[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 builds giant Yemen border fence A news report on the Saudi regime’s decision to build a 1,800 km fence “to seal off its troubled frontier with Yemen,” on BBC.
Qatar offers Egypt $3bn in aid A news report on the Qatari regime’s decision to buy bonds from Egypt worth three billion dollars to alleviate Cairo’s economic crisis, on Al Jazeera English.
Muslim Brotherhood Paves Way for Qatar’s Ascent Layla al-Shoumari examines Qatar`s support of the Muslim Brotherhood and its efforts to be a powerful regional player, on al-Akhbar English.
Anti-Egypt journalist: Cairo has failed to produce anything Omar Halawa interviews the Qatari journalist, Ahmed Ali, who posted tweets critical of Egypt, on Egypt Independent.
Marzouki Asks Tunisians to Respect Qatar; Many Loudly Disobey Tristan Dreisbach writes on the Tunisian president’s request that Tunisians not insult the emir of Qatar and on the ensuing jokes and controversy, on tunisialive.
Opinions and Reports
Qatar: a global player with underdeveloped internal politics Omar Halawa writes on the Qatari regime’s political reforms and internal challenges facing this regionally-powerful Gulf state, on Egypt Independent.
Kuwait Opposition Leader Sentenced to 5 Years A news report on the five-year sentencing of former member of parliament, Mussallam al-Barrack, for insulting the emire during a rally last year, in The New York Times.
Report: Kuwait media law proposes $1 million fines for insults to emir A news report on a new media law in Kuwait which would impose heavy fines for insulting the emir, in The Washington Post.
Saudi Arabia denies paralysis punishment A news report on Saudi justice ministry spokesman`s claim that reports about the paralysis sentence are false, on BBC.
Dubai police gets $550,000 Lamborghini squad car that can hit 60mph in under three seconds and has a top-speed of 217mph Bob Williams writes on the Dubai police`s acquisition of a Lamborghini Aventador that is meant to show “how classy Dubai is” in tourist areas, in The Independent.
Saudi prince makes case for women drivers A news report on Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s support of women driving in the kingdom in order to cut down the number of foreign workers, on Al Jazeera English.
Crisis in Yemen
Yemen president orders military shake-up A news report on the decree that President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s issued, which removed Ali Abdullah Saleh`s allies and relatives from key security positions, on Al Jazeera English.
Yemen President Hadi ‘removes Republican Guard Commander’, A news report on the latest military shake-up in Yemen, on BBC.
Power struggle emerges over Yemen Michael Peel examines the power struggle over Yemen that involves regional and international players, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf and western nations, in Financial Times.
Unrest in Yemen: Southern grumps An article on the challenges posed by the secessionist movement and al-Qaeda in southern Yemen to the Yemeni president, in The Economist.
Repression in Bahrain
Protests held in Bahrain ahead of Formula One A news report on thousands of Bahrainis protesting and making democratic demands, ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix next week, on Al Jazeera English.
Formula One chief denies Bahrain crackdown ahead of race A news report on Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone’s dismissal of human rights abuses in Bahrain, on al-Akhbar English.
Bahrain: Arrests Dozens of Protestors to Protect the Formula 1 A statement by Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights expressing concern over the arrest of protesters ahead of Formula One race.
Human Rights Watch
Bahrain: Targeted Raids and Arbitrary Detentions HRW condemns Bahraini authorities for arresting protesters ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix.
Yemen: Military Changes a Major Transition Step HRW welcomes the Yemeni president’s removal of senior figures linked to abuse from top military positions, and expresses concern over the diplomatic immunity given to them.
Saudi Arabia: Huge Obstacles for First Woman Lawyer An HRW statement calling upon Saudi authorities to end guardianship restrictions and to protect female lawyers from discrimination.
Saudi Arabia: Free Detainee in ‘Eye-for-an-Eye’ Case A statement by the organization urging the Saudi authorities to release Ali al-Khawahar, who stabbed and paralyzed his childhood friend in 2004.
UAE: Obama Should Press Crown Prince on Rights HRW calls on President Obama to press Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is visiting the United States, on issues of human rights.
Kuwait: Drop Charges for ‘Offending Emir’ HRW urges the Kuwaiti government to drop criminal charges against several activists, journalists, and politicians.
Gulf Center for Human Rights
UAE: Freedom of expression in danger after sentencing of human rights defender Abdullah Al-Hadidi to 10 months in prison for tweeting A news report on the Abu Dhabi Court of First Instance’s sentence of Al-Hadidi to jail for circulating false information.
Saudi Arabia – Journalist and human rights defender Iman Al-Qahtani stops tweeting due to the harassment by security forces A statement by the organization expressing concerns over the harassment of Iman Al-Qahtani.
Kuwait – Human rights defender Abdullah Fairouz detained on charges of insulting the judiciary, released on bail A news report on the release of Abdullah Fairouz, secretary general of the Kuwaiti Movement for Justice and Development, after five days of detainment.
Qatar – Human rights defenders Mohammed Issa Al-Baker and Mansoor Rashed Al-Matroushi on hunger strike until they are released A news report on the decision of the Qatari activists, detained since 22 March, to go on hunger strike until they are freed.
Migrant Workers
Migrant voices – Ethiopians in Yemen describe kidnapping and torture A news report of ill-treatment of Ethiopian migrant workers in Yemen, on IRIN.
Markets
Saudi Arabia Border Fence Market – Largest in the World A news report claiming Saudi Arabia’s border fence project is larger than the U.S./Mexican & U.S./Canadian fences combined, on Homeland Security Research.
Satire
Qatar wins right to host Margaret Thatcher funeral A satirical piece on Qatar winning the bid to hold Thatcher’s funeral in Doha, on The Pan-Arabia Enquirer.
Arabic
الموالون السنة في البحرين {1/2}: مشروع محتمل للمعارضة الدامية
Abbas Bousafwan argues that a Sunni-led opposition in Bahrain is possible if the Sunnis feel they are sidelined politically.
الموالون السنة في البحرين {2/2}: ما وراء القلق العميق من الإصلاح
Abbas Bousafwan reflects on a Sunni-led opposition in light of structural reforms in Bahrain.
في ظل الحوار البحريني: الملك يشهر سيفه
An article on the implication of the Bahraini king holding a sword covered with red - which signifies victory over opponents - while the national dialogue is taking place as a warning of harsh treatment of the opposition in the future.
المعارضة البحرينية: انتهاكات النظام مستمرة بوتيرة متصاعدة
A news report on al-Wifaq`s assertion that the Bahraini regime has not stopped its harassment of the opposition.
انقلاب رئاسي في الجيش: إطاحة آل صالح والأحمر
Jamal Jubran argues the Yemeni president`s removal of top security officials from government heralds the end of the power held by the former president`s family.
اليمن: قرارات هادي بإزاحة عائلة صالح من السلطة فتحت باب الأمل في التغيير الشامل، الثوار يعتبرونه `النصر` الذي انتظروه طويلا
Khalid al-Hamadi examines the hope of wide changes in Yemen following the ousting of the former president`s allies from key state positions.
المصريون يغرقون الدوحة… ب"الألش"!
An article on jokes on Qatar circulating in Egypt.
قطر تمتطي "الإخوان" في سباق الزعامة الإقليمية
Layla al-Shoumari examines Qatar`s support of the Muslim Brotherhood and its efforts to be a powerful regional player.
قطر.. "موسكو" الثورات العربية
Butrous al-Halaq examines Qatar`s role in the counter-revolutions in Arab countries.
تداعيات إعادة التموضع السعودي في المنطقة
Amr al-Sbaila writes on Saudi Arabia`s diminished regional role since the beginning of the Arab uprisings, and the kingdom`s possible change of strategy in the near future.
السعودية وكبش اليد العاملة الوافدة
Madawi al-Rasheed writes on migrant workers in Saudi Arabia.
العمالة الاجنبية في السعودية بين مطرقة الترحيل وسندان الكفيل
A news reports on the conditions of foreign workers in Saudi Arabia.
الكويت: الحكومة تسعى لتشديد عقوبات الإعلام
A news report on Kuwait passing a new media law that harshly penalizes insults of the emir or the crown prince.
مئات الكويتيين يتظاهرون من أجل الإصلاح
A news report on protesters demonstrating in Kuwait and demanding reforms.