Arabian Peninsula Media Roundup (November 6)

[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

Syria opposition groups hold crucial Qatar meeting A news report on the Syrian opposition meeting in Doha, on BBC. 

West backs Qatari plan to unify Syrian opposition Julian Borger and Matthew Weaver writes on Western governments’ support of the Doha Initiative, in The Guardian. 

Syria and Iran top France-Saudi talks A news report on the French president’s visit to Saudi Arabia, on Al-Jazeera English. 

Reports and Opinions 

Qatar urged to free poet Mohammed Ibn al-Dheeb al-Ajami A news report on calls to release the Qatari poet who was arrested after writing a poem entitled “Tunisian Jasmine,” on BBC. 

Rights groups: Qatar presses for freedom abroad, but not at home A news report on Qatar’s domestic record of repression, on World Tribune.   

Riyadh truck explosion leaves many dead A news report on the death of at least twenty-three people and the injury of more than a hundred in a road accident in Riyadh, on Al-Jazeera English. 

Cycling in Yemen: an uphill struggle against insurgency and ignorance Joe Sheffer examines the natural, political and social challenges facing Yemen’s National Cycle Foundation. 

Repression in Bahrain 

Deaths reported in Bahrain explosions A news report on the death of two Asian men in a series of blasts that rocked the capital, on Al-Jazeera Englsh. 

Citing Violence, Bahrain Bans All Protests in New Crackdown Kareem Fahim reports on the Bahraini government’s recent decision to ban all public rallies and demonstrations, in The New York Times. 

Bahrain bans all opposition rallies Ian Black examines the implication of the Bahraini government’s ban of public protests, in The Guardian.  

Man who insulted the King of Bahrain on Twitter sentenced to six months in jail Loveday Morris writes on the trial of four men for “defaming” the Bahraini ruler, in The Independent. 

Anti-government violence escalating in Bahrain Kevin Sullivan reports on the ongoing protests in Bahrain, in The Independent and the Washington Post. 

Ex-Blair aide advising Bahrain on conflict resolution Ian Black reveals Jonathan Powell’s role in training both the Bahraini government and opposition figures in conflict resolution, in The Guardian. 

Protests and the Election Law in Kuwait 

Kuwait warns of harsher crackdown on protests A news report on the Kuwaiti Interior Minister’s warning to the anti-government protesters, on Al-Jazeera English.  

Kuwaiti security forces use tear gas at rally A news report on the confrontation between the police and protesters who are demanding the repeal of the new election law in Kuwait, on Al-Jazeera English. 

Kuwait frees opposition leader after arrest of protesters Fiona MacDonald reports on the release of Musallam Al-Barrak, in The Independent. 

Looking for Revolution in Kuwait Mary Ann Tetreault examines the history of political activism in Kuwait, in Middle East Research and Information Project. 

Kuwait’s protests remind us of the Arab spring’s true spirit David Hearst argues against a sectarian and economic approach to understanding protests in Kuwait, in The Guardian. 

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International  

Qatar: Detained ‘Jasmine uprising’ poet being tried in secret A statement by AI organization condemning the secret trial of the Qatari poet Mohammed Ibn al-Dheeb al-Ajami. 

Qatar: Revise Draft Media Law to Allow Criticism of Rulers A statement by HRW calling on the Qatari government to re-consider the draft media law that compromises freedom of speech and to release the poet Mohammed al-Ajami. 

Saudi Arabia: Free Detainee Held Since April for Tweets A statement by HRW condemning the ongoing detention of Mohammed Salama. 

A Gift with Lots of Baggage Sarah Leah Whitson warns that despite the United Arab Emirates’ generous gift to Chicago, Chicagoans should not be blind to Gulf state’s records of right abuses. 

Media 

Qatari sheikh must not approve media law, says human rights group Roy Greenslade blogs on a draft media law compromising press freedom in Qatar, in The Guardian.  

Health 

Sedentary Saudis spur as diabetes rates soar Glen Carey writes on the high rates of diabetes in the kingdom, in The Independent.

مؤامرة "صباحية أردنية سعودية أميركية" لقمع المعارضة
An editorial article on the local and regional efforts to put down the Kuwaiti opposition.

الكويت إالى المواجهة
Fadi al-Zain examines the current political atmosphere in Kuwait.

"الإخوان" والسلفيون.. والسعودية بينهما
Fouad Ibrahim reads the position of the Saudi rulers vis-a-vis the Muslim Brotherhoods and the Salafi movements in the region.

بريطانيا تعود بقوة للخليج
An editorial article on Britain's increasing influence in the Gulf.

قفازات ملكية ناعمة .  خشنة في الخليج
Madawi al-Rasheed examines the common features shared by the Gulf states.