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Major Events of February 2004: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from February 2004 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of February 2004: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Feb 2004 Pakistan Nuclear Technology Scandal: Abdul Qadeer Khan, founder of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program, was removed as a special science adviser to President Pervez Musharraf. Khan and several other scientists were investigated for sharing nuclear technology with Iran, Libya, and other countries during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
  • 02 Feb 2004 Nuclear Proliferation Confession by A.Q. Khan: Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan admitted to extensive nuclear proliferation activities, including smuggling nuclear hardware, sharing centrifuge designs for enriched uranium production, and providing nuclear technology briefings to scientists from Iran, North Korea, and Libya. His actions were allegedly motivated by supporting the broader Muslim geopolitical cause and avoiding Western scrutiny.
  • 03 Feb 2004 Facebook Founded at Harvard University: Mark Zuckerberg and his co-founders launched Facebook, initially a social networking platform for Harvard students, which would later become a global social media giant transforming digital communication and social interactions.
  • 04 Feb 2004 Facebook Founded by Zuckerberg and Saverin: Facebook, a groundbreaking online social networking platform, was founded by Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin at Harvard University. This innovative website would go on to revolutionize digital communication and social interactions globally.
  • 05 Feb 2004 Pakistan's Nuclear Scientist Admits to Secrets Transfer: Abdul Qadeer Khan, Pakistan's prominent nuclear scientist, publicly admits to illegally transferring nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya, and North Korea. President Pervez Musharraf issues a formal pardon after Khan's written apology.
  • 06 Feb 2004 Moscow Metro Suicide Attack: A devastating suicide attack in the Moscow metro killed 40 commuters and injured 129 people during the morning rush hour. The blast was attributed to Chechen separatist groups, with Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly blaming Chechen militants and their leader Aslan Maskhadov. The Chechen rebel leadership denied responsibility for the attack.
  • 07 Feb 2004 Deadly Car Bomb Attack in Baghdad: A catastrophic car bomb attack targeted a south-facing police station in Baghdad, resulting in at least 50 fatalities and highlighting the ongoing violence in post-invasion Iraq.
  • 08 Feb 2004 President Bush Defends Iraq War on Meet the Press: During an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press, President George W. Bush defended the Iraq War, arguing that although banned weapons were not found, the invasion was justified because Saddam Hussein had the potential capability to produce such weapons.
  • 09 Feb 2004 Pakistan's Nuclear Scientist Controversy: Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf publicly admitted suspecting Abdul Qadeer Khan of sharing nuclear technology with other countries. He criticized the United States for failing to provide convincing evidence to substantiate his long-standing suspicions about his top nuclear scientist.
  • 10 Feb 2004 OPEC Announces Oil Production Cuts: The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announced significant restrictions on crude oil production, planning to reduce daily output by approximately 10% starting April 1, 2004.
  • 11 Feb 2004 Bush Warns of Terrorist Attack Risks: President George W. Bush delivered a speech at the National Defense University, emphasizing the critical threat of potential nuclear, radiological, chemical, or biological terrorist attacks against the United States.
  • 12 Feb 2004 San Francisco Begins Issuing Same-Sex Marriage Licenses: On National Freedom to Marry Day, San Francisco officials issued marriage licenses to gay couples and performed the first civil marriage in America by marrying a lesbian couple. More than 80 couples completed the quick ceremony, marking a significant moment in LGBTQ+ civil rights history.
  • 13 Feb 2004 Iran Admits Advanced Uranium Enrichment Design: Iran acknowledged possessing a design for an advanced high-speed uranium enrichment centrifuge, following confrontation with evidence from a secret nuclear supply network linked to Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan.
  • 14 Feb 2004 Guerrilla Attack in Falluja, Iraq: In an unprecedented guerrilla attack, up to 50 armed militants assaulted government buildings in Falluja, Iraq, resulting in at least 20 fatalities. This event highlighted the ongoing instability and insurgent activity in the region following the U.S.-led invasion.
  • 15 Feb 2004 Iran's Nuclear Fuel Offer: Iran proposed selling nuclear fuel on international markets under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, a significant diplomatic gesture amid ongoing nuclear tensions.
