[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.]
Reports and Opinions
Saudi Arabia arrests 18 suspected spies A news report on the arrest of a Lebanese, an Iranian and sixteen Saudis on allegations of spying for foreign countries, on Al Jazeera English.
Saudi Arabia Shia leaders criticise arrests A news report on a statement issued by Shi`a community leaders condemning the arrest of sixteen Shi`a Saudis on suspicion of espionage, on BBC.
Top Saudi cleric says Twitter is for clowns A news report on Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul-Aziz al-Sheik’s description of Twitter as a “council for jokesters” and a place for untrue messages, on Al Jazeera English.
Saudi Arabia ‘threatens Skype ban’ A news report on Saudi Arabia contemplating a ban on encrypted messaging services, such as Skype, Viber and WhatsApp, on BBC.
Oman ruler pardons jailed dissidents A news report on Sultan Qaboos’ decision to free all dissidents who are jailed for defaming the leader or for participating in protests, on Al Jazeera English.
Brand Qatar Vijay Prashad provides an account of Qatar’s economy and political alliances, on Frontline.
Repression in Bahrain
Bahrain urged to free jailed activists to end unrest Bill Law reports on a statement issued by Human Rights Watch, urging the Bahraini government to release its political prisoners, on BBC.
Two jailed Bahraini activists refusing fluids in hunger strike: rights group A news report on Zainab and Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who are refusing fluids in protest for not allowing their family to visit them, on Reuters.
U.N. Think Tank Opening Office in Bahrain, with Bahraini Government Funding Justin Elliot provides a critical account of the decision by the International Peace Institute to open an office in Bahrain where human rights abuses abound, on ProPublica.
Crisis in Yemen
Yemen’s protagonists to agree on roadmap Hashem Ahelbarra reports on the national dialogue in Yemen, on Al Jazeera English.
The restoration of human dignity in the women of Yemen Rachelle Fawcett argues that a culturally informed feminism is the best approach to understanding the lives of Yemeni women, on Al Jazeera English.
Yemen activists ‘sidelined’ in post-Saleh era A media report on the absence of youth activists who helped bring down Ali Abdullah Saleh at the national dialogue, on Al Jazeera English.
The Flawed Media Narrative on Yemen Atiaf Zaid al-Wazir analyzes the coverage of Yemen in mainstream media, on Your Middle East.
Yemen’s Friday of Indignity Letta Tayler examines the political situation in Yemen in light of the second anniversary of the Friday of Dignity, when gunmen opened fire on protesters while security forces stood by, on The Huffington Post.
Statelessness and Citizenship
Kuwait MPs pass law to naturalise 4,000 stateless Bidun A news report on a bill passed by the Kuwaiti parliament, which granted citizenship to four thousand “foreigners,” on BBC.
Markets and Investment
Qataris stake their claim to a place at the top table of global dealmaking Simon Goodley examines Qatar’s investment in Britain.
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