2011–12 in Vanuatuan football, National teams
The home team or the team that is designated as the home team is listed in the left column; the away team is


2011–12 in Welsh football
The 2011–12 season was the 137th season of competitive football in Wales.


2011–12 in Welsh football, Men's national team
The home team is on the left column; the away team is on the right column.


2011–12 in Welsh football, Men's national team, Euro 2012 qualification
The Welsh men's national team were drawn into UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group G.


2011–12 in Welsh football, Men's national team, Euro 2012 qualification
All fixtures for this group were negotiated between the participants at a meeting in Frankfurt, Germany on 21 and 22 February 2010.


2011–12 in Welsh football, Welsh League Cup
Final: Afan Lido 1-1 Newtown (Afan Lido won 3-2 on penalties)


2011–12 in skiing
This is the current revision of this page, as edited by NaBUru38 (talk | contribs) at 00:11, 8 January 2020. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this version.


2011–12 in skiing
From August 28, 2011 to March 18, 2012, the following skiing events took place at various locations around the world.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents
The Mexican organized crime groups often leave multiple bodies in public places as warnings to their rivals; these criminal groups have been fighting for the control of the drug corridors to the United States, the local drug markets in cities, extortion rackets, and human smuggling. Below are the recent massacres that have occurred in several parts of Mexico between Los Zetas and the Sinaloa Cartel, who fight to take over each other's territories. The killings are the latest "salvo in a gruesome game of tit-for-tat in fighting" among Mexican drug cartels.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Veracruz massacres
The recent eye for an eye fighting between Los Zetas and the Sinaloa cartel started in the fall in Veracruz, a strategic smuggling state with a giant gulf port. On 20 September 2011, two trucks containing 35 dead bodies were found at an underpass near a shopping mall in Boca del Río, Veracruz. All of the corpses were alleged to be members of Los Zetas, but it was later proven that only six of them had been involved in minor crime incidents, and none of them were involved with organized crime.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Veracruz massacres
Some of the victims had their hands tied and showed signs of having been tortured. According to El Universal, at around 17:00 hours an undetermined number of vehicles blocked a major avenue in Boca del Río. Once the traffic stopped, armed men abandoned two trucks in the middle of the highway. They opened the doors of the trucks and pulled out the thirty-five corpses, leaving a written message behind. Other gunmen pointed their weapons at the frightened drivers. The cartel members then fled the scene.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Veracruz massacres
The Blog del Narco reported on 21 September 2011 that the message was supposedly signed by Gente Nueva, an enforcer group that works for Joaquín Guzmán Loera, the top boss of the Sinaloa cartel. Nonetheless, on 27 September 2011, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel released a video claiming they had carried out these attacks against Los Zetas, and that they were planning to take over Veracruz.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Veracruz massacres
On 6 October 2011 in Boca del Río, Veracruz, 36 bodies were found by the Mexican authorities in three different houses. The Mexican Navy first discovered 20 bodies inside a house in a residential neighborhood. While searching at another house they found 11 more bodies. The third and final house contained one body. Four other bodies were confirmed separately by the state government of Veracruz. A day later, Reynaldo Escobar Pérez, the State Justice Attorney General, stepped down and resigned due to the drug-violence. And a day after his resignation, 10 more bodies were found throughout the city of Veracruz. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel was also responsible for 67 killings in Veracruz on 7 October 2011.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Veracruz massacres
On 11 June 2012 in the municipality of Álamo, Veracruz, 14 dismembered bodies were abandoned inside a Nissan truck on a highway near the border with Tamaulipas. Alerted by an anonymous call, the bodies were found on 8:00 p.m. on June 11, but the authorities finished picking them up at around 7:00 a.m. the next day. Security measures increased in the area after the gruesome discovery.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Sinaloa massacres
As a response for the killings in Veracruz, Los Zetas carried out an incursion to the state of Sinaloa on 23 November 2011 and left 26 bodies — 16 of them burned to death — in several abandoned vehicles in Sinaloa. The incident began at early hours of the morning in Culiacán, Sinaloa with the discovery of a vehicle on fire. When the police forces managed to put down the flames, they found inside the vehicle a dozen of bodies burned to death, and with wood remains on top of them. All of the victims were handcuffed.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Sinaloa massacres
Later on at 07:00 hours, anonymous calls from civilians notified the police that another vehicle in the northern city limits of Culiacán was on fire. The vehicle on fire was a Ford Ranger, and inside were four bodies with bulletproof vests and handcuffed. During the night, 10 more bodies were found throughout several different municipalities.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Sinaloa massacres
Again in the state of Sinaloa on 5 June 2012, the bodies of 7 men were dumped on a street in Culiacán inside thirteen plastic bags. Initially, the Mexican authorities believed that the victims were police officers because they were wearing similar clothing to those of a special operations unit. Nonetheless, they concluded that the uniforms were not from any police agency. A message was left behind by the killers, blaming the Mexican authorities of cooperating with the Sinaloa cartel's drug boss, Joaquín Guzmán Loera, nicknamed El Chapo.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Sinaloa massacres
The banner accused President Felipe Calderón and the state authorities for protecting the Sinaloa Cartel. Claims like this are not new to the city of Culiacán; back in 2010 and 2011, banners were put up claiming the state government and police forces protected the Sinaloa cartel. Nonetheless, none of the previous cases involved leaving dead bodies along with the messages, which suggest that the killers are looking to attract more attention of a possible cartel-government collusion.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Jalisco massacres, 2011 Guadalajara massacre
As a response for the Sinaloa cartel incursions, Los Zetas carried out a massacre as a response for the killings done by the Matazetas against them in the state of Veracruz. On 24 November 2011, three trucks containing 26 bodies were found in an avenue at Guadalajara, Jalisco. All of them were male corpses. At around 7:00 pm, the police station in Guadalajara received numerous anonymous calls from civilians reporting that "several vehicles with more than 10 bodies had been abandoned" in a major avenue.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Jalisco massacres, 2011 Guadalajara massacre
Upon the arrival of the police forces, they found a green Dodge Caravan in the middle lane of the highway, along with a Nissan Caravan just 66 feet (20 meters) away; on the farthest right lane was a white Van. Reports mention that Los Zetas and the Milenio Cartel are responsible for the massacre of these twenty-six alleged Sinaloa Cartel members.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Jalisco massacres, 2012 Chapala massacre
As a response for the 2012 Nuevo Laredo massacres, Los Zetas responded with another massacre of its own. They left the chopped-up remains of 18 bodies inside a Toyota Sienna and Ford EcoSport near the  U.S. retiree communities in Chapala, Jalisco, just south of the city of Guadalajara. Eighteen heads were found along the dismembered bodies; some had been frozen, others were covered in lime, and the rest were found in an advance state of decomposition.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Jalisco massacres, 2012 Chapala massacre
An anonymous call alerted the police to the abandoned vehicles, which were found by the side of a highway early in the morning on 9 May 2012. They were consequently towed to government offices to unload the bodies. The Mexican authorities confirmed that a message was left behind by the killers, presumably from Los Zetas and the Milenio Cartel.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Tamaulipas massacres, 2011 San Fernando massacre
The 2011 San Fernando massacre was the mass murder of 193 people by Los Zetas drug cartel at La Joya ranch in the municipality of San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Authorities investigating the massacre reported numerous hijackings of passenger buses on Mexican Federal Highway 101 in San Fernando, and the kidnapped victims were later killed and buried in 47 clandestine mass graves. The investigations began immediately after several suitcases and baggage were unclaimed in Reynosa and Matamoros, Tamaulipas. On 6 April 2011, the Mexican authorities exhumed 59 corpses from eight mass graves; by 7 June 2011, and after a series of multiple excavations, 193 bodies were exhumed from the mass graves in San Fernando.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Tamaulipas massacres, 2012 Nuevo Laredo massacres
Dismembered remains of 14 men were found in several plastic bags inside a Chrysler Voyager in the border city of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas on 17 April 2012. All of those killed were between the ages of 30 and 35. Mexican officials stated that they found a "message signed by a criminal group," but they did not release the content of the note, nor if those killed were members of Los Zetas or of the Gulf Cartel.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Tamaulipas massacres, 2012 Nuevo Laredo massacres
CNNMéxico stated that the message left behind by the criminal group said that they were going to "clean up Nuevo Laredo" by killing Zeta members. The Monitor newspaper, however, said that a source outside law enforcement but with direct knowledge of the attacks stated the 14 bodies belonged to members of Los Zetas who had been killed by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, now a branch of the Sinaloa Cartel. Following the attacks, the Sinaloa cartel's kingpin, Joaquín Guzmán Loera—better known as El Chapo Guzmán—sent a message to Los Zetas that they will fight for the control of the Nuevo Laredo plaza.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Tamaulipas massacres, 2012 Nuevo Laredo massacres
23 bodies—14 of them decapitated and 9 of them hanged from a bridge—were discovered in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, in an escalation of brutal violence involving rival drug gangs on the U.S. border. In the first incident, at around 1:00 am on 4 May 2012, nine people were hanged from a bridge on the Mexican Federal Highway 85D with a message left behind by the killers. Horrified motorists encountered the blood-stained bodies of four women and five men hanging off a bridge.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Tamaulipas massacres, 2012 Nuevo Laredo massacres
The banner left behind reportedly stated that those killed were the perpetrators of the car bomb in the city on 24 April 2012. In addition, the 9 people who were hanged on the bridge were reportedly members of the Gulf Cartel who were killed by Los Zetas for "heating up" their turf. In the second incident, which occurred hours later, 14 decapitated bodies were abandoned inside a vehicle in front of the Customs Agency; the severed heads were left inside several ice coolers in front of the municipal palace.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Tamaulipas massacres, 2012 Nuevo Laredo massacres
The Mexican police said the second massacre could have been an act of revenge by the Gulf Cartel to Los Zetas for the earlier killings. Along with the decapitated bodies was a message allegedly signed by Joaquín Guzmán Loera, where he demanded the municipality mayor of Nuevo Laredo, Benjamín Galván, along with other municipal and state leaders and public safety officials to recognize the Sinaloa cartel's presence in the area and stop insisting he is not in the city.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Tamaulipas massacres, 2012 Ciudad Mante massacres
In the afternoon of 7 June 2012 just outside city hall of Ciudad Mante, Tamaulipas, 14 mutilated bodies were discovered inside a parked truck. Investigators stated that the bodies were of 11 men and 3 women. The bodies are accompanied by a banner taking credit for the killings. Although unconfirmed, according to the Proceso magazine, the banner was signed by the Sinaloa Cartel and directed to Los Zetas, an organized crime group that currently controls the drug trafficking corridor of Ciudad Mante.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Tamaulipas massacres, 2012 Ciudad Mante massacres
Milenio confirmed that the Gulf Cartel had killed the 14 people, allegedly members of Los Zetas, as retaliation for the grenade attacks they had carried out in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, the headquarters of the Gulf cartel. The Blog del Narco uploaded a  on their website from an anonymous cameraman who filmed the truck and the fourteen corpses.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Tamaulipas massacres, 2012 Ciudad Mante massacres
In response to the Gulf cartel attacks, Los Zetas responded in their kind, leaving 14 mutilated bodies inside an abandoned bus on a parking lot of a shopping center in Ciudad Mante. The bodies of ten men and four women, which were reported at around 9 a.m. on 23 June 2012, were left behind along with a banner directed to the Gulf cartel. Its message, however, was not revealed by the Mexican authorities. This gruesome discovery happened a day after several grenade attacks in the capital city of Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, where eight people were injured.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Tamaulipas massacres, 2012 Ciudad Mante massacres
Ciudad Mante is a sugar-cane growing community with a population of near 110,000 people, located just 250 miles south from Texas.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Nuevo León massacres, 2012 Apodaca prison riot
On 19 February 2012 at a prison in Apodaca, Nuevo León, Mexico, at least 44 people were killed, with another twelve injured. The Blog del Narco, a blog that documents events and people of the Mexican drug war anonymously, reported that the actual (unofficial) death toll may be more than 70 people. The fight was between Los Zetas and the Gulf Cartel, two drug cartels that operate in northeastern Mexico. The governor of Nuevo León, Rodrigo Medina, mentioned on 20 February 2012 that 30 inmates escaped from the prison during the riot.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Nuevo León massacres, 2012 Apodaca prison riot
Four days later, however, the new figures of the fugitives went down to 29. On 16 March 2012, the Attorney General's Office of Nuevo León confirmed that 37 prisoners had actually escaped on the day of the massacre. One of the fugitives, Óscar Manuel Bernal alias La Araña (The Spider), is considered by the Mexican authorities to be "extremely dangerous," and is believed to be the leader of Los Zetas in the municipality of Monterrey. Some other fugitives were also leaders in the organization.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Nuevo León massacres, 2012 Cadereyta Jiménez massacre
On 13 May 2012 on the Mexican Federal Highway 40 in the municipality of Cadereyta Jiménez, 49 people were decapitated and mutilated by members of Los Zetas drug cartel and dumped by a roadside near the city of Monterrey in northern Mexico. The bodies were found in the town of San Juan in the municipality of Cadereyta Jiménez, Nuevo León, at about 4 a.m. on a non-toll highway leading to Reynosa, Tamaulipas. The forty-three men and six women killed had their heads, feet, and hands cut off, making their identification difficult.


