When looking at the Arab Spring, demonstrators protested on multiple issues: poverty, oppressive leaders, corruption and lack of freedoms, to name just a few. Across the Middle East leaders were being toppled in Tunisia, Yemen, Libya and Egypt. Demonstrators believed this to be an opportunity for the democratic deficit in the Middle East to end and for a process of universal inclusion to begin.

Looking back, over a decade on from the Arab Spring it seems that a democratic wave has failed to hit the region. The region, on a number of levels, remains worse off and rife with injustice. Over 15 million people have been displaced, over half a million have died and many states are no longer recognisable. Many of the uprisings were led by the youth who felt there was a lack of economic opportunities, but these prospects have not improved and in some cases worsened. In Tunisia, which has been viewed as a “success” by some, youth unemployment has increased from 30% in 2010 to 35% in 2018, and in Egypt the situation is worse with it rising from 24% in 2010 to 33% in 2018.

Despite regime changes the injustices of rulers remain, with a continuation of authoritarian regimes. In many cases, the revolts faltered leading to conflict and power vacuums, resulting in the return of the deep state. Libya has become a state of dire instability, with various tribal factions vying for control. In Egypt short-lived hopes of democracy faded away following the military coup led by Abdel Sisi, with the support of the Western powers, against the democratically elected Mohamed Morsi. Also under Sisi, by the end of 2019, Egypt had 26 imprisoned journalists which has further created a hostile environment for critics. A similar picture can be seen across the region with a general decline in press freedoms, personal freedoms, and corruption persisting and worsening. The reason for this is very clear: there was no justice in the wake of the Arab Spring. There was no justice before and there was especially no justice after. It’s not by establishing mere democracies that we can usher in an era of peace; rather, it’s by setting up a just government. If western powers—who undoubtedly played a huge role in the Arab Spring—focused more on justice as opposed to setting up “democratic” proxies, there would be much more peace in the world.

Others too, such as political commentators, have viewed foreign powers as a destabilising force in the Middle East, creating further conflict in the region. The Middle East has been used as a “battleground” for the superpowers to fight their proxy wars. In Syria, a civil has been raging since 2011, where President Assad’s regime is primarily backed by Russia and on the other side the rebellion militias are supported by America. The Syrian conflict has destabilised the whole region further. In Yemen, the UK, France and USA are providing logistical and diplomatic support to the Saudi led coalition, which is responsible for the deaths of thousands of Yemenis. The instability and destruction caused by conflicts does not even allow for the most basic human rights let alone democratic rights.

Being primarily Muslim countries, if Middle Eastern nations, citizens and leaders follow the true Islamic teachings, the dire state of the region can be improved. Islam sets out clear injunctions for both citizens of a nation and the leaders. The Holy Prophet Muhammad^sa established clear practice on how citizens should respond to rulers who are not fulfilling their rights. It is narrated that a companion asked the Holy Prophet^sa:

“O messenger of Allah, if such leaders rule over us who ask of us to fulfil their rights but do not give us our rights, what do you instruct us to do in such circumstances?”

The Holy Prophet^sa refrained from answering. The companion repeated his question, and the Prophet^sa refrained from answering once again. So when a second or third time the question was asked, Ash’ath bin Qais^ra dragged the questioner back, (in other words he tried to silence him) saying that, ‘The Holy Prophet^sa did not like the question so fall back, do not ask it.’ It is then that the Holy Prophet^sa said, ‘In such circumstances listen to your rulers and obey them. Whatever responsibility has been placed upon them they will be held to account for and you will be held to account for the responsibilities upon you.’”

This doesn’t mean that citizens do not have the right to protest, rather they should not incite rebellion and seek to reprimand their leaders through lawful means.

The Holy Qur’an makes the conditions for governance clear in the following verses:

اِنَّ اللّٰہَ یَاۡمُرُکُمۡ اَنۡ تُؤَدُّوا الۡاَمٰنٰتِ اِلٰۤی اَہۡلِہَا ۙ وَ اِذَا حَکَمۡتُمۡ بَیۡنَ النَّاسِ اَنۡ تَحۡکُمُوۡا بِالۡعَدۡلِ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ نِعِمَّا یَعِظُکُمۡ بِہٖ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ کَانَ سَمِیۡعًۢا بَصِیۡرًا ۝

“Verily, Allah commands you to make over the trusts to those entitled to them, and that, when you judge between men, you judge with justice. And surely excellent is that with which Allah admonishes you! Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” [4:59]

The main principal of governance that is prescribed by the Holy Qur’an as mentioned in the verse above is justice. Islam does not limit nations to one form of governance but is open to democracy, monarchies, tribalism and other forms of governance as long as the requirement of justice is met.

The Arab Spring has unleashed over a decade of chaos. Instead of improving the conditions for citizens, we have seen in many cases the revolts have led to a worsening of their circumstances. If Arab nations wish to see an improvement in their state of affairs it is incumbent on the current leaders to rule with absolute justice and follow the true teachings of Islam.