The Orange Revolution: "Democratization of Saudi Arabia"

The Kingdom

**I originally posted this in Future History, but I don't think that forum gets many readers...So I justify this on the pretense that the schooling, and possible existence (though they are loosely based on real-life people) would have to have changed before, the future...So inshalla I hope it receives a better life here...

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What is referred to in the West as the “Democratization of Saudi Arabia,” or “Orange Revolution” (so named for the Orange turbans worn by its supporters) is referred to in the Arabian nation and throughout the Arabic-speaking world as “Herka Ghabbana,” roughly translating as “Turban Movement,” (but more specifically refers to the traditional orange two-piece turban, formerly an obsolete fashion piece of folklore, now once again a common sight and adapted for modern dress)is, in reality, a series of drastic political, societal, and importantly to its existence, cultural upheavals with rough beginnings during the first election of 50% of the members of the Consultative Assembly in 2020, and reaching its generally recognized inception with the “Rabii’ ash-Shabab,” or “Youth Spring” in April of 2023 with the appointing of the Movement’s five key leaders, the youngest ever in each of their respective positions and most radical appointments at its time in Saudi and Middle Eastern history:

  • Rayan bin Abdullah Al-Ali Alireza of Jeddah as Foreign Minister, and banner-bearer of the Movement;
  • Bashir bin Yazeed Al-Enazi of Riyadh and the Al-Enazi tribe as Governor of the Ha’il Province;
  • Abdulhalim bin Yousef Al-Abdulaziz Al-Qahtani as Governor of Qassim;
  • Samr bint Yasser Al-Abdulrahman Alireza, also of the powerful Hejazi family Alireza as Saudi Ambassador to the United Nations; and
  • Dr. Fatima bint Abu al-Hussayn Al-Hamel, perhaps the most controversial of the appointments, a female Shiah, as Minister of Labor & Social Affairs.
All of the appointments were first in their positions: Foreign Minister Alireza being the first born to an American mother; Governor Al-Enazi being the first Saudi governor of a tribe to speak out against discrimination of non-tribal Saudis in the Najd provinces; Governor Al-Qahtani being the first member of the Qahtani tribe appointed to such a level since a fallout between their tribe and the Al-Saud family in the early 21st century; Ambassador Alireza being not only the first female Ambassador to the United Nations from the Kingdom, but the highest ranking non-Royal Saudi of (partial) African descent; and finally Dr. Al-Hamel’s denomination and appointment as Minister and as a female.

All were the youngest in their positions history, and, what was perhaps most widely discussed in Western and even local circles- all received their university schooling in the United States. Whether this background was necessary for the events that were to unfold, perhaps the world and academic scholars maybe never know. However what is known are the facts, that with the rise of these five young, attractive, educated and revolutionary government ministers, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Middle Eastern politics, and perhaps Global interactions would never quite be the same.

This is their story: A testament to the belief that a handful, a literal handful of patriots, with a cause, is all that is needed to bring about change and a Revolution...

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i see, i don't know about a democratic Saudi Arabia, if a country like that could make a peaceful shift like the other color revolutions, those revolutions the countries in question had at lest the elotion of democracy or the idea of it at same point was in the countries government, Saudi Arabia isn't that kind of country, any way i'll watch and wait for more
 
HM King Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
Governor of Riyadh 1947-1953
Minister of Agriculture 1953-1955
Minister of Communications 1955-1962
Minister of Defense and Aviation 1962-2011
Second Deputy Prime Minister 1982-2005
Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia 2005-2011
Deputy Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia 2005-2011
Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia 2011-2017

King of Saudi Arabia 2011-2019
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques 2011-2019

CrownPrinceSultan.png


The death of His Majesty King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz in July of 2011, critical exits of U.S. troops from Iraq, and the controversial construction of concrete border walls in the northern provinces of Al-Jawf and Northern Border Region (Al-Hudud Ash-Shamaliyya) brought then-Crown Prince Sultan to the most powerful position in the Middle-East. With potential threats from a U.S.-less Iraq to the North; the post-poned August referendum on the future of South Sudan, and ever-decreasing relations with Iran, as well as rising tensions between Iran and Israel, the King and the entire Kingdom found itself in a difficult position, feeling in agreement with the West and Israel against Iranian nuclear capabilities on one hand, and the unspoken Islamic bond between between the Sunni Arab Gulf nations and their Shiah Persian neighbors to the North; King Sultan's reign was bond to be a turning point.