2011–12 in the Mexican drug war, Incidents, 2011–2012 Nuevo León massacres, 2012 Cadereyta Jiménez massacre
Those killed also bore signs of torture and were stuffed in plastic bags. Four days before this incident, 18 people were found decapitated and dismembered near Mexico's second largest city, Guadalajara. The discovery seems to echo several other mass murder events where the drug cartels have left large numbers of bodies in public places as warnings to their rivals. The authorities have blamed much of the violence on Los Zetas – a cartel originally set up by ex-commandos that deserted the Mexican Army in the 1990s – and the Sinaloa Cartel, an organization headed by Joaquín Guzmán Loera (a.k.a. El Chapo), Mexico's most-wanted drug lord.


2011–12 snooker season
The 2011–12 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played between 1 June 2011 and 7 May 2012. The Brazil Masters became the first professional event held in South America, and the Australian Goldfields Open the first ranking event in Australia. The World Cup was held again after 1996. At the end of the season Ronnie O'Sullivan was named the World Snooker Player of the Year and the Snooker Writers Player of the Year, Judd Trump the Fans Player of the Year and Luca Brecel the Rookie of the Year. Stuart Bingham received the "Performance of the Year" for winning his first ranking event, the Australian Goldfields Open. Stephen Hendry's maximum break at the World Championship received "The Magic Moment" award. Walter Donaldson, Mark Williams, John Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan were inducted into the Hall of Fame.


2011–12 snooker season, New professional players
Note: new in this case means that these players were not on the 2010/2011 professional Main Tour.


2011–12 snooker season, Calendar
The following table outlines the results and dates for all the ranking and major invitational events.


2011–12 synchronized skating season
The 2011–12 synchronized skating season began on July 1, 2011, and ended on June 30, 2012. During this season, which was concurrent with the season for the other four disciplines (men's single, ladies' single, pair skating and ice dancing), elite synchronized skating teams competed on the International Skating Union (ISU) Championship level at the 2012 Senior World Championships and Junior World Challenge Cup. They also competed at various other international as well as national synchronized skating competitions.


2011–12 Újpest FC season
The 2011–12 season will be Újpest FC's 106th competitive season, 100th consecutive season in the OTP Bank Liga and 126th year in existence as a football club.


2011–12 Újpest FC season, First team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2011–12 Újpest FC season, Transfers, Summer
In:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2011–12 Újpest FC season, Transfers, Summer
Out:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2011–12 Újpest FC season, Transfers, Winter
In:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2011–12 Újpest FC season, Transfers, Winter
Out:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2011–12 Újpest FC season, Statistics, Top scorers
Includes all competitive matches. The list is sorted by shirt number when total goals are equal.


2011–12 Újpest FC season, Statistics, Disciplinary record
Includes all competitive matches. Players with 1 card or more included only.


2011–2012 El Hierro eruption
The 2011–2012 El Hierro eruption occurred just off the island of El Hierro, the smallest and farthest south and west of the Canary Islands (an Autonomous Community of Spain), in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. The island is also the youngest in the volcanic chain. The October 2011 – March 2012 eruption was underwater, with a fissure of vents located approximately 2 km to the south of the fishing village of La Restinga on the southern coast of the island. Increased seismicity in June 2012 to the north-west of the vent did not result in another phase of eruptive activity. Until the 2021 La Palma eruption, which started on 19 September 2021, this was the last volcanic eruption in Spain.


2011–2012 El Hierro eruption, Earthquakes
Beginning on 17 July 2011, increased seismic activity was detected by the Instituto Vulcanológico de Canarias (Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands) and National Geographic Institute's seismic monitoring station located in Valverde. The seismic monitoring network was increased in density on 21 July to allow better detection and location of the seismic events. There was an earthquake swarm with in excess of 400 minor tremors between 20 July and 24 July; by 27 July a further 320 earthquakes had been recorded.


2011–2012 El Hierro eruption, Earthquakes
On 25 August there were reports that some horizontal deformation had been detected, but that there was no unusual vertical deformation. At that time, the total number of tremors had exceeded 4000. By the end of September, the tremors had increased in frequency and intensity, with experts fearing landslides affecting the town of La Frontera, and also a small possibility of a volcanic eruption through a new vent. In late September emergency services evacuated several families in the areas at most risk, and made plans to evacuate the island if necessary.


2011–2012 El Hierro eruption, Submarine eruption: October 2011 – March 2012
Between 4.15 and 4.20 am on 10 October 2011 the earthquake swarm changed behaviour and produced a harmonic tremor. Harmonic tremors are produced by magma movements and can indicate that an eruption has begun. That same day, patches of pale-coloured and sulphurous smelling water with dead fish were seen off the coast of La Restinga. A small submarine eruption had begun, 2 km south of La Restinga. Eruption 'jacuzzis', occasionally reaching 10–15 m high above the surface of the water, were seen during the most energetic eruptive episodes.


