[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
Saudi Arabia expels thousands of Yemeni workers Ian Black reports on the expulsion of thousands of workers in Saudi Arabia following new employment regulations, in The Guardian.
Qatar gambles on Egypt power struggle Roula Khalaf examines Qatar’s economic and political influence in Egypt, in Financial Times.
Saudi Arabia backs push to carve out liberated southern Syria Ruth Sherlock, Magdy Samaan and Suha Maayeh write on the kingdom’s talks with American intelligence officials in Jordan over supporting a powerful rebel force in southern Syria to enable it to seize Damascus, in The Telegraph.
Saudi Arabia Set for Lebanon Comeback Nasser Charara analyzes the influence of the kingdom in Lebanon in light of the recent resignation of Prime Minister Najb Mikati, on Al-Akhbar.
Opinions and Reports
Frank Gardner’s return to Saudi Arabia A report on Frank Gardner's return to the kingdom, where the BBC journalist was injured in an attack in 2004, on BBC.
Saudi paralysis sentencing ‘grotesque’ – UK A news report on a statement made by a Foreign Office spokesperson urging Saudi Arabia not to carry out the paralysis sentence against a man who is accused of paralyzing another man, on BBC.
Paralysis or blood money? Skewed justice in Saudi Arabia Nesrine Malik examines the application of sharia law in the paralysis sentence and describes it as selective and arbitrary, in The Guardian.
Janadriyah heritage festival celebrates symbols of Saudi identity Ian Black blogs about the annual festival and about the different views held on it, on The Guardian.
Saudi women are allowed to cycle – but only around in circles Jane Martinson blogs about the religious police’s encouragement of women to cycle and the strict conditions accompanying this permit, on The Guardian.
Saudi Arabia beheads convict in 30th execution this year A news report on the thirtieth case of beheading in the kingdom this year, on Al-Akhbar English.
Crisis in Yemen
Yemen’s Military-Security Reform: Seeds of New Conflict? A report issued by International Crisis Group on the military-security apparatus under the former Yemeni president, and on the challenges facing military-security reform.
Yemeni workers scapegoats Nasser Arrabyee argues that new oil fields, rather than new employment regulations, could be the reason for the expulsion of thousands of workers from Saudi Arabia, on al-Ahram Weekly.
Mixed views as talks open on Yemen future Michael Peel reflects on Yemen’s national dialogue and on the divisions within the country, in Financial Times.
Migrant Workers
Saudis to Delay a Measure Deporting Foreign Workers Kareem Fahim and Mayy el Sheikh report on the Saudi government’s decision to grant a three-month extension for foreign workers to abide by the new employment regulations, in The New York Times.
Human Rights Watch
UAE: Don’t Deport Tamil Refugees to Sri Lanka A statement by the organization urging the Emirati authorities not to deport nineteen Sri Lankans for risk of torture if returned.
Yemen: Reveal Any Military Role in Journalist’s Killing A statement by the organization calling on Yemen’s Defense Ministry to provide information about any military role in the killing of the journalist Wagdy al-Shabi and his friends at al-Shabi’s home.
Letter to Yemeni Minister of Defense on Death of Journalist Wagdy al-Shabi A letter by Sarah Whitson, director of the Middle East and North Africa division in the organization, addressed to the Minister of Defense, expressing concern over the role of the ministry in the killing.
UAE: Unfair Mass Trial of 94 Dissidents A statement by the organization on serious violations in the trial of ninety-four activists.
Amnesty International
Saudi Arabia: News of paralysis sentence “outrageous” A statement by the organization condemning the paralysis sentence against a Saudi man.
Health
Kuwait and Health Care: Racism as a State Solution Mona Kareem writes on a new law signed by the health minister, which specifies separates visiting hours for citizens and non-citizens, on Al-Akhbar.
Arabic