2007 Protests & Revolutions Events — Verified Historical Highlights
2007 Protests & Revolutions Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 21 Jan Muqtada al-Sadr's group rejoins Iraqi political process: On January 21, 2007, Muqtada al-Sadr's movement ended a nearly two-month boycott of the Iraqi parliament. The boycott had been initiated in protest of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush in Amman, Jordan. The Sadrist bloc's return to parliament marked a significant development in Iraq's political landscape. source: rferl.org
- 23 Jan Hezbollah-Led Protests in Lebanon: Hezbollah-led protesters clashed with government loyalists in Lebanon, resulting in 3 deaths and 133 injuries. The opposition forces called off their general strike, highlighting the intense political tensions in the country.
- 17 Feb Italian Protests Against U.S. Military Expansion: Italians protest the planned expansion of the United States Army's presence in Vicenza, home to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, reflecting tensions over military deployment.
- 19 Feb Mass Protest Against US Military Base Expansion: Between 40,000 and 100,000 Italians protested against the expansion of Caserma Ederle, a United States Army military base near Vicenza, demonstrating significant public opposition to military infrastructure.
- 22 Feb Dick Cheney's Australia Visit: U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney arrived in Australia to discuss issues like Afghanistan and Iraq, encountering violent protests upon his arrival.
- 24 Feb Madrid Protests Basque Separatist Sentence Reduction: Thousands of protesters gathered in Madrid to demonstrate against a Supreme Court decision reducing the sentence of Basque separatist Inaki de Juana Chaos, who had been on a hunger strike for 110 days.
- 08 Mar Bush's Latin America Tour Meets Protests: U.S. President George W. Bush began a diplomatic tour of Latin America, visiting Brazil and Mexico, and was immediately met with significant protest demonstrations upon arriving in Sao Paulo.
- 12 Mar British Deputy Commons Leader Resigns: Nigel Griffiths, Deputy Leader of the British House of Commons, resigned in protest against the Trident missile expansion plan, demonstrating political dissent within the government.
- 13 Mar Bush-Calderon Meeting Sparks Protests in Mexico: U.S. President George W. Bush meets Mexican President Felipe Calderon at Merida, Yucatan, while demonstrators clash with police in Mexico City, highlighting tensions surrounding the diplomatic visit.
- 15 Mar Anti-Government Protests in Budapest: Hungarian police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse anti-government protesters in Budapest, indicating significant political tension and public unrest.
- 25 Mar Anti-Lukashenko Protests in Belarus: Approximately 10,000 protesters gathered in Minsk, Belarus, demonstrating against President Alexander Lukashenko, signaling growing public dissatisfaction with the country's political leadership.
- 01 Apr Iranian Student Protest in Tehran: Iranian Basiji students staged a protest outside the British Embassy in Tehran, reflecting ongoing political tensions and student activism in Iran.
- 09 Apr Anti-American protest in Iraq: On April 9, 2007, an anti-American protest took place in Iraq. The protest was sparked by various grievances against the U.S. presence in the country, including civilian casualties and perceived interference in Iraqi sovereignty. source: nytimes.com
- 13 Apr Protests Support Suspended Pakistani Chief Justice: Thousands of protesters gathered in Islamabad to support suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, signaling significant political tension in Pakistan.
- 14 Apr Garry Kasparov Detained in Moscow Protest: On April 14, 2007, former chess champion Garry Kasparov was detained during a protest in Moscow against the government. His arrest drew international attention to issues of political dissent in Russia. source: nytimes.com
- 21 Apr Violent Protests in Kyrgyzstan: Protests against President Bakiyev's administration in Kyrgyzstan escalated into violent confrontations between protesters and government security forces.
