[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
‘East of Suez’: Are UK forces returning? Frank Gardner reports on British efforts to establish a permanent military presence in the Gulf, on BBC.
UAE and Britain: credibility gulf An editorial warning that Britain’s strategic and military relations with the Gulf state should not ignore human rights abuses in these countries, in The Guardian.
UK cuddles up to Gulf states – hidden dangers ahead Richard Norton-Taylor and Nick Hopkins examine the implications of Britain’s deepening relations with the Gulf states, notorious for their bad human rights record, in The Guardian.
The UAE’s human rights record must be questioned on president’s UK visit Graeme Irvine hopes the British prime minister will raise the secret trial of ninety-four activists in the Gulf state with the Emirati president, in The Guardian.
Britons jailed in Dubai on drug charges ‘tortured’ A news report on the alleged torture of three jailed British men and the pressure from human rights groups on David Cameron to bring up the case with the Emirati president, on BBC.
UK PM concerned over claims of torture in UAE David Cameron expresses his concerns over allegations of torture ahead of the Emirati president’s visit to England, on Al Jazeera English.
Senator Urges Transfer of Guantanamo Detainees to Yemen Amid Revolt Charlie Savage reports on Senator Dianne Feinstein’s recommendation to transfer fifty-six Yemenis in Guantanamo Prison to Yemen, in The New York Times.
Reports and Opinions
Saudi Arabia domestic violence campaign shows woman in niqab with black eye David Blair writes on the “No More Abuse” campaign launched by the King Khalid Foundation, in The Telegraph.
Why Not Criticize the Kuwaiti Opposition? Mona Kareem reflects on the implication of criticizing the Kuwaiti opposition, on Al-Akhbar English.
Repression in Bahrain
Bahrain rejects US report on human rights An article on the Bahraini government’s reaction to a report on human rights abuses published by the US State Department, on Al Jazeera English.
Protesters Arrested and Feared Tortured, Charged Under Terrorism Law, Special Rapporteur on Torture Denied Access A statement by Bahrain Youth Society For Human Rights expressing concern over the arrest of Nafeesa Al-Asfoor and Rayhana Al-Mosawi who were protesting the F-1 race.
Joint Letter to the President of the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA) A letter sent by Mohammed Al-Maskati and Maryam Al-Khawaja to Joseph Blatter urging him to reconsider the nomination of Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa for a position in the association.
Crisis in Yemen
Yemeni Activist Farea al-Muslimi Urges U.S. to Stop the Drone War on His Country Juan Gonzalez and Amy Goodman interview al-Muslimi who spoke before a congressional hearing in the United States on the suffering caused by the American drone strikes in Yemen, on Democracy Now.
Yemeni man brings the horror of drone strikes home to US Senate A transcript of Farea al-Muslimi’s testimony before a senate hearing, in The Independent.
Street Art: Yemen’s forced disappeared A report on Murad Sobay’s art initiative to remember Yemenis who have disappeared in the last four decades, on France 24.
Yemen blames al-Qaeda for troop deaths A news report on the death of five soldiers in an attack on a checkpoint in Rada, on Al Jazeera English.
Human Rights Watch
UAE: Cameron Should Press Rulers on Torture A statement by the organization urging David Cameron to discuss the United Arab Emirates’ bad human rights record with the Emirati president during his visit to England this week.
Letter to UK Prime Minister David Cameron on Upcoming Meeting with UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan A letter signed by seven human rights organizations calling on the British prime minister to express Britain’s “grave concern” over human rights abuses in the Gulf state.
Gulf Center for Human Rights
UAE – Prominent human rights lawyer Dr. Mohammad Al-Roken describes violations committed by authorities against UAE 94 in prison A report on a letter written by Al-Roken to his family, describing human rights abuses against him and ninety-four activists, including denial of access to lawyers, psychological humiliation, and communication with other defendants.
Saudi Arabia – Human rights defender Dr. Abdulkarim Al-Khodr detained for four months before fourth session of his trial starts A news report on the arrest of human rights activist Al-Khodr while in court awaiting the hearing of his trial.
Saudi Arabia – Serious concern for safety of human rights defender, Mohammed Saleh Al-Bajadi, who has been held in incommunicado detention since September A statement by the organization expressing concern over Al-Bajadi’s health and safety.
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