2011–2012 El Hierro eruption, Submarine eruption: October 2011 – March 2012
In early November the 600 residents of La Restinga were evacuated for the second time. A confirmed surtseyan type of eruption phase started at the fissure on 7 November 2011. On 25 November 2011 the eruption was ongoing with vigorous phreatic bubbles emerging.


2011–2012 El Hierro eruption, Submarine eruption: October 2011 – March 2012
Several separate plumes of material, aligned N-S, were visible from the air, showing that the eruption was of a fissure type.


2011–2012 El Hierro eruption, Submarine eruption: October 2011 – March 2012
The main volcano on the island, Tanganasoga, underwent rapid inflation and increased carbon dioxide gas emissions, which were a cause for concern. On 24 November there were various reports of a sulphurous smell in the El Golfo area of the island.


2011–2012 El Hierro eruption, Submarine eruption: October 2011 – March 2012
On 27 November the coast guard vessel Salvamar Adhara collected some pumice clasts, colloquially nicknamed 'floating lava bombs' or 'lava balloons', some of many that had been ejected by the underwater eruption and floated to the surface of the sea before sinking again.


2011–2012 El Hierro eruption, Submarine eruption: October 2011 – March 2012
In the following days, three scientific and seismic survey vessels studied the area: Sarmiento da Gamboa (bathymetry, gravity and mapping seismic profiles), Ramon Margalef (multibeam bathymetric survey, sediment sampling and the acquisition of echograms of the water column) and Cornide de Saavedra (physical and chemical evolution of the volcano stain).


2011–2012 El Hierro eruption, Submarine eruption: October 2011 – March 2012
The depth of the volcano beneath the surface of the water was estimated at 60 metres in early December; after detailed bathymetric surveys the highest point was placed at between 150m and 180m below the sea surface. By late February 2012 the depth of the highest point was 100m below sea level.


2011–2012 El Hierro eruption, Submarine eruption: October 2011 – March 2012
On 21 December 2011 it was suggested that the eruption was subsiding, as the harmonic tremors and earthquakes are decreasing in frequency; however, in early January 2012 the earthquakes were increasing in frequency and the area of the eruption appeared to be increasing, with a wider area of sea producing the steaming pumice clasts, steam and general "jacuzzi" activity. By late February 2012 a decrease in seismicity, deformation and gas release was noted. In early March the authorities on El Hierro declared the eruption to be over; this was questioned by some vulcanologists. The webcams were taken down. In mid-April 2012 the top of the cone was measured at 86 metres below the surface of the sea. Passive degassing of the underwater vent continued during 2012.


2011–2012 El Hierro eruption, Submarine eruption: October 2011 – March 2012
Climatic impacts of the October 2011 to March 2012 El Hierro submarine volcanic eruption was reported by Yim (2013).


2011–2012 El Hierro eruption, June 2012 activity
Between 2 and 4 June 2012 seismic activity on the island again picked up, with small earthquake swarms indicating deep-seated magma movement below the island. A period of quiet followed, with another period of earthquake swarms starting on 14 June. Plotting of the earthquake epicentres showed that the magma was moving southwestwards across the central part of the island and under the area of the sea near the El Julan – La Dehesa area of the island i.e. to the northwest of the submarine vent of 2011–2012. Deformation of the island continued at a faster rate than that observed prior to the October 2011 eruption. Sensors measured that inflation of 4 cm height had taken place in the three days up to 27 June - a very fast rate of deformation.


2011–2012 El Hierro eruption, Source of the magma
For the October 2011–March 2012 eruption, and the two phases of subsequent earthquake activity, plotting has shown that in all cases the magma rose under the area of Tanganasoga. In the eruption it worked south-eastwards to near La Restinga; in the February upsurge in activity followed the same path. Modelling of ground deformation measured with radar interferometry confirmed two shallow magma reservoirs, consistent with the migration of earthquakes epicenters. The June 2012 earthquake activity had the magma moving to the west of the island, and the current (mid September) earthquake activity has shown that the magma moving south from Tanganasoga.


2011–2012 El Hierro eruption, Naming of the volcano
In 2016, the underwater volcano was officially named Tagoro. The word comes from the Guanche language and means 'circular enclosure made of stones' or 'meeting place'. The name was suggested by the Instituto Español de Oceanografía (Spanish Oceanography Institute) to the Instituto Hidrográfico de la Marina (Navy Hydrography Institute), which is in charge of the naming of such geographical features.


2011–2012 Iranian protests
The 2011–2012 protests in Iran were a series of demonstrations in Iran which began on 14 February 2011, called "The Day of Rage". The protests followed the 2009–2010 Iranian election protests and were influenced by other concurrent protests in the region.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Background
Following the highly controversial 2009 Iranian presidential elections, massive protests erupted across Iran. The Iranian government suppressed the protests and stopped the mass demonstrations in 2009, with only very minor flare-ups in 2010. However, not many of the protesters' demands were met.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Background
Then, the Arab Spring spread across the West Asia and North Africa. After the ousting of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia on 14 January 2011, millions of people began demonstrating across the region in a broad movement aimed at various issues such as their standards of living or influencing significant reforms, with varying degrees of success. With the successful ousting of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on 11 February 2011 following that of President Ben Ali of Tunisia, renewed protests began in Iran.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests
On 27 January, the opposition Green Movement of Iran announced a series of protests against the Iranian government scheduled to take place prior to the "Revolution Day" march on 11 February.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests
On 9 February, various opposition groups in Iran sent a letter to the Ministry of Interior requesting permission to protest under the control of the Iranian police. Permission was refused by the relevant government officials. Despite these setbacks and crackdowns on activists and members of opposition parties, opposition leaders such as Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi called for protests. According to BBC, supporters of the opposition argued that Ahmadinejad’s re-election as president in June 2009, was rigged.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 14 February
This date was chosen for protests to coincide with 25 Bahman, the 11th month of the Persian calendar, and was publicized as "The Day of Rage". The day before the protests were due to begin, opposition leaders Mousavi and Karroubi were placed under house arrest and denied access to telephones and the Internet. Their homes were blockaded and they were not allowed visitors. On 14 February 2011, thousands of protesters began to gather in a solidarity rally with Egypt and Tunisia. There was a large number of police on the streets to keep an eye on the protesters, but thousands were still able to gather together in Tehran's Azadi Square.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 14 February
The solidarity protests turned into an anti-government demonstration during which the police fired tear gas and paintballs at protesters. To protect themselves, protesters responded by setting fires in garbage bins. Video footage showed one civilian being violently beaten by a group of protesters. Two protesters were killed in Tehran, both university students. Sane Jaleh during the protest, and Mohammad Mokhtari the next day from his wounds. According to reporter Farnaz Fassihi, Jaleh and Mokhtari were both shot by men on motorcycles who their friends identified as Basij members.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 14 February
Protests were also reported in the cities of Isfahan and Shiraz, which police forcibly dispersed, as well as in Rasht, Mashhad, and Kermanshah.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 14 February
The protests that occurred on this day marked a setback for the government of Iran, as the regime has campaigned that Mousavi's Green Movement had lost momentum, but the revived uprisings helps prove otherwise.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 14 February
According to some reports, 1,500 Hezbollah fighters assisted in the suppression of the protests in Azadi Square. Following the initial protests, Hezbollah fighters allegedly continued to participate, assisting local forces in suppressing protests.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 15–16 February
Protests on 15 February were not as intense as the day before. On 16 February, there were sporadic clashes between protesters and pro-government forces. Karroubi and Mousavi responded to calls for their execution by saying they are willing to die for change.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 15–16 February
Thousands of pro-government supporters turned up in Tehran for several state sponsored rallies on 16 February.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 17–19 February
On 17 February, it was reported that opposition leader Mousavi had been missing since Tuesday, 15 February. Mousavi's daughters stated that they had had no contact with their father for over two days after security forces had put him under house arrest. His daughters feared that both Mousavi and their mother "had been detained". Mousavi's website stated that the "normal" guards that had been surrounding his home during his house arrest over the past week had been replaced with "masked security forces". Karroubi reported that one of his son's homes had been raided in an attempt to arrest his eldest son, but he was not in the building at the time.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 17–19 February
On 18 February, thousands of pro-government supporters called for the execution of opposition leaders after Friday prayers. Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said that the opposition leaders had lost their reputation and are as good as "dead and executed." He said there should be more restrictions on Mousavi and Karroubi. "Their communications with people should be completely cut. They should not be able to receive or send messages. Their phone lines and Internet should be cut. They should be prisoners in their homes."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 17–19 February
On 19 February, the Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar stated that the protests set for Sunday, 20 February, will "be confronted as per the law".