- 27 Apr Bronze Soldier removal in Tallinn: On April 27, 2007, the Estonian government removed the Bronze Soldier monument from Tallinn, leading to significant protests and riots. The decision was controversial, as the statue was seen by many as a symbol of Soviet occupation. The removal sparked tensions between ethnic Estonians and Russians in the country. source: bbc.com
- 29 Apr Mass secularist protest in Istanbul: On April 29, 2007, a large protest took place in Istanbul, Turkey, organized by secularists opposing the rising influence of Islam in politics. The demonstration reflected deep societal divisions and concerns over the future of secularism in Turkey. source: reuters.com
- 12 May Deadly Protests in Karachi, Pakistan: Violent protests erupted in Karachi, Pakistan, following the suspension of Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikar Mohammad Chaudhry. Dueling rallies between supporters of the judge and government supporters resulted in 39 fatalities, highlighting the intense political tensions in the country.
- 13 May Mass secular protest in Turkey: On May 13, 2007, over a million people gathered in İzmir to demonstrate in support of Turkey's secular state, opposing the Islamist-rooted government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Protesters chanted slogans like "Turkey is secular and will remain secular" and "No to sharia (Islamic law)." This was part of a series of Republic Protests that took place across Turkey during that period. source: abc.net.au
- 18 May Riots in Guangxi Over One-Child Policy: Protests and riots erupted in Guangxi, China, in response to government enforcement of the one-child policy, revealing tensions between state regulations and public sentiment.
- 26 May Czech Protests Against Missile Defense: Protesters gathered in Prague's Wenceslas Square to demonstrate against the Czech Republic's potential participation in the United States' missile defense system.
- 02 Jun Israeli troops kill Palestinian shopkeeper: On June 2, 2007, Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian shopkeeper in the West Bank. The incident occurred during a raid targeting militants, leading to protests and condemnation.
- 27 Jun Protests in Iran over fuel rationing: On June 27, 2007, widespread protests erupted in Iran in response to government-imposed fuel rationing. The protests highlighted public discontent with economic policies and government control. source: bbc.com
- 07 Jul King Gyanendra's Controversial Birthday: King Gyanendra of Nepal celebrated his 60th birthday amidst significant political tension, with protests from students and youth wings of eight ruling parties, reflecting the complex political landscape of Nepal at the time.
- 20 Jul Bolivian Capital Relocation Protests: Hundreds of thousands of Bolivians protested against government plans to move the capital from La Paz to Sucre, highlighting significant political and social tensions.
- 06 Aug East Timor Political Transition: President José Ramos-Horta appoints independence activist Xanana Gusmão as Prime Minister of East Timor. This decision leads to violent protests by Fretilin party supporters, despite Gusmão forming a majority coalition called the Alliance of the Parliamentary Majority (AMP).
- 15 Aug US Designates Iranian Guard as Terrorist Organization: On August 15, 2007, the United States designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. This marked the first time the U.S. had labeled a foreign government entity as such, reflecting escalating tensions between the two nations.
- 02 Sep Colombian soldiers killed in FARC conflict: On September 2, 2007, reports emerged of Colombian soldiers being killed in clashes with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The conflict highlighted ongoing security challenges in the region. source: reuters.com
- 21 Sep Buddhist monks protest in Myanmar's capital: On September 21, 2007, hundreds of Buddhist monks marched in Yangon, Myanmar, protesting against the military government, marking the fourth consecutive day of demonstrations. source: kpbs.org
- 24 Sep Massive anti-government protests in Burma: In September 2007, widespread protests erupted in Burma, primarily led by monks and civilians against the military regime. The protests were sparked by rising fuel prices and economic hardship, drawing international attention and condemnation. source: bbc.com
- 25 Sep 2007 Burmese anti-government protests: The protests in Burma intensified on September 25, 2007, as thousands of citizens joined monks in demonstrations against the military government. The protests highlighted the public's frustration with the regime's oppressive policies and economic mismanagement. source: bbc.com
- 26 Sep Myanmar government violently suppresses pro-democracy protests: On September 26, 2007, the Myanmar government escalated its crackdown on pro-democracy protests, using force against demonstrators. This violent suppression drew widespread international condemnation and highlighted the regime's oppressive tactics. source: bbc.com
- 27 Sep Burma protests and crackdown: On September 27, 2007, protests in Burma continued as the military government intensified its crackdown on demonstrators. The situation drew international attention and calls for action against the regime. source: bbc.com
- 28 Sep Desmond Tutu condemns Myanmar crackdown: Archbishop Desmond Tutu publicly condemned the violent crackdown on the peaceful protests in Myanmar, calling for international action to support the demonstrators. His statements highlighted the need for global solidarity against oppressive regimes. source: theguardian.com
- 29 Sep Protests in Burma (Myanmar): The protests in Myanmar continued on September 29, 2007, with thousands of demonstrators taking to the streets despite the military's violent repression. The international community remained focused on the situation, urging the military junta to respect human rights. source: bbc.com
- 08 Oct Burma's Military Attempts to Appease Buddhist Monasteries: During the 2007 Burmese protests, the military announced providing US$8,000 to Buddhist monasteries in an effort to demonstrate continued support for religious institutions.
