[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
As the smoke clears after Saudi Arabia’s latest mass execution by firing squad… Charles and Camilla fly in Jerome Taylor argues that the royal couple, who expressed sympathy during a visit to a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan, will not mention the victims of Saudi Arabia’s brutality in their visit to the kingdom, in The Independent.
Charles of Arabia Glen Newey provides a critical account of Prince Charles’ visit to Saudi Arabia and Oman and his silence on repression in these countries, in London Review of Books.
Saudi youths battle Assad regime in Syria Reese Erlich writes on Saudi youth who join extremist groups in Syria and fight against the Syrian regime, on Salon.
Reports and Opinions
Naming of Bahrain crown prince as deputy PM raises hopes Bill Law suggests the new appointment of the crown prince, who is a moderate and resented by the hardliners in the royal family, is seen as a step towards finding a solution for the unrest in the kingdom, on BBC.
Kingdom of fear no more Omayma Abdel-Latif argues that protests in Saudi Arabia for the last two years put the regime on edge, on Al-Ahram Weekly.
Saudi cleric issues rare warning in call for reform Angus McDowall reports on a warning issued by the conservative cleric Sheikh Salman al-Awdah, who called upon the regime to address concerns over detainees, poverty, and corruption, on Reuters.
Yemen’s youngest divorcee says father has squandered cash from her book Joe Sheffer revisits the story of Nujood Ali after five years of divorce, in The Guardian.
The GCHR 2013 Annual Report/Attacks on Human Rights Defenders Continue The annual report of The Gulf Center for Human Rights covers human rights developments in Yemen, Iraq, and Syria in addition to the Gulf Cooperation Council states.
Kuwait – Prominent human rights lawyer Mohammed al-Fadhil sentenced to a month in prison A news report on a suspended jail sentence of a Kuwaiti lawyer for “resisting police arrest.”
The Execution of Seven Young Men in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia executes seven men for armed robbery A news report on the execution of seven young men, by firing squads, whose case was the center of international attention since they were minors at the time of their alleged crime, on BBC.
Saudi Human Rights Record Comes Under New Scrutiny Christine Hauser reflects on international reactions to the execution of seven Saudi men, in The New York Times.
Saudi Arabia: Seven men executed in act of sheer brutality A statement by Amnesty International condemning the execution of young Saudi men who were minors at the time of their alleged crimes.
Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the execution of seven young Saudi citizens convicted for armed robbery A statement by the High Representative of the European Union expressing her shock at the execution of the seven youth.
Pillay says Saudi Arabian executions violate international standards A statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights condemning the execution of the seven Saudi citizens.
Repression in Bahrain
Bahrain: Dozens Hurt During Protests Kareem Fahim reports on the injury of dozens of protesters who were marking the second anniversary of a Saudi-led military intervention in Bahrain, in The New York Times.
Is Bahrain serious about reform? Sarah Leah Whitson argues that the national dialogue will remain hollow if officials at the highest levels of the security forces are not held accountable, and if freedom is not granted to imprisoned human rights activists, on CNN.
Crisis in Yemen
Yemen’s ‘dialogue’ Nasser Arrabyee asserts that the outcome of national dialogue will consolidate the power of the traditional forces, which Yemenis protested against during the uprising that brought down Ali Abdullah Saleh’s regime, on Al-Ahram Weekly.
Strike hits Yemen ahead of national dialogue A news report on the political scene in Yemen on the eve of the national dialogue, on Al Jazeera English.
Human Rights Watch
Yemen: Possible Military Role in Journalist’s Killing A statement by the organization calling upon the Yemeni authorities to investigate the killing of a journalist and another man in Aden.
Culture
Qatar and Iran on rival missions to make films about prophet Muhammad Ben Child argues that the films on the life of the prophet to be made by Qatar and Iran reflects two different perceptions of Sunni and Shia Islam over his depiction since the Iranian one will show Muhammad on screen, though not his face, in The Guardian.
Historical Heritage in Mecca
The photos Saudi Arabia doesn’t want seen – and proof of Islam’s most hold relics are being demolished in Mecca Jerome Taylor writes on the destruction of some Ottoman and Abbasid sections in Mecca’s Grand Mosque, in The Independent.
Migrant Workers
Thousands of migrant workers strike at Oman airport A news report on a strike staged by South Asian workers demanding better safety conditions after the death of worker in an accident, on Al-Akhbar English.
Markets and Investment
Marks & Spencer ‘target of Qatari takeover bid’ Josephine Moulds reports on a possible Qatari bid for the British retailer, in The Guardian.
Qatar lined up for 10bn Pound UK projects fund Jim Pickard and George Parker write on the talks between Qatar and Britain regarding infrastructure projects in Britain, in Financial Times.
Education
At Foreign Schools in the Gulf, a More Local Push Sara Hamdan writes on Education City in Doha, which includes the campuses of eight western universities, in The New York Times.
U.A.E. Makes Huge Investment in Education and Technology Sara Hamdan interviews Sheikh Nahayan bin Mubarak al-Nahayan, the former Emirati minister of education, to discuss issues related on education, in The New York Times.
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