[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on the Arabian Peninsula and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Arabian Peninsula Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week's roundup to ap@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every week.]
Regional and International Relations
Dubai torture allegations: Britain puts economic interest before citizens Nesrine Malik provides a critique of the British government turning a blind eye to allegations of torture of three British tourists in the Gulf state, in The Guardian.
Qatar criticizes EU over Syria arms embargo Ian Black writes on Qatar’s critical view of the European Union’s decision to extend its blanket arms embargo on Syria, which according to the Qatari primer minister Hamed bin Jassim Al Thani will put the Syrian rebels at a disadvantage and prolong the war, in The Guardian.
Reports and Opinions
Saudi king swears in Shura council’s first female members A news report on King Abdulla’s televised appearance for swearing in new members of the Shura council, which for the first time includes thirty women, in The Guardian.
Qatari poet’s sentence reduced to 15 years Sam Bollier and Stephanie Dekker report on the reduction of Muhammad Rashid al-Ajami’s life sentence to fifteen years, on Al Jazeera English.
UAE signs $1.4bn in defence contracts A news report on the Gulf state’s latest arms purchase from local and foreign firms, on Al Jazeera English.
Saudi Arabia beheads Jordanian over drug trafficking A news report on the beheading of Faris Salam al-Maghrebi for attempting to smuggle amphetamine stimulant capsules into the kingdom, on Al-Akhbar English.
Repression in Bahrain
Bahraini dies after being struck by tear gas canister Bill Law reports on the death of Mahmood Aljazeeri last week during clashes between the police and protesters marking the second anniversary of the Bahraini uprising, on BBC.
Bahrain bans Guy Fawkes mask A news report on the Bahraini regime’s ban on the so-called “revolution masks” in an attempt to limit opposition protests in the country, on Al-Akhabar English.
Video: SUV rams into Bahraini protester Footage of a speeding driver charging his vehicle into a group of young men setting up a roadblock, hitting and injuring one of them, on Al-Akhbar English.
A Palace Rift in Persian Gulf Bedevils Key U.S. Navy Base Charles Levinson examines the split in Bahrain’s royal family between the king, whose predecessors fostered close ties with the West, and the Khalawids, a family-line who had been marginalized for their hardline positions but has been gaining more power in different state institutions recently, in The Wall Street Journal.
Crisis in Yemen
Powerful elite cast a shadow over reforms in Yemen Sudarsan Raghavan argues that Yemeni elite families’ persistent grip over power prevents any meaningful political reform in the country, The Washington Post and The Guardian Weekly.
Yemen, Hailed as Model, Struggles for Stability Robert Worth reflects on the situation in Yemen on the second anniversary of the uprising, in The New York Times.
Yemen: The Wounded of the Revolution Neglected Atiaf Alwazir examines the lack of medical and financial support of Yemenis wounded during the uprising in 2011, on Al-Akhbar English.
Three killed in Yemen ahead of protest rally A news report on the death of three supporters of the separatist Southern Movement during clashes with Al-Islah Party members who rallied in support of national unity and President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, on Al Jazeera English.
Deadly military aircraft crash in Yemen A news report on a military aircraft crash that left twelve people dead near Sanaa, on Al Jazeera English.
Human Rights Watch
UAE: Charge or Release Detained Egyptians A statement by the organization urging the release or sentencing of thirteen Egyptians who have been detained for weeks with no access to lawyers or family members.
Yemen: Justice Deficit Marks Transition Anniversary An assessment of the ongoing human rights violations since the overthrow of the former president.
Oman: Free Reform Activists A statement by the organization urging the immediate release of activists who exercised their rights to freedom of speech and association.
Migrant Workers
Saudi Arabia recalls ambassador to Sri Lanka A news report on Saudi Arabia’s withdrawal of its ambassador to Sri Lanka after the latter withdrew its ambassador in protest of the beheading of Rizana Nafeek, on Al Jazeera English.
Media
Dubai Takes on Al-Jazeera: Foes of the Muslim Brotherhood Unite Mohammad Abdel Rahman and Sonia Zein report on the launch of a London-based satellite news channel, al-Ghad TV, which is described as “the media wing of the United Arab Emirates’ war against the Muslim Brotherhood, a group that has received much support from Qatar’s al-Jazeera,” on Al-Akhbar English.
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