- 10 Oct Tibetan Exiles Protest in New Delhi: Tibetan exiles staged a protest at the People's Republic of China embassy in New Delhi, highlighting ongoing tensions regarding religious freedom and Chinese occupation of Tibet.
- 25 Oct U.S. imposes sanctions on Iran's Revolutionary Guard: On October 25, 2007, the United States imposed sanctions on Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, designating it as a terrorist organization. The move aimed to curb Iran's influence in the Middle East. source: reuters.com
- 02 Nov Georgian protests against President Saakashvili: On November 2, 2007, large-scale protests erupted in Georgia, demanding the resignation of President Mikheil Saakashvili. source: reuters.com
- 04 Nov 2007 Pakistani State Emergency: On November 4, 2007, Pakistan was under a state of emergency declared by President Pervez Musharraf. This political crisis led to widespread protests and significant unrest across the country, impacting the political landscape. source: bbc.com
- 07 Nov Georgian government initiates violent crackdown on protesters: On November 7, 2007, the Georgian government, led by President Mikheil Saakashvili, initiated a violent crackdown on opposition protesters in Tbilisi. Riot police used excessive force, including tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets, to disperse largely peaceful demonstrations. The crackdown resulted in over 500 people seeking medical treatment and led to the imposition of a state of emergency. This event marked a significant political crisis in Georgia. source: hrw.org
- 14 Nov French unions strike against pension reform proposals: On November 14, 2007, French transport and utility workers went on strike to protest President Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to end special retirement deals for public-sector workers. The strikes led to significant disruptions in public transportation and power services across France. source: cnbc.com
- 17 Nov Pakistan declares state of emergency: On November 17, 2007, Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency, citing security concerns and judicial activism, leading to widespread protests and international criticism. source: bbc.com
- 20 Nov France Nationwide Strikes: On November 20, 2007, France experienced widespread strikes and protests, primarily led by trade unions, against proposed pension reforms. The demonstrations disrupted public transportation and other services, reflecting public opposition to the government's planned changes to the pension system. source: bbc.com
- 24 Nov Anti-Putin demonstrations suppressed in Russia: On November 24, 2007, Russian authorities suppressed anti-Putin demonstrations across the country. Police detained scores of people before, during, and after "marches of dissent" in several cities, using excessive force against peaceful demonstrators and arresting human rights activists and journalists. source: amnesty.org
- 25 Nov Russia prepares for protests after Kasparov's arrest: Following Garry Kasparov's arrest on November 24, 2007, Russia braced for potential protests. Opposition groups planned demonstrations to challenge the government's actions, leading to heightened security measures and concerns about public unrest. source: amnesty.org
- 20 Dec New Orleans Public Housing Demolition Controversy: The New Orleans City Council approves demolition of 4,500 public housing units, sparking violent protests and highlighting urban redevelopment tensions.
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