Arabian Peninsula Media Roundup (July 17)

[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

Moscow and Riyadh in deaths spat Michael Peel and Charles Clover report on the tense relations between the two countries following Russia's human rights envoy's criticism of the kingdom's use of violence in the Eastern Province, in Financial Times.

Egypt's Morsi visits Saudi for security talks A news report on Mohamed Morsi's first foreign trip as president, on Al-Jazeera English.

In Simply Meeting, Egyptian and Saudi Leaders Open New Era David Kirkpatrick argues that Mohamed Morsi's visit to Saudi Arabia reflects a rapprochement between the two countries.

Opinions and Reports

In Saudi Arabia, Dissent Is Alive and Well, but Only Online or in Private Jacob Templin writes on Saudi Arabia's underground political activism and the government's failure to control social media, on Time World.

Shias in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain: Shooting the sheiks An article on the targeting of opponent sheikhs in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, in The Economist.

US firms face unsightly reality of Qatar's global ambitions Nicholas McGeehan calls upon UK firms signing construction contracts with Qatar to adopt fair treatment of migrant workers in the Gulf state.

Liberals without Liberalism: The Kuwaiti Example Mona Kareem analyzes the positions adopted by Kuwaiti liberals, in al-Akhbar English.

Social enterprise in the Arab world Claudia Cahalane argues that "Movements for change in the Middle East and Egypt had been afoot for a number of years prior to the public demonstrations of the Arab spring."

Saudi religious police accused over fatal accident Sebastian Usher reports on the arrest of officers belonging to morality police after a fatal car accident, on BBC.

The Arrest of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr

Mohamed al-Nimr: It's About Qatif Not Iran Shahira Saloum speaks to Mohamed al-Nimr, a Saudi opposition member and brother of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, in Al-Akhbar English.

Cleric's Arrest Signals Saudi Hard Line Ellen Knickmeyer analyzes the implications of the arrest of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr by the Saudi authorities last week, in The Wall Street Journal.

Saudi Arabia's Shiite escalation Toby Matthiesen analyzes the arrest of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr in light of local, regional and international developments, in Foreign Policy.

Angry Throngs at a Funeral in Saudi Arabia Kareem Fahim writes on the tense atmosphere during the funerals of two protesters killed last week in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, in The New York Times.

Citizenship and Statelessness

UAE Deports Online Activist to Thailand Al-Jazeera English reports that Ahmed Abdul Khaleq has been stripped of his right to reside in the United Arab Emirates and deported on a Comoros passport to Thailand.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International

UAE: Stop Expulsion of Bidun Activist A statement issued by Human Rights Watch calling upon the Emirati authority to halt the deportation of the political activist Abd al-Ahmed Khaleq to Thailand.

Saudi Arabia: Dissident Voices Stifled in the Eastern Province The latest report on human rights abuses in the kingdom.

Crisis in Yemen

US Ambassador in Yemen: The New Dictator Jamal Jubran reflects on the unlimited power exercised by Gerald Feierstein, in Al-Akhbar English.

Yemeni Army: The Regime's Cash Cow Sam Kimball argues that the the distribution of financial resources among different military branches is politicized and deepens the divisions within the army, in Al-Akhbar English.

In Yemen, Little Relief for Hunger Eva Sohlman reports on the food crisis in Yemen.

Yemen in Limbo: The Case of Saada Radio Atiaf Alwazir examines the programs and operation of the government-funded radio station, Saada Radio, after the government stopped paying the employees' salaries.

Markets

Pipelines bypassing Hormuz route open Javier Blas argues that the new pipelines decrease Iran's ability to control oil markets.

Arabic

العنصرية تشوه وجه اليمن
Jamal Jubran writes on racism against dark-skinned people in Yemen.

اليمن.. على خطى العراق
Mohamed Rashad Ubaid deplores the deteriorating security situation in Yemen.

السعودية والخطر القادم
Dr. Madawi al-Rasheed argues that the upcoming danger facing Saudi Arabia is not the Shia opposition but an Islamic tribal current consisting of tribes that have long been marginalized by the regime.

لماذا تفجر الحراك السعودي مجدداً؟
An editorial piece on the new waves of protests in Saudi Arabia.

حراك القطيف... النار تحت الرماد!
Wissam Matti analyzes the most recent protests in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province and the treatment of the Shia population in the kingdom.

القطيف ازمة ".." فما الحل؟
Ali Al Ghrash rejects the sectarian rhetoric on the protests in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, and calls for a different approach in dealing with the crisis.

علماء الدين الشيعة: التمييز الطائفي وراء التوتر في المنطقة الشرقية
A statement signed by thirty-seven Shia clerics regarding the political developments in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province.

السعودية الحائرة.. بين ثورتين
Ali Dawood analyzes the implication of the arrest of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr in light of the Saudi regime's anxiety over protests in both its Eastern Province and Bahrain.

الملك يخنق رئيس الوزراء في عرينه - الدستوري
Abbas Bousafwan elaborates on the Bahraini king's efforts to curb the influence of the prime minister by appointing people loyal to him in the parliament. 

المكشوف والمستور في العلاقات المصرية - السعودية (١): ما الذي يخيف المملكة؟
Mustafa al-Labad reflects on Saudi Arabia-Egypt relations after Mohamed Morsi's visit to the kingdom.

التقارب السعودي-المصري يعيد للعرب دورهم
Dr. Salih Bakr al-Tayyar argues that the improvement of the Saudi Arabia-Egypt relations will strengthen the Arab role in the region.

زيارة مرسي للسعودية هل هي المسمار الاخير في نعش الثورة؟
Mohamed Abd Al-Hakam Diab argues that the Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's recent statements and visit to Saudi Arabia show his adoption of Saudi and US approaches to the region.

النمر ل"الأخبار": القطيف جزء من المطالب الإصلاحية
Shahira Saloum speaks to Mohamed al-Nimr, a Saudi dissenter who is the brother of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.