  • 16 Feb 2004 Deadly Attacks in Fallujah, Iraq: A series of coordinated attacks by gunmen targeted three police stations, a civil defense base, and the mayor's office in Fallujah, resulting in the deaths of 17 Iraqi police officers and at least four civilians.
  • 17 Feb 2004 CNN Study Reveals Extent of Catholic Priest Sexual Abuse Allegations: A CNN survey found that over 11,000 children alleged sexual abuse by Catholic priests. Approximately 4% of 110,000 priests were implicated, with nearly 3% facing at least 10 allegations during a 52-year period.
  • 18 Feb 2004 First Observation of Black Hole Consuming Star: NASA and ESA scientists made a groundbreaking astronomical observation, witnessing a supermassive black hole in galaxy RXJ1242-11 partially consume and graze a star. This unprecedented event provides crucial insights into the complex interactions between black holes and stellar bodies.
  • 19 Feb 2004 Simon Wiesenthal Receives Honorary Knighthood: Nazi-hunter Simon Wiesenthal is awarded an honorary knighthood by the United Kingdom in recognition of his lifetime of service to humanity, acknowledging his significant work in Holocaust remembrance and human rights advocacy.
  • 20 Feb 2004 Hubble Space Telescope Confirms Dark Energy: Groundbreaking measurements by the Hubble Space Telescope provided compelling evidence supporting Albert Einstein's theory of a cosmological constant, revealing that 'dark energy' is actively pushing the universe apart.
  • 21 Feb 2004 British Anti-Terror Laws Spark Human Rights Controversy: British MPs and human rights groups challenge Prime Minister Tony Blair over the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act, criticizing its broad powers that allow detention of foreign terrorist suspects without trial, drawing comparisons to the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.
  • 22 Feb 2004 Jerusalem Suicide Bombing: A devastating suicide bombing on a Jerusalem city bus killed eight Israelis and injured sixty others. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades from Fatah claimed responsibility, occurring just before International Court of Justice hearings on the Israeli West Bank Barrier.
  • 23 Feb 2004 Palestine Files Case Against Israeli West Bank Wall: Palestinian representatives formally submitted a legal case against the Israeli West Bank barrier to the International Court of Justice, challenging the construction and implications of the wall.
  • 24 Feb 2004 Pakistani Scientist Admits Nuclear Technology Proliferation: Abdul Qadeer Khan, a prominent Pakistani scientist, publicly admitted to selling nuclear weapons designs and technology to countries including North Korea, Iran, and Libya, causing international diplomatic tension.
  • 25 Feb 2004 Libya Accepts Responsibility for Lockerbie Bombing: Libya's Foreign Minister Abdulrahman Shalgam issues an official statement accepting responsibility for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. This comes after previous diplomatic statements by Shukri Ghanem suggesting Libya had 'bought peace' through $2.7 billion in compensation payments.
  • 26 Feb 2004 Same-Sex Marriage Developments in United States: A significant milestone in LGBTQ+ rights occurred as the United States saw progressive movements towards same-sex marriage. In New Paltz, the mayor announced civil marriages for gay couples, while Rosie O'Donnell wed Kelli Carpenter at San Francisco City Hall.
  • 27 Feb 2004 SuperFerry 14 Bombing: A devastating terrorist attack by Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines, which killed 116 passengers, marking the deadliest maritime terrorist attack in history.
  • 28 Feb 2004 Criticism of Israeli West Bank Barrier: Ronnie Kasrils, South African Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, strongly condemned the Israeli West Bank Barrier, describing it as a 'wall of shame' and alleging it was designed to deprive Palestinians of land and water resources.
  • 29 Feb 2004 76th Academy Awards Highlights: The 76th Academy Awards celebrated exceptional cinema, with 'The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King' winning all 11 nominated categories. Notable individual awards went to Sean Penn (Best Actor), Charlize Theron (Best Actress), Tim Robbins (Best Supporting Actor), and RenĂ©e Zellweger (Best Supporting Actress).