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 20 February
Protests were also planned for 20 February, to mark a week since the deaths of those killed in the 14 February protests.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 20 February
The Fars News Agency released a report in the morning warning that "armed opposition groups plan to shoot at people in [the] protest rally set for Sunday afternoon." The agency claimed that this group was Mujahideen-e Khalq, an Iraq-based Iranian opposition group, which had entered the country for the sole purpose of attacking the protesters.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 20 February
Protesters began gathering in the tens of thousands throughout Iran and especially in Tehran. The protesters were seen occupying government buildings, such as the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting building. However, extremely large numbers of police and plainclothes Basij militia were stationed throughout the city, even outnumbering the protesters in some of the city squares. Tear gas was fired and witnesses reported that security forces fired into protests and beat demonstrators with steel batons. In one neighborhood, Basij members reportedly took over a commercial building and dropped tear gas canisters from the roof onto protesters. Eyewitnesses reported that two protesters were killed by Basij paramilitaries, one each in the Vanak and Vali Asr squares. Police arrested a number of protesters and were seen stopping people on the streets and frisking them, along with removing people from vehicles.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 20 February
The daughter of former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Faezeh Hashemi, was arrested for taking part in a banned rally. Shortly afterward, she was reportedly released. The Fars News Agency reported that she had been released after claiming that she was out shopping.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 20 February
There were also reports of other protester demonstrations going on in other major cities across Iran. However, coverage by journalists was thin because the Ministry of Intelligence and National Security had "sent a letter to foreign media offices in Tehran warning them that their bureaus would be shut down and their reporters deported if they wrote 'negative articles' surrounding the opposition protests." While the protests were taking place, the IRNA news agency released television reports saying that things were "completely quiet and normal." Furthermore, the Fars News Agency had released reports to the public saying that the 20 February protests would be especially violent, because the "opposition plans to shoot people."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 20 February
It was later reported by witnesses that demonstrations did take place in Isfahan and Shiraz, most of which were dispersed after being attacked by police and Basij militia. Five protesters were reportedly injured in Shiraz.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 21 February
A statement released by the "Green Wave" movement in France said that the first secretary and vice consul at the consulate in Milan, Ahmed Maleki, a nephew to opposition leader Ayatollah Medhi Karroubi, had defected to the side of the opposition movement, and applied for political asylum in France where the rest of his immediate family were already residing.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 24 February
A statement was released by opposition websites and opposition leader Mousavi calling for "nationwide street protests every Tuesday for the next three weeks as a way to increase pressure on the government", which would have protests occurring on 1, 8, and 15 March. Dubbed the "Tuesdays of Protest," they were decided upon in order to keep the "momentum" of the protests going and to call for the protesters to move onto other types of resistance, such as "sit-ins, strikes, boycotts and civil resistance." The opposition has also stated that these new protests were called for in order to end the house arrests of the opposition leaders, Mousavi and Karroubi.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 25 February
A video depicting opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi was released early 25 February on the news website Sahamnews.org. It had been recorded by Karroubi before he had been placed under house arrest on 13 February. It called for the protesters to remain determined, saying, "We must remain determined on the road of our convictions, and I am certain we will succeed... We are committed to the pact we made with the people, to establish the power of the people and Islam based on elections. And on this road, no trouble, no difficulty is too hard to bear." The video itself was snuck out of his home by his wife in order to get it to the local media.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 26 February
It was reported that opposition leaders Mousavi and Karroubi, along with their wives, had been "placed in a safe house for their own welfare, but they have not been arrested", according to officials in the Iranian government. This was stated to be for their own protection, as the protesters were "looking for martyrs". The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran expressed its concern for these changes, since a safe house is "considered a place for the secret detention of high security-value detainees, which is not under the control of the judiciary or any other monitoring mechanisms." They have been reportedly used in the past by the Iranian government as places where confessions are obtained from detainees through "methods and techniques."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 28 February
The statement that opposition leaders Mousavi and Karroubi had been moved to a safe house was put at odds with a statement released by a member of the Iranian judiciary, who stated that, "The two are currently in their homes and there have only been restrictions on their contacts."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 1 March
According to the families of opposition leaders Karroubi and Mousavi, and the website Kaleme (which is connected to the leaders), Karroubi and Mousavi and their wives have been arrested and are being held in Heshmatiyeh Prison. Officials of the Iranian government have denied it. An advisor to opposition leader Mousavi, Ardeshir Amir-Arjomand, said in response to this charge that Mousavi and Karroubi "have become hostages in the hands of the Iranian government. It is surprising that two prominent political figures have disappeared and no government official takes responsibility."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 1 March
The opposition movement called for a protest for 1 March, which is the first in a series of protests dubbed the "Tuesdays of Protest". As in the other protests, security forces deploying tear gas and other weapons were out in significant numbers and clashed with protesters. According to opposition sources, over 200 protesters were arrested in Tehran by security services and plain clothes and another 40 in Isfahan. According to the BBC news, one of the arrested was Fakhrosadar Mohtashami, the wife of former minister Mostafa Tajzadeh, who (according to a relative or hers) is being kept in Evin Prison and "has not been allowed contact with her family for the time being."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 1 March
According to RFERL, a "number of prominent Iranian activists" have appealed to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urging him "to use all 'international levers' at his disposal" to ensure the welfare of Musavi and Karrubi and "seek their release from detention." Amnesty International has issued a document of "Urgent Action" to their members asking them to write to Iranian authorities and appeal to them to "immediately disclose the whereabouts of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi, Zahra Rahnavard and Fatemeh Karroubi."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 1 March
The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, stated that the situation with Mousavi and Karroubi was a "domestic issue" and that "the news related to some people [Karroubi and Mousavi] will be looked into by judiciary officials and within the legal frameworks. This issue cannot be used as a pretext by America and some other western countries ... to try to divert everyone's attention to unreal issues." Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i, spokesperson for the Iranian judiciary. also released a statement saying, "The news released by some hostile media regarding the transfer of Mr Moussavi and Mr Karroubi to Heshmatieh detention centre is not correct."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 3 March
During President Ahmadinejad's trip to Lorestan province, which is in the west of the country, he blamed foreign powers for triggering unrest in Iran.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 5 March
Opposition website Kaleme posted an announcement by the Green Coordination Council of the Green Path of Hope that called for a protest set for 8 March, which is International Women's Day. The protest is to be focused on "demanding more gender equality in the Islamic Republic and to protest the 'incarceration' of opposition leaders Mir Houssein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi and their wives."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 5 March
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi also made a similar announcement, calling for support for an 8 March protest, saying, "On this day, shoulder to shoulder with our brothers, we will come to the streets to support the popular and broad democratic demands, because achieving 'equal rights' is possible only if voiced in a democratic system. But, we must not allow anyone to disregard our demands under the auspices of preventing crisis or avoiding divisiveness."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 5 March
She also commented on the change of dress for Iranian women that had become law at the beginning of the Iranian government, stating, "Thirty-two years ago on 8 March, International Women's Day, a statement broadcast on national television, stripped women employed by the government of one of their most basic rights – the freedom to choose their own dress...Iranian women are not starved for political power nor are they demanding decadence. They are simply weary of enduring more cruelty and disparagement. They are in search of justice and equality."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 6 March
The official website of opposition leader Karroubi released a statement saying that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been directly involved in the "abduction of Karroubi and his wife, Fatemeh", having given the orders to the soldiers under his command to do so. The statement also said that Vahid Haghanian, the administrative advisor to Khamenei, had personally led the "security forces which raided Karroubi's house in north Tehran and confiscated his belongings."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 8 March
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the former fourth Iranian president and prominent critic of the current Iranian government, was ousted as head of the Assembly of Experts, a body of clerics that chooses Iran's Supreme Leader. His departure from the Assembly came about after a lengthy period of opposition towards him among the conservatives of the Assembly after his support for the 2009 election protests. He had been running for reelection as head of the assembly, against Mahdavi Kani, but withdrew himself upon leaving the assembly. During his last speech at the Assembly, he stated, "I would like to devote my time to writing my memoirs and not run for any more public office."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 8 March
Rafsanjani's resignation from the Assembly caused concern among the opposition protesters, as they had been hoping that he would "help influence Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to moderate his support for Mr. Ahmadinejad". Analysts have stated that his resignation now allows the Assembly to choose a new supreme leader that will be more conservative than would otherwise have been possible.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 8 March
A report was released by Tehran Bureau's staff reporter Hamid Farokhnia who has been covering events in Tehran. He stated that in preparation for the protests planned for International Women's Day on 8 March, various groups that have been leading the opposition, such as The Green Path of Hope, the Mourning Mothers and other groups, made announcements telling their followers to protest in multiple locations across Tehran. The purpose of this, according to Farokhnia, was to thin out the security presence at any one area, as this separation of protesters would require the Iranian police and the Basij to cover all possible places of protest in the city.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 8 March
One of the methods that the Basij used to counteract this was to obtain more members, having new members "as young as 14" joining. Also, perhaps in order to show some sense of equality in light of International Women's Day, according to Farokhnia, the police also had groups of "female stormtroopers" working with the police and Basij, which he described as "fierce-looking chador-clad warriors".


