Arabian Peninsula Media Roundup (April 13)

[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.]

"Bahrain Grand Prix in doubt amid tension over hunger striker," a report on the likelihood of canceling race due to concerns over the Abdulhadi al-Khawaja's life and increasing violence in Bahrain.

"UAE detains 6 activists critical of rulers," an AP news article on the detention of six UAE activists who were stripped of their Emirati citizenship last year.

"Abdulhadi al-Khawaja's death would be a stain on Bahrain," an open letter by Lord Avebury and others addressed to Bahrain's King Hamad Al Khalifa, in The Guardian.

"Saudi princess: What I'd change about my country," an interview with conservative Princess Basma Bint Saud Bin Abdulaziz on the BBC World Service's Outlook.

"Yemen: Transition Needs Accountability, Security Reform," a report  by Human  Rights Watch Delegation.

"Qatar and Saudi Arabia at odds over Shater’s nomination," an informed article on the disagreement between Qatar and Sauda Arabia over the Muslim Brotherhood's presidential nominee, by Sultan al-Qassemi.

"Bahrain hunger-striker al-Khawaja moved to hospital," a news story on the deterioration of the health of the Bahraini human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja.

"25 Indonesian maids on death row in Saudi," a report on the abuse and execution of Indonesian maids in Saudi Arabia.

"Kuwaiti artist fights for freedom of expression," a news story on Shuroop Amin by Sara Shurafa.

"Sunnis seek own voice in Bahrain's turmoil," an article on sectarianism and the rise of Sunni hardliners in Bahrain, by Andrew Hammond.

"The Arab spring has shaken Arab TV's credibility," analysis of the state of Arab media since the 2011 Arab uprisings, in The Guardian by Ali Hashem.

"Dubai kicks out US democracy NGO, too," a news story on the expulsion of an NGO from the UAE, in The Christian Science Monitor, by Dan Murphy.

"Qatar's culture queen," an article on the emergence of Sheikha Mayassa Al Thani as a figure on the international art scene, in The Economist.

"Bahrain: Citizen journalist killed by armed civilians affiliated with the security forces," a report on the death of the Bahraini journalist Ahmed Ismael Hassan AlSamadi, on Bahrain Center for Human Rights.

"HARDtalk- Nabeel Rajab - President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights," an interview with Nabeel Rajab who challenges Stephen Sackur's claim that the inquiry commissioned by Bahrain's King Hamad Al Khalifa was independent.

"Kuwaiti writer gets 7 years for sectarian tweets," a Reuters news article on the sentence of Kuwaiti Mohammad al-Mulaifi, who was arrested in February. 

"Al-Jazeera Gets Rap as Qatar Mouthpiece," a critique of Al-Jazeera's professionalism in the last year.

"Saudi activists fight through their fear," an article on the Saudi activist Mohammad Fahad Al-Qahtani, in the Los Angeles Times.

In Arabic:

"مازن السيد: عبد الهادي الخواجة يعري حكام البحرين وحلفاءهم: السلطة تشمت والعالم يصمت ... والشارع يلتهب"
Mazen al-Sayyid offers a biting critique of the Arab silence on the Bahraini human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who has been on a hunger strike for sixty days.

"الأوقاف السعودية" تحذر الخطباء من الحديث في السياسة إلا بإذن رسمي"
A news story on the caveat issued by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Islamic Affairs advising preachers against political talk unless they have official permission.

"عبد الحليم المحجوب: مصر - السعودية: علاقة العرش بالثورة (١)"
Abdul Halim al-Mahjoub analyzes Egyptian-Saudi relations since the 1920s.

"مجزرة سار"
A youbtue video of a massacre in Sar in Bahrain, which shows children and women suffocating after the use of tear gas by the Bahraini authority

"يوسف مكي: آل خليفة والشرعية المفقودة"
Youssef Maki analyzes the emergence of Al Khalifa as the ruler of Bahrain and the question of their legitimacy

"بيان الشباب السعودي بخصوص ضمان الحريات وأدب الاختلاف"
A proclamation issued by the young Saudi activists calling for freedom of speech, dialogue and respect for the other

"المرأة السعودية: نعم لدراسة القانون ولا لممارسة المحاماة"
A report on how Saudi women can study law but are not allowed to practice it inside the Kingdom