[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
Saudis detain families at rights protests A news report on the arrest of dozens of Saudi civilians who were demanding the release of their jailed relatives, on Gulf News.
Qatari poet Mohammad Al-Ajami sentenced to life in prison A news report on Al-Ajami’s sentence for “insulting the Emir” and “inciting to overthrow the regime,” on Doha News.
Qatari poet jailed for life to appeal A news report on Al-Ajami’s lawyer’s assertion that the poet will appeal the life sentence, on Al-Jazeera English.
Discounted Saudi Crude Shape Refiners’ Political Contributions, Paper Finds Justin Lahart reports on Jennifer Peck’s paper, which states that Saudi Aramco sold crude to U.S. refiners at a considerable discount from 1991 to 2003, in Wall Street Journal.
Kuwaiti lawyer appeals sentence for religious insults A news report on Khaled Al-Shatti’s appeal against a one-year jail sentence for “insulