an on 18 April after the government cut food subsidies, increasing food price. Demonstrations and riots quickly reached neighboring southern towns. Protestors accused the government of rampant corruption, and demanded that the prime minister Zaid Al-Rifai lose his job; martial law be lifted; the electoral laws be reformed; and restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of the press be removed.

1989 Jordanian protests
Date18 April 1989 – 30 May 1989
Caused by
Goals
Methods
  • Demonstrations
  • Riots
Status
  • King Hussein dismisses prime minister Zaid Al-Rifai and appoints Zaid ibn Shaker to form a government
  • Parliamentary elections held for the first time in 22 years (since 1967)
  • Royal commission established in April 1990 for drafting the National Charter
Parties
Tribal towns
Muslim Brotherhood
Jordanian Government
Lead figures

Tribal leaders
Muslim Brotherhood figures

King Hussein
Zaid Al-Rifai

Number
4,000
Unknown
Casualties and losses
6 dead
42 injured
2 dead
47 injured

The Jordanian economy was suffering a recession during that time after Jordan disengaged from the West Bank in 1988. King Hussein responded to the protests by sacking Al-Rifai, lifting martial law that had been in place since 1957, and resuming parliamentary elections that had been paused since 1967. The King also appointed a royal commission to draft the National Charter, a document with a timetable for reforms and democratization acts.

Jordan held parliamentary elections on 8 November 1989, the first in 22 years, and the National Charter was drafted in 1990. Some Arab countries, primarily Saudi Arabia, were apprehensive about Jordan's democratization.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.