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 8 March
Farokhnia went on to say that the Mourning Mothers told their followers to gather in protest at the usual place, "Laleh Park west of Vali Asr". In contrast, the Green Path of Hope assigned "four or five strategic locales in the city to its followers." This resulted in confusion for both the police forces and for the protesters, who eventually gave up on gathering in one of the places given and instead returned to the "old routine of walking quietly on the sidewalks of Enghelab Avenue."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 8 March
Because of the approach of the Persian New Year, Farokhnia stated, there was a high number of shoppers that ended up mingling with the protesters, creating confusion on which people were the protesters. Farokhnia explained the scenario as having "made for unnerving moments of tension but also rare instances of congeniality: protesters offering cookies to the special units of NAJA (the state police) and some young Basijis smiling approvingly at the brave protesters, proving for the umpteenth time that no matter how foul a political ideology, most Iranians in their hearts are revolted by violence and fanaticism."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 11 March
Jay Deshmukh, the Agence France-Presse deputy bureau chief in Tehran, was expelled from the country and "stripped of his press card along with 10 other correspondents." In response, Agence France-Presse "lodged an official protest with the Iranian authorities, in Tehran and Paris." The spokesman of the French foreign ministry, Bernard Valero, also released a statement saying: "This pitiful decision by the Iranian authorities reflects a new deterioration in the working conditions of journalists in Iran. We have expressed to the Iranian ambassador our concern and incomprehension at this new infringement of press freedom which will not be without consequences."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 13 March
The children of opposition leaders Mousavi and Karroubi released a statement through Mousavi's website Kaleme stating that on 8 March, they had been allowed to visit their parents. It was revealed that the two opposition leaders were being held in separate houses that were in the same neighborhood as Mousavi's home. Mousavi had told them that during an earlier raid on his home by police forces "various documents pertaining to the period of [his] years as prime minister, and a series of CDs containing years of work and research by Zahra Rahnavard were confiscated". Their children had been warned after their visit not to discuss it with anyone; but, after a few days of consideration, they decided to publish the information.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 13 March
It was reported by Radio Farda in interviews with student activists in Iran that, since the start of the protests, "16–18 students of [Tehran] university have been detained." However, the students also noted that the number of student activists arrested could be much higher, as families of arrested student activists have been "warned against publicizing their plights."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 16 March
Sajjad Rezaie, the head of the Islamic Association of Tehran University's art faculty, had spoken out previously about Sanee Zhaleh, stating that he had been "a member of Mir Hossein Musavi's presidential campaign team in the June 2009 election." In response, Rezaie was "suspended from his teaching duties pending a ruling by the university's disciplinary committee."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 19 March
One of opposition leader Karroubi's sons, who had been arrested three weeks prior during the beginning of the protests, was "released on bail," but still "remains under unofficial house arrest."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 19 March
Another of Karroubi's sons, Mohammad Taghi Karroubi, made an announcement in line with a previous statement from the daughters of opposition leader Mousavi, saying that he had been allowed to visit Karroubi, who is still under house arrest with his wife.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 20 March
Ebrahim Yazdi, leader of the Freedom Movement of Iran, was released from jail after having been arrested for being a prominent opposition leader during the 2009–2010 Iranian election protests. Upon his release, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported a "one-sentence statement from Yazdi saying he is resigning as leader of the Freedom Movement of Iran." The Freedom Movement organization itself is banned in Iran because it "opposes Iran's clerical rule and seeks democratic change." The center of Tehran was locked down after crowds of anti-regime demonstrators tried to gather there from across the city. The government denied the claim saying things were "peaceful" although the deputy police chief admitted that special forces had been deployed.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 22 March
Yasser Khomeini, a grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, made a comment saying that the house arrest of opposition leaders Mousavi and Karroubi was an "unacceptable measure." This statement was made while he was "visiting Mehdi Karrubi's son, Ali, who was recently released from prison on bail." He also reportedly said he "hopes that with the beginning of the Persian new year on 21 March, 'the rule of law would be established' in Iran and 'people, political activists, and leading figures of the Iranian Revolution would be treated with wisdom and prudence.'"


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 9 April
According to the Los Angeles Times, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad demoted his top advisor. It was also reported that his chief of staff was fired.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 15–18 April
According to the Saudi-owned pan-Arab news channel, Al Arabiya, there were protests by Iranian Arabs in the city of Ahvaz, capital of the Khuzestan province who were "demanding more rights and humanitarian benefits." Al Arabiya reports that when the protests began, the city was blockaded by Iranian security forces who "broke up demonstrations by force," and that "15 people from Ahwaz have been killed and dozens have been wounded."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 15–18 April
Lebanon-based journalist Roula Hajjar wrote on the Los Angeles Times's blog that the protests on 15 April had also occurred in the cities Abadan, Khorramshahr, Mahshahr, and Shadegan. She noted that the events had "largely escaped international attention primarily due to the efforts of Iranian officials." She also stated that the state news agencies in Iran had reported the killing of at least three people, "including one officer" by "armed insurgents."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 15–18 April
Human Rights Watch released a statement, saying that the Iranian government should allow international media into the area. Joe Stork, the Middle East director of HRW, stated, "Iran has made it impossible to confirm the scale of the deadly violence against protesters in Khuzestan province, making transparent and independent investigations into alleged killings and arrests there absolutely essential."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 15–18 April
According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and The Guardian, Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi sent "a letter to UN human rights chief Navi Pillay in which she describes a deadly crackdown by Iranian security forces last week on a peaceful protest in Khuzestan's capital, Ahvaz." The letter stated that "at least 12 people were killed" in the protests, "20 injured," and "dozens were arrested." Human rights activists told RFE/RL they have received reports that "there were more than 150 arrests, including a number of intellectuals, artists, and women's rights activists" and that "the rest of the activists were told to not speak to any media organization."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 30 April – 7 May
It has been reported Iranian media has censored all coverage on protests in the rest of North Africa and the Middle East, especially in Syria, possibly in an attempt to prevent more protests. It has also been reported that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been "boycotting" his duties, with some analysts predicting that the country could soon go unstable. Tensions between Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are said to have increased.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 30 April – 7 May
Ahmadinejad, having sidelined many of its powerful opponents (Notably Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mohammed Khatami), recently tried to shortcut Khamenei powers, most notably by firing Heidar Moslehi, the intelligence minister, a conservative ally to Khamenei, without Khamenei's agreement. Moslehi was later restored by Khamenei, while several close allies of the president, including Ahmadinejad's progressive chief of staff Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, have been arrested and accused of invoking djinns.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 4 August
The fraudulent digital certificate for *.google.com issued by DigiNotar is deployed in a large-scale Man-in-the-middle attack against the subjects of Iran.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 27–29 August
Man-in-the-middle attack detected first by Iranian subject, then in the Mozilla forums. On 29 August, the fraudulent digital certificate for *.google.com is finally revoked, but it takes weeks for all browser vendors to create and distribute a blacklist.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Protests, Timeline, 11 September
Reports that two more Gonabadi Dervishes have been arrested in Kovar in southeastern Iran.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, 2012 Protests, 7 February
The children of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi called for silent protests in Iran on 14 February, to mark the one year anniversary since their fathers were placed under house arrest.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, 2012 Protests, 10 February
The Coordination Council of the Green Path of Hope, as one of the leading organizers of opposition protests in Iran, called for the Iranian people to "express their protest of the country's autocratic rulers, but also any form of foreign intervention in Iran such as international sanctions and war". The Council went on to state that the Iranian government was a representation of neither Islam or a Republic.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, 2012 Protests, 11 February
Morteza Tamaddon, the governor of the Tehran Province, said in a meeting with the Young Journalists' Club that he and his security forces were "prepared to quell dissenters on Tuesday." He also stated that the protests in general were a "propaganda pose" in order to lessen attendance at the 11 February 1979 Revolution anniversary rally and the 2 March parliamentary election rally.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, 2012 Protests, 13 February
Chants of "Allah is Great" and "Death to the Dictator" were heard throughout many major Iranian cities.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, 2012 Protests, 14 February
Isolated protests were reported throughout Tehran, with a large number of security forces and police evident on the streets. In the week leading up to the protest, Internet access in Tehran had slowed and a "serious disruption in mobile services" was reported on the protest day.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Arrests
Ignacio Pérez-Cambra, the Consul of Spain in Iran, was arrested for a period of four hours during the early part of the day on 14 February. He was accused by Iranian police of going to one of the demonstrations. Spain later demanded an explanation or apology from the Iranian government about the arrest of Pérez-Cambra that included a "satisfactory response," threatening to call him home from Iran if one was not received. The foreign ministry already announced that it had "suspended an upcoming visit to Madrid by a senior Iranian diplomat."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Arrests
The UK also echoed its displeasure over the detainment of Cambra. Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Akbar Salehi, called the Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister, Trinidad Jiménez, on 17 February in order to apologize for the incident with Cambra, stating that those responsible for his arrest had been "unaware that they were violating the Vienna Convention," but that an investigation was underway nonetheless.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Arrests
Ghaneh Jaleh, the brother of one of the students who were killed, was arrested on 17 February, reportedly because he gave "a telephone interview to foreign media about his brother," specifically to Voice of America. During the interview, he told Voice of America that his brother, Saleh Jaleh, was not a member of the Basij, as was being claimed, but that the Basij membership card had been faked by the government. He explained that, on 15 February, his cousin had taken a photo of Saleh from his home and it was this image of Saleh that was on the Basij membership card.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Arrests
Faezeh Hashemi, the daughter of former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, was arrested on 20 February while attending one of the anti-government protests on that day. The reasons stated for her arrest included "making blunt statements" and "chanting provocative slogans." She was released from police custody shortly afterwards.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Arrests
Ali Karroubi, the son of opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi, and his wife were arrested on 21 February according to opposition websites, with Ali's wife later being released while Ali himself is still being kept in custody.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Arrests
On the Tuesday protest of 1 March, Fakhrosadar Mohtashami, wife of former minister Mostafa Tajzadeh, was arrested and taken to Evin Prison.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Arrests
The official number of protesters arrested has been given as 150 by the government, but the opposition claims that the numbers are far higher, at around 1,500. Since the initial protests, the number of officially recognized arrests has risen to 1,500, with the opposition also raising their believed number of arrested protesters.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Arrests
It was reported that at least 16–18 student activists at Tehran University have been arrested since the beginning of the protests. One student, Arzhang Alipour, had "given interviews to media describing how fellow student Hamed Nour-Mohammadi was killed during protests in the southwestern city of Shiraz on 20 February," which resulted him being called in front of the disciplinary committee of the university three times before he was finally arrested on 12 March.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Casualties
The human rights organisation HRANA's website reported that one person had died after riot police opened fire at protesters near Tohid Square in Tehran. According to Kazem Jalali, one of the injured protesters also died later in the day on 14 February.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Casualties
Both people killed (Mohammad Mokhtari and Sanee Zhaleh) were students, though from different universities. According to the Iranian government, Sanee Zhaleh was a member of the Basij militia and was killed by the opposition. Reuters reported that protesters did not deny that Zhaleh was a Basij member, but that he had "attended Monday's rally as an active opposition supporter." But other protesters have strongly denied Zhaleh's Basij involvement and produced an image of Zhaleh visiting Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri–one of the main critics of Ayatollah Khamenei and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad–indicating Zhaleh was truly with the opposition.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Casualties
International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran (ICHRI) and Tehran Bureau both quote student oppositionists who deny Jaleh was a Basiji. A member of the Tahkim-e Vahdat student organisation (Office for Strengthening Unity) told the ICHRI that Jaleh was "not a Basiji," but a member of the Tehran Arts University's Islamic Association, and that "he had attended previous demonstrations as well." Sanee's brother, Ghaneh Jaleh, also denied Saleh's membership in the Basij. He and others assert that Jaleh's Basij membership card was faked from a photo taken from Ghaneh's house.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Casualties
Clashes erupted during the funeral service held for Zhaleh. Voice of America reported that government loyalists arrived at the funeral and began fighting with the protesters, forcing them to leave and abandon the funeral service. The Guardian also reported that Iranian authorities had "hijacked the funeral of Zhaleh, busing in hundreds of pro-government supporters and banning his own family from attending." The IRIB news service reported that the mourners at the funeral were government supporters and could be heard chanting slogans such as "death to Mousavi" and "death to Karroubi." IRIB also reported that the funeral procession was then attacked by members of "the sedition movement," who were repelled by pro-government protesters.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Casualties
Two unidentified men were killed by the Basij militia during the 20 February protests, each respectively in the Vanak and Vali Asr squares.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Casualties
It was later reported that another student, Hamed Nour-Mohammadi, was killed by security forces during the protests in Shiraz. The Iranian state media later quoted the president of the student's university as saying that "Nour-Mohammadi died in a car accident and that he hadn't taken part in the antigovernment rallies that day." Since Mohammadi's death, student protesters have not been allowed into the university grounds and his family warned "to remain silent on the subject of Nour-Mohammadi's death."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Casualties
Al Arabiyia citing an anonymous source, claimed that 15 people had been killed in Ahvaz (Khuzestan province), following protests by the Arab minority there.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Domestic responses
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad released a statement saying, "It is clear the Iranian nation has enemies because it is a nation that wants to shine, conquer peaks and change [its international] relations... Of course, there is a lot of hostility against the government. But they knew that they would get nowhere.... [the organizers of the protests] just wanted to tarnish the Iranian nation's brilliance... It is a shining sun. They threw some dust towards the sun... but the dust will return to their eyes."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Domestic responses
The commander of the Basij Mohammad Reza Naghdi told the Fars News Agency that he believed the protests had been started by "western spies" and that "western intelligence agencies are searching for a mentally challenged person who can set himself on fire in Tehran to trigger developments like those in Egypt and Tunisia."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Domestic responses
The Mourning Mothers gave their support to the protests and stated that they would be joining the protesters in their marches. They called for the unconditional release of all political prisoners, abolition of the death penalty, and a public trial for all those who had permitted massacres of citizens in the past 35 years.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Domestic responses, Calls for executions
On 15 February, Press TV reported that members of the Iranian parliament had called for the execution of two opposition leaders for inciting demonstrations on the previous day. 221 of the MPs present at the Iranian parliament signed a statement that said "Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi are corrupts (sic) on earth and should be tried. We believe the people have lost their patience and demand capital punishment." After signing the statement, the signatories gathered in the center of the chamber chanting "Death to Mousavi, death to Karroubi." The term "corrupts on earth" is a specific Iranian charge also known as Mofsed-e-filarz that carries the death penalty.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Domestic responses, Calls for executions
Mousavi said that "the demonstrations [are] a 'great achievement'" and Karroubi responded directly to the MPs claiming that he "is willing to 'pay any price' for his country."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Domestic responses, Calls for executions
Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i, Prosecutor General of Iran, voiced his support for the actions of parliament and that he thought the opposition leaders should be "punished."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Domestic responses, Calls for executions
Pro -government clerics began calling for the execution of former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on 16 February as he had become increasingly aligned with the Green Movement since the 2009 election protests.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Domestic responses, Clerics call for "anger" rally
The Islamic Propagation Coordination Council called for a rally on 18 February in order to show anger at what it called the "crimes" of "seditionist" leaders and their rebel allies. As a result, before and after Friday prayer, thousands of pro-government demonstrators poured into the streets of major cities to demonstrate their support and demand prosecution of Mousavi, Karroubi, and Khatami.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Domestic responses, Censorship
All forms of Iranian media were banned from covering the protests, though the demonstrators were still able to release information by utilising social media like Facebook and Twitter. In addition, foreign media were banned from covering the events. After 10 February, the keyword "Bahman," which was the current month in the Persian calendar, was also a blocked keyword for messages on mobile phones. This resulted in slower Internet connection speeds in some cities of Iran.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Domestic responses, Censorship
On 16 March 2011, Comodo, a major American certificate authority, advised Microsoft that nine fraudulent SSL certificates had been issued by one of its affiliates in Southern Europe. The domains affected were:


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Domestic responses, Censorship
Microsoft subsequently released an emergency update to revoke the fraudulent certificates that could have led to spoofing attacks. Similarly, Mozilla also blacklisted the fraudulent certificates. According to Comodo, both attacks originated from IP addresses assigned to ISPs in Iran and may have originated from government agencies interested in monitoring dissident activity.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Domestic responses, Censorship, 2012
In the days leading up to the 14 February 2012 protests, Internet access to specific sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and "other foreign sites," along with email access, was blocked throughout Iran, affecting more than 30 million people. The sites were replaced with a message reading, "According to computer crime regulations, access to this Web site is denied." As reported by The Washington Post, a number of Iranian bloggers feared that this outage was a precursor to the implementation of the "National Internet," also known as the "Halal Internet," which would allow the Iranian government to "block 'damaging' Western Web sites."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Domestic responses, Censorship, 2012
On 13 February, it was reported that email access had returned, though the other sites remained blocked.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Domestic responses, Use of child soldiers
The Guardian reported that after the 1 March protest onwards, children from ages 12–16 began being used by the Basij against the protesters. According to information released by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, these children were "armed with batons, clubs and air guns and ordered to attack demonstrators who have tried to gather in Tehran." They had been bussed in by the government from rural provinces far from the capital. People in the area stated that the children had been paid and were also promised chelo kebab dinners.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Domestic responses, Use of child soldiers
The executive director of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Hadi Ghaemi, stated that "it's really a violation of international law. It's no different than child soldiers, which is the custom in many zones of conflict. They are being recruited into being part of the conflict and armed for it." He also commented that "they are very keen to display violence. Teenage boys are notorious for that.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, Domestic responses, Use of child soldiers
They are being used to ensure there is a good ratio of government forces to protesters and because the average policeman in Tehran could have some kind of family connection to the people they have to beat up. It's a classic tactic to bring people from outside, because they have no sense of sympathy for city dwellers."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, International reactions
The police crackdown on protesters led Amnesty International to denounce Iranian authorities. They released a statement saying, "Iranians have a right to gather to peacefully express their support for the people of Egypt and Tunisia." The reaction of the Iranian authorities towards the protests was strongly criticised by Amnesty International, according to Reuters.


2011–2012 Iranian protests, International reactions
Marvin Feuer, the director of policy and government affairs for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, stated in a seminar with the Reserve Officers Association that "despite turmoil in the region it is critical not to lose focus on Iran." He also commented on the American government's problems with supporting democracy in the area while still keeping American security interests stable: "The Iranian case does not pose the same problem. In Iran, all of these concerns align. Iran is a bad player in any realm we can think of."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, International reactions
Reza Aslan, an Iranian-American activist and writer of No god but God stated in an interview with Neon Tommy that "the [Iranian] regime is unsustainable," referring to its current governmental system and how it responds to both internal and external forces such as the current protest movement. He commented to The Washington Post that "pressure is going to continue to build on Iran. Iran sees itself as an exemplar for the region for having thrown off an American-backed dictatorship. But it really only replaced one tyrant with another."


2011–2012 Iranian protests, International reactions
The violence from the street protests caused fear in the global stock market that oil supplies would be interrupted from Iran, which is one of the world's leading exporters of oil. These fears caused the price of WTI crude oil to rise above $85 a barrel.


2011–2012 Israel Football League season
The 2011–2012 Israel Football League was the fifth season of the Israel Football League (IFL). The league expanded to ten teams with two expansion teams; the Petah-Tikva Troopers and the Nahariya Northern Stars. The season concluded with the Tel Aviv Sabres defeating the Tel Aviv Pioneers in Israel Bowl V.


2011–2012 Israel Football League season, Regular season
The regular season consisted of 10 games for each team.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests
The Jordanian protests were a series of protests in Jordan that began in January 2011, and resulted in the firing of the cabinet ministers of the government. In its early phase, protests in Jordan were initially against unemployment, inflation, corruption. along with demanding for real constitutional monarchy and electoral reforms.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests
Food inflation and salaries were a cause for resentment in the country. The 2010-2011 Tunisian Revolution and the 2011 Egyptian Revolution also raised hopes for political change in the region. Together with unrest elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa, including the disturbances in Syria and Yemen, they were part of the Arab Spring.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests
King Abdullah II responded to the protests by reforming around a third of the constitution, establishing the Independent Election Commission, and vowing to embark on a democratic trajectory. He sacked three prime ministers in 18 months, settling on Abdullah Ensour as prime minister in 2012 and called for early elections in 2013. Later, introducing complete proportional representation to the House of Representatives in the 2016 parliamentary election, introducing decentralization in the 2017 local elections, and reforming the judiciary.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Background
Jordan's economy continues to struggle, weighed down by a record deficit of $2 billion this year. Inflation in Jordan has risen by 1.5% to 6.1% in December 2010, and unemployment and poverty have become rampant, estimated at 12% and 25% respectively. 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.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Background
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.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Background
Some analysts suggests that since peninsular Arabic speaking Jordanians form the "bedrock" of the government's support, while self-identifying Palestinians are generally closer to the opposition. Such analysis suggest that many government supporters are worried that if Palestinians are allowed a greater role in the country's politics, they could drag it into the Israeli–Palestinian conflict against Jordan's best interests. Conversely, Palestinian-Jordanian protesters want their degree of political power to reflect their significant demographic share.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Background
However, evidence of historical and recent protests suggests that the backbone of the protests are of peninsular Arabic speaking Jordanians disfranchised by liberal economic policies instituted in the country during the last decades. Specifically, previous mass protests include protests in 1989 in the city of Karak and other southern towns in the country known as April 1989 uprising (هبة نيسان) that led to reintroduction of democratic life. In 1996, bread riots erupted in Ma'an and other southern cities in Jordan as well. Both are predominantly of peninsular Arabic speaking Jordanian origins.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Background
More recently, the 2011–2012 uprising started with movements all over the country specially in towns with a predominantly east-Jordanian population known locally as Al-Hirak. Therefore, according to many analysts while protests in Amman might generates a media buzz about a revolution in Jordan, but discontent in rural Jordan among peninsular Arabic speaking Jordanians is what would really tip the scales. Regardless of identity and demographic sensitivities both groups tend to agree on the need for a more robust economy and a cure for Jordan's crippling unemployment. However, many argue that the sensitive demographic balance in the country will ultimately decide how wide and deep political reforms will go.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Early stage
Protests began on 14 January 2011, as protesters demanded Samir Rifai's resignation as well as economic conditions. On 26 January, the Muslim Brotherhood, one of the largest opposition groups in Jordan, urged Jordanians to pour into streets on 28 January to continue the protests against prime minister Samir Rifai's economic policies and the political situation in the country.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Early stage
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.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Early stage
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.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Early stage
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. Protests were reported in Amman and six other cities. 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.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Early stage
On 2 February, demonstrations continued in demanding that King Abdullah II sack his newly appointed prime minister. Hamza Mansour, one of the leaders of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood, demanded elections to choose another prime minister. He said that Al-Bakhit "doesn't believe in democracy."


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Early stage
The day after King Abdullah met with Muslim Brotherhood leaders at the royal palace, in an attempt to defuse tensions in the country, on 4 February, hundreds of people, including members of leftist groups and the Muslim Brotherhood, congregated outside the prime minister's office to demand economic and political reforms and the dissolution of parliament. They then marched to the Egyptian embassy in support of the anti-government protesters in that country.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Early stage
On 18 February, protesters who gathered in central Amman to demand political reform, clashed with a small group of government supporters that eyewitnesses claim attacked the protesters with sticks and stones, before the police restored order. Eyewitnesses said about 2,000 protesters, mostly young people joined by trade unionists and others, took to the streets after prayers at the Husseini Mosque, though other reports said the number was about 300.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Early stage
About 7,000–10,000 protesters were on the streets of Amman on 25 February, in the largest protests so far.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Early stage
In the first week of March anti-government protesters continued where opposition groups demanded such greater political freedoms as a constitutional monarchy.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Early stage
On 24 March, Al Jazeera reported that around 500 protesters, mainly university students and politically unaffiliated unemployed graduates set up a protest camp in a main square in the capital to press demands for the ouster of the prime minister, seen as insufficiently reformist, as well as wider public freedoms. Other demands include dissolving the parliament, which was seen as too docile, dismantling the intelligence department and giving greater powers to the people, including a new, more proportional, election law. Jordan's opposition also wanted to strip the king of some of his powers, specifically in appointing the prime minister, as they wanted the premier to be elected by a popular vote.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Early stage
On 25 March, clashes occurred between supporters of the king and more than 2000 protesters camped in Gamal Abdel Nasser Circle. Some witnesses said the police stood by as government supporters moved into the square and began throwing stones. As many as 100 people were reported injured, most with head wounds, while two people are said to have been killed. However, the next day in a press conference, the commandant of public security, Lieutenant General Hussein Al-Majali confirmed that there was one death only, with 62 injured civilians, and 58 injured policemen (including a Brigadier General and a Lieutenant Colonel).


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Early stage
Forensic medicine report confirmed that there were no signs of any injury, and that the patient actually died of circulatory collapse secondary to chronic ischemic heart disease. In the same press conference, Al-Majali also confirmed that 8 civilians and 17 policemen were still receiving hospital treatment at the time of the conference, and also stressed that policemen were completely unarmed and they interfered just to save the lives of people whatever their political view is. On the same day of clashes, thousands gathered in Al-Hussein Gardens, west of Amman, to express loyalty and allegiance to the king, dancing to national songs and waving large Jordanian flags and pictures of the monarch.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Early stage
On 1 April, nearly 400 policemen were deployed to separated hundreds of government supporters and pro-reform activists holding rival rallies outside municipal offices in Amman.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Early stage
On 15 April, more than 2,000 Jordanians took to the streets throughout the country demanding greater political representation, with half of them demonstrating in Amman, immediately after prayers. Also, a crowd of a few hundred Islamists clashed with a somewhat smaller group of monarchy loyalists in Zarqa. Eight civilians and 83 policemen were wounded, including 4 in critical condition.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Protests continues
On 13 June, the motorcade of King Abdullah II was attacked with stones and bottles by protesters in the city of Tafileh, although this was later denied, a royal official stating that they were enthusiastically greeted. Some indication is that this was actually an outbreak of violence between the Darak (Jordanian Gendarmerie) and local unemployed protesters. It is alleged that the local mayor caused the Darak to force back the protesters not wanting his city to look bad, the protesters replied with stones and empty bottles. The King is alleged to have been 12 km away.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Protests continues
On 17 June, youth groups and activists will protest calling on greater reforms, which the kingdom has dismissed for 2–3 years, including the election of a prime minister and cabinet.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Protests continues
A rare outbreak of violence marred protests in Amman on 15 July, with police beating journalists and protesters alike. The Public Security Directorate offered a mixed response, accepting full responsibility for the violence and promising compensation to journalists who suffered injuries or damage to equipment, but blaming demonstrators for instigating hostilities.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Protests continues
An Al Jazeera correspondent covering a protest on 20 July had a mixed reaction to the way security forces handled the situation, noting that while police and gendarmes respected all attendees' freedom of speech and acted quickly and effectively to prevent clashes between pro-reform demonstrators and government supporters, police also did nothing to prevent verbal harassment and intimidation of the former group by vocal loyalists.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Protests continues
In Amman, on 29 July, around 3,000 Muslim Brotherhood activists at the demonstration raised their right hand and took an oath to continue peaceful protests until their demands for political reform in the kingdom are met.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Protests continues
On 14 August, clashes erupted between government loyalists and pro-reform demonstrators in a street protest in Karak after midnight.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Protests continues
After a lull in September, protests started again on 7 October, when former prime minister Ahmad Obeidat led over 2000 people in a march outside the Grand Husseini Mosque in central Amman. There were also marches in the cities of Karka, Tafileh, Maan, Jerash and Salt.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Protests continues
There was a further march on 15 October, as part of the global "Occupy" movement, which was held in the northern city of Salhub, which is located 50 kilometers (32 miles) from the Jordanian capital Amman. A counter-protest attacked the marchers, hurling stones and firing their guns into the air. The next day, a memorandum signed by 70 out of 120 lawmakers was presented to the royal palace demanding that the prime minister and the cabinet be sacked. Much to the surprise of the opposition in the country, the king almost immediately complied, naming Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh to head the new government the next day.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Protests continues
Riots took place in the several cities and towns in mid November, most notably in Ramtha, which lasted three days and was sparked by the death in custody of Najem Azaizeh in Salt, which continued on and off for weeks and the towns of Qatraneh and Jafr.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Protests continues
Also, the trial of nearly 100 protesters indicted the previous April began, and much of the Government of the capitol Amman was arrested for corruption.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Protests continues
In December, there were protests in Amman, and riots in the northeastern cities of Mafraq and Qatraneh.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Protests continues
On 24 December, protesters gathered outside of the prime minister's office to protest the treatment of protesters by the security forces the previous day in Mafraq.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Protests subside
For most of 2012, protests subsided. The uprising in neighboring Syria, which had led to tens of thousands of deaths, dampened the enthusiasm of some Jordanian activists, who reportedly feared chaos developing in Jordan. In November 2011, King Abdullah called for a change in government in Syria, one of the first of Syria's neighboring leaders to do so.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Renewed protests
On late 1 September 2012, Jordanians from Amman to the southern city of Ma'an rallied for the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Fayez al-Tarawneh for issuing a 10 percent fuel price increase. Protestors blamed the Royal Palace for tolerating rampant corruption they say is the real reason for Jordan's economic crisis. During the rallies, Islamists, leftists and independent activists called on Amman to roll back the decision, chanting: "Jordanian people, why are they draining us?" Also at the Interior Ministry, protesters and the Muslim Brotherhood charged the price hike had been directed by the World Bank.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Renewed protests
Protests continued on the next day when taxi drivers blocked a main road in Amman as they abandoned their cars and marched to the ministry of transport in opposition to the hike, while citizens in the northern city of Irbid held a sit-in to protest the move. Amid rising protests over the measure, King Abdullah on Sunday suspended a government decision to increase prices of the fuel.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Renewed protests
On early 8 September, Jordanian anti-riot forces stormed a protest in the southern city of Tafileh after participants began chanting slogans reportedly criticizing King Abdullah II. According to eyewitnesses and activists, authorities fired tear gas and live rounds to disperse a group of some 60 protesters after activists began chanting slogans insulting the monarch, arresting 15 participants. A Jordanian security source confirmed that police arrested 15 protesters who currently face charges of attempting to "undermine the regime" and "incite a riot." Jordanian security officials refused to disclose the anti-King slogans allegedly chanted by protesters.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Renewed protests
Activists contend that their rally was peaceful prior to the riot forces' storming. Tafileh residents had organised the rally to protest the detention of local activist Mohammed Al Amaara, who was arrested hours earlier for reportedly making statement criticising Queen Rania during an anti-government protest following Friday noon prayers. The clashes came as activists took to the streets in nine of Jordan's 12 provinces on Friday in a series of anti-government rallies urging Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh to step down for a recent rise in fuel and water prices.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, Renewed protests
On 5 October, thousands of Jordanians attended a protest demanding political reforms in Amman, hours after King Abdullah II dissolved parliament and called early parliamentary elections. Video footage showed protesters chanting slogans and waving flags. The AFP news agency quoted people as shouting: "We demand constitutional reform before the people revolt. The people want to reform the regime."


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, 2012 fuel price protests
On 13 November, protests erupted across the country nationwide in response to an increase in fuel prices and other basic goods announced by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour. Demonstrators burned tires, smashed traffic lights and blocked roads in several Jordanian cities. Riot police officers tried to quell some of the crowds with tear gas. There were calls for a general strike on Wednesday. Protesters blamed Jordan's problems on King Abdullah II. They also demanded the resignation of the prime minister.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, 2012 fuel price protests
About 2,000 protesters chanted ""Revolution, revolution, it is a popular revolution," and "Freedom is from God, in spite of you, Abdullah," in an impromptu demonstration at a main Amman square, housing the Interior Ministry and other vital government departments. Elsewhere in Salt, 100 protesters pelted stones at policemen as they tried to break their lines to get to Ensour's home to demand his resignation. Riot police responded by firing tear gas.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, 2012 fuel price protests
In some cities in Jordan's south, inhabited by tribal Bedouins who are traditional supporters of the king, hundreds of protesters took to the streets to chant slogans calling for the ouster of the prime minister, but also criticizing the king. In Mazar, dozens of protesters burned down the main court building after stealing documents. Further south in Ma'an, 500 protesters blocked the streets, burning tires and throwing stones at riot police, who were firing tear gas. There were no immediate reports of injuries. In Sareeh, angry protesters burned down a gas station.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, 2012 fuel price protests
Nationwide protests in Jordan continued for the second day. Teachers went on strike, and other unions announced a two-hour work stoppage for Sunday. The crowds included first-time protesters and tribal members who have been the king's political base. Violence was most severe in Irbid, where the authorities said a police station was attacked by armed demonstrators, leading to the fatal shooting of Qais al-Omari, 27, and injuries to a dozen police officers and four protesters. A police corporal was also injured when someone fired an automatic pistol from a moving car.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, 2012 fuel price protests
In response to the protests, foreign minister Nasser Judeh said the government had tried to respond to the opposition over the past year with the establishment of an independent elections commission before balloting set for January 2013 and the formation of a constitutional court, among other changes.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, 2012 fuel price protests
The Jordanian government said Qais al-Omari was killed in a shootout with a group of armed men who assaulted a police station here on Wednesday night. But two members of his family and a witness to the killing said that he was unarmed, part of a group of about 30 unarmed men who walked to the police station to complain about abusive language they said officers had used while breaking up an earlier protest. Angry crowds then set fire to several government cars and burned down a municipal building, where a heavy contingent of plainclothes police officers was watching children play on Thursday.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, 2012 fuel price protests
On 16 November, thousands of demonstrators chanted the Arab Spring slogan "The people want to overthrow the regime" in the nationwide Jordan after Friday prayers, with escalating calls for Jordan's King Abdullah II to abdicate. Friday's protest near the main Al-Hussein Mosque in downtown Amman was peaceful, with unarmed police separating the demonstrators denouncing the ruler from a smaller crowd chanting in support of the monarch. The main crowd of about 3,000 protesters chanted "Go down Abdullah, go down," as police, some in riot gear, largely stayed away from crowd.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, 2012 fuel price protests
However, Abdullah loyalists clashed with anti-government protesters near the city's Wasfi al-Tal square on Friday night, with dozens of protesters reportedly being beaten by the king's supporters. The AFP news agency estimated at around 10,000 people, including Islamists, leftists and youth activists, chanted "Freedom, freedom, down with Abdullah." Demonstrations were also held just outside Amman in the Baqa'a Palestinian refugee camp and in the cities of Tafilah, Karak, Ma'an, Irbid and Jerash to its north. Amid unprecedented protests by Jordanians calling for him to quit, King Abdullah II has cancelled a visit to United Kingdom he was due to make next week.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, 2012 fuel price protests
Jordanian unions held a strike on Sunday 18 November to protest fuel price rises. The head of Jordan's 15-member professional associations body said all 15 unions except the nurses' union stopped working between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm on Sunday. Teachers' union also held a strike on Sunday, with spokesman Ayman al-Akur saying "the strike was observed by 70 to 75 percent of schools across the country", demanding the king intervene to reverse the decision to raise fuel prices.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Protests, 2012 fuel price protests
King Abdullah II visited the public security and gendarmerie personnel who were injured in fuel price riots and are receiving treatment at King Hussein Medical Center and wished them a speedy recovery. He praised security forces' discipline and self-restraint in dealing with the latest riots and the protest movement that began about two years ago.


2011–2012 Jordanian protests, Concerns
As the original protests were based to a degree on rising food prices, the expectation of food riots in summer 2012 grew due to the rise of global food prices and a drought in the country. This caused concern amongst the political class.