The first six months of King Sultan's rule saw would prove to be the foundation for his reign- with the exit of the United States, the West and Saudi's neighbors expected the Kingdom to once again resume her position as the largest and most poweful state in the region. Unlike the era before the Second Gulf War, however, Saudi Arabia faced a militant and ever-nuclear Iran. After the Northern Gulf Conference in Kuwait City table talks failed between Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq; and after iranian President Ahmadenijad vowed to "uphold Islamic integrity in the Gulf region...[due to the failure of] American puppet-princes dictating nationalism* and pro-Western policy in Iran's Gulf neighbors," the nations of Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Oman all unilaterally withdrew their ambassadors from Tehran, and expelled their Iranian ambassadors, starting what the Western media quickly began referring to as the "Gulf Stand-off."

What is known as the Gulf Stand-off is actually a series of events, though none were directly martial. Following the explusions and re-call of ambassadors, Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal hosted the foreign minister of Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Oman, the U.S. and the U.K. in Tabuk to discuss the "Iran Question." Following closed door meetings, the foreign ministers emerged, and Secretary Miliband of the U.K. delivered the following, controversial quote to sum up the diplomatic discussions of the weekend:
"The foreign ministers and I have come to an accord that the escalating conflict in the Arabian Gulf will soon become dangerous if further action is not taken, and sanctions implaced and the Iranian government forced to come to terms with the International community. Our recomendations and plans will therefore be submitted to the United Nations Security Council this week."
Following comments by Secretary Clinton of the U.S. revealed that "the United States and United Kingdom find it beneficial and necessary to invest in the defense of our Gulf allies," alluding to the Sunni Arab nations allied to the West. Outraged, the Iranian president publically declared on Iranian T.V. that the "Holy Lands of the Prophet [Saudi Arabia] had officially been conquered by Kafiroon," that is, those who knowingly reject Islam, the highest insult in the Muslim world.

Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran escalated further when, during an international address for Eid Al-Fitr on August 30, King Sultan proclaimed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has suspended all visas from Iran indefinitely, effectively barring Iranians from the upcoming Hajj in November of that year. Rallies against King Sultan and Saudi Arabia were held in Baghdad, where a two-night curfew was successfully implemented by Iraqi police; as well as demonstrations in Bahrain which were quickly shut down. Iranian-Americans voiced their displeasure, as well as a formal letter of displeasure from Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri. Although viewed as wrong by Shiah countries (such as Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, and Lebanon) what was viewed as the worst outcome from the King's speech, that is, feared uprising of Saudi Shiah, was virtually non-existant aside from frivolous internet musings and such. The Hajj-ban did have its reprocussions, however. Saudi Shiah found themselves unable to get visas for pilgrimages to Iran, and elsewhere in the Gulf, Arab citizens of Persian origin were increasingly petitoning their local magistrates for name changes, which were (although frowned upon in Islam) readily given. The only nation which maintained relations with Iran at this point in the region, was Bahrain and, to an extent, Iraq.







More later :)
 
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Although my original posts began in the 2020's, I felt an adequate history of the current time until then was necessary, but instead of finnishing the reign of King Sultan, I think my next installement will be the final years of the reign of HM King Abdullah (estagrhif wa mustafa' Allah) from 2009 until the ascension of Crown Prince Sultan in July of 2011.

Also if anyone would like to help contribute to contemporary and near-future events, please help me and discuss them. Some immediate events that I would like some collaboration or rather atleast ideas and assistance with are:

"Iran Question":
U.K.-Iran Relations; U.S.-Iran relations, President Obama's soon-future stances on Iran; Iranian-Israeli growing animosity; Iranian nuclear capability; "Green Revolution" in Iran, and other Reform-moevement there; Persian Gulf Balance, i.e. Relations between Iran, and the Gulf Arab states

Unoccupied Iraq:
Stability of post-complete withdrawal of U.S. troops; role in the region

Sudan:
July 2010 referendum on Transitional Authority of Darfur; 2011 referendum on future of South Sudan
 
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