Arabian Peninsula Media Roundup (November 21)

[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

On the Oil that Burned the Arab Spring Tareq Aziza provides an analysis of the positions of Saudi Arabia and Qatar towards the uprisings in the Arab countries, on Al-Akhbar English. 

Who Qualifies as a Human Rights Defender? Mona Kareem writes a reply to Sultan al-Qassemi’s “UAE Political Islamists Are Not Defenders of Human Rights,” on Al-Akhbar English.

Residential tower block in Dubai evacuated after fire breaks out A news report on a fire in a thirty-four story tower, which is part of Jumeirah Lakes Towers, in The Independent. 

Dubai skyscraper on fire A video footage of the thirty-four story tower caught on fire, in The Guardian. 

Saudi gets life sentence over US bombing plot A news report on Khalid Aldawsari, who was handed a life sentence for plotting attacks on US targets, on Al-Jazeera English.

Repression in Bahrain

New Bahrain trade federation splits union movement Bill Law examines the establishment of the Bahrain Labor Union Free Federation and its implication for the trade union movement in the Gulf kingdom, on BBC.

Bahrain activists demand action over rights abuses A news report on the meeting of Bahraini human rights activists in The Hague, on BBC.

Bahraini brothers lose nationality A media report on Jawad and Jalal Fairuz, two former members of the parliament, who were among thirty-one activists denaturalized by the government recently, on Al-Jazeera English.

Crisis in Yemen

South Yemen: Unification Dream Becomes Nightmare Jomana Farhat analyzes the reasons that many south Yemenis, who were avid supporters of unification in 1990, became disillusioned later on, on Al-Akhbar English.

Dozens who protested in Yemen during Arab Spring still missing Abdurrahman Shamlan reports on sixty-four missing youths and the government’s denial of any involvement in their kidnapping or disappearance, in the National Post. 

Accord elusive in Yemen Nasser Arrabyee examines the Yemeni political situation in light of a proposed national dialogue, bombings, and a separatist movement, on Al-Ahram. 

Deaths in Yemen military plane crash A news report on a military plane crash near the main airport in Sanaa, on Al-Jazeera English.  

Protests and the Election Law in Kuwait

Kuwaitis’ views on street protests ahead of controversial polls A media report on the diverse opinions held by Kuwaitis on the political significance of the opposition’s rallies and protests before the parliamentary elections next month, on BBC.

Kuwait arrests four over Twitter remarks A news report on the arrest of four Kuwaitis for comments considered insulting to the emir, on al-Akhbar English. 

Human Rights Watch

UAE: Make Good on Human Rights Commitments A statement by the organization urging the Gulf state to undertake serious steps towards human rights after its election as a member of the United Nations Human rights Council.

Education

Qatar’s oil and gas wealth fuels ambition for learning Sean Coughlan writes on the Educate A Child Initiative, launched during an education summit in Doha, on BBC.

Qatar Spearheads Efforts to Educate 61 Million Children Angela Shah provides an account of the initiative, which was created by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, wife of the Qatari emir, in The New York Times.

Saudi Arabia struggles to employ its most-educated women Kevin Sullivan addresses the challenges faced by educated Saudi women to find jobs, in The Independent and The Washington Post.

Culture

Uncovering the hidden bodies in Saudi art Jane O’Brien reports on the exhibition Roads of Arabia: Archaeology and History of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is held at the Freer and Sackler in Washington, on BBC.

Markets and Business

ETHIOPIA TO LIFT UAE BAN A news report on the Ethiopian government’s decision to lift the ban on female domestic workers following a new labor agreement, on Migrantrights.

Paris Hilton takes Mecca Sulome Anderson reports on the reactions to Hilton’s new store in Mecca, in Foreign Policy.

Sports

Fifa to investigate new allegations over Qatar 2022 World Cup bid Owen Gibbson writes on the investigations to be conducted by Michael Garcia, a new ethics committee chief, into corruption allegations surrounding Qatar’s successful bid, in The Guardian.

Arabic

الحراك الجنوبي: شيطان التفاصيل والقيادة
Jomana Farhat examines the opinions held by leaders of the Yemeni southern movement on the question of separation and unification.

‎السعودية: وزارة العمل لن توقف قرار فرض ضرائب على العمالة الأجنبية
A news report on the decision of the Saudi Ministry of Labor to uphold the law that requires Saudi employers to pay taxes on migrant work.

‎حرب اليمن: بوابة الاتصالات السعودية-الإسرائيلية
Mona Sefwwan argues the war in 1962 between the republicans, supported by Egypt's Jamal Abdul Nasser, and the monarchists, backed by Saudi Arabia, saw the beginning of Saudi-Israeli relations.

‎الداخلية البحرينية تمنع تنظيم مسيرات التأييد لغزة
A news report on the Bahraini Interior Ministry's ban on demonstrations in solidarity with Gaza.

‎تحديات صعبة تواجه منطقة الخليج
Ali Al Ghrash examines the challenges facing the Gulf region.

‎اليمن: دار الرئاسة تشهد احتفالا بذكرى توقيع المبادرة الخليجية بمباركة دولية وصال يتغيب عنها تفاديا للشماتة
Khalid Hamadi reports on the celebration commemorating the first anniversary of the Gulf Cooperation Council's initiative that saw the ousting of the former Yemeni president, Ali Abudllah Saleh last year.

‎الملك السعودي يصارع الموت؟
A news report on speculations on the Saudi king's health.

‎وزيرة الإعلام البحرينية: عروبة البحرين في خطر
A news report on the Bahraini Information Minister's warning that the Arabness of Bahrain is in danger.

‎وزير الخارجية الكويتي: الكويت على استعداد لإنهاء القضايا العالقة مع العراق
A news report on the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister's assertion that Kuwait is willing to settle all issues with Iraq.