[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
Lash and jail for Saudi web activist Raef Badawi The Saudi online activist is sentenced to seven years in prison and to six hundred lashes for calling for religious liberalization.
Saudi Arabia backs religious tolerance – except at home Adam Coogle examines the contradictory position of the kingdom, which promotes interfaith dialogue around the world but fails to do so at home, in light of Raef Badawi’s verdict.
Oman – Arbitrary arrest of human rights defender and blogger Sultan Al-Sa’adi The Gulf Center for Human Rights reports on the arrest of al-Sa‘adi as Sultan Qaboos issued a pardon to fourteen activists.
Kuwait emir pardons those who insulted him The emir pardons Kuwaitis convicted of offending him in an attempt to alleviate political tension following the parliamentary election.
Kuwaiti Expat Crackdown: The Puzzle of Dependency and Development Yazan al-Saadi examines the concerted crackdown on blue-collar workers from South and East Asia.
Abu Dhabi accused of ‘using Manchester City to launder image’ David Conn writes on Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, who issued statements warning that the ownership of Manchester City is enabling the rulers of Abu Dhabi to present a progressive image of the Gulf state, notorious for its human rights violations.
UAE sentences Indian man to death over rape An Indian man, convicted of raping a seven-year-old girl at a school in Abu Dhabi, is sentenced to death.
Repression in Bahrain
Firebomb attack injures policeman in Bahrain A group attacked a patrol car with homemade firebombs, injuring one policeman.
Press Release: Maryam Al-Khawaja to Visit Bahrain on Friday The Gulf Center for Human Rights writes on the Bahraini activist’s decision to pay a two-week visit to Bahrain despite security and safety concerns.
Letter from the BYSHR to the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the rights to freedom of opinion and expression The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights addresses a letter to Mr. Frank Rue regarding human rights violations in the kingdom.
Crisis in Yemen
European countries to shut Yemen embassies France, Germany and the United Kingdom, following the steps of the United States, shut down their embassies on Sunday amid reports of threats from al-Qaeda.
British embassy in Yemen: Closure extended The British embassy in Sanaa will remain closed until the end of Ramadan.
Yemen: British nationals told to leave The Foreign Office advised Britons in Yemen to leave amid fears of escalating violence.
Yemen home to al-Qaida’s most active local franchise Ian Black examines the powerful presence of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen in light of closure of western embassies in the country.
Qaeda Leader’s Edict to Yemen Affiliate Is Said to Prompt Alert Eric Schmitt and Mark Mazzetti explores the reasons that led the United Sates and European countries to close their embassies and issue a travel alert.
Alert: US Drones roam skies of Yemen Capital for first time Hakim Almasmari comments on the fears of the inhabitants of Sanaa after American drones hovered the skies of the capital for the first time.
US drone kills al-Qaeda suspects in Yemen A news report on the latest drone strike in Shabwah, which targeted three alleged al-Qaeda members.
Yemen: The first step towards criminalising drone strikes, Obama take note Ghada Eldemellawy argues that the National Dialogue Conference`s decision to criminalize drone strikes will promote stability in Yemen.
Yemeni army clashes with rival faction One person died and six injured during clashes between the dissolved Republican Guard members, who are loyal to the former Yemeni president, and a rival army faction in Sanaa.
Egypt denies entry to Nobel Peace winner Tawakul Karman Egyptian authorities denied the entry of Karman, who voiced support of the Muslim Brotherhood, into Egypt “for security reasons” after landing in Cairo airport.
Human Rights Watch
Bahrain: Parliament Moves to Curtail Basic Rights The organization condemns the emergency measures imposed by Bahrain’s parliament.
Saudi Arabia: 600 Lashes, 7 Years for Activist A statement by the organization deploring Raef Badawi’s verdict.
Markets and Business
Saudi Arabia to build $22bn Riyadh metro A news report on the Saudi government’s announcement that the construction of the metro will start early next year.
Little Chef in £15m Kuwaiti sale A Kuwaiti-owned business purchases The Little Chef restaurant chain in the United Kingdom.
Alwaleed warns of US shale danger to Saudi Ajay Makan and Abeer Allam report on a letter that Prince Alwaleed bin Talal addressed to the Saudi oil minister warning him that the kingdom’s total dependence on oil is a threat to its economy.
BAE profits down 8% but firm remains hopeful on £4.5bn Saudi Typhoon order Angela Monaghan argues that the British defense group hopes that the renegotiation of a Typhoon fighter contract with Saudi Arabia will bear fruit and compensate for the decline in its profit.
Saudi prince loses lawsuit over Gaddafi jet sale Jane Croft reports on a British court’s ruling that Prince Alwaleed bin Talal should pay a commission to the Jordanian businesswoman who brokered the sale of a private jet to the former Libyan president.
Arabic
"تمرد" البحرين: عصيان مدني في 14 آب
"Tamarrod" in Bahrain calls for civil disobedience in Bahrain on 14 August.
السلطات البحرينية تكشر عن أنيابها
The Bahraini king issues two decrees that will curtail basic freedoms and the right to protest ahead of the civil disobedience to by held by mid-August.
المعارضة البحرينية: تأكيد على الحل السلمي
The Bahraini opposition asserts that it will continue its peaceful political activism and peaceful measures in its struggle for people`s demands.
سلمان: الحكومة لا تمثل الشعب البحريني
Sheikh Ali Salman, the general secretary of al-Wifaq National Islamic Society, declares that the Bahraini government does not represent the people.
وزير العدل البحريني: محاربة الإرهاب لن تخرج عن القانون
The Bahraini minister of justice emphasizes that fighting terrorism in the kingdom takes place within the confines of law.
السعودية: تجميد الراتب من تجميد السياسة
Madawi al-Rasheed examines the campaign on twitter that demands a rise in salaries in Saudi Arabia.
الكويت: برلمان جديد موال للحكومة
A news report on the new pro-government parliament in Kuwait.
مقتل جنديين في اشتباكات قرب قصر الرئاسة اليمني
Two soldiers died during clashes between military personnel loyal to the former Yemeni president and the Yemeni army, which pays its allegiance to the current Yemeni president.
امير قطر الجديد في السعودية في اول زيارة له الى الخارج
A news report on the new Qatari emir`s first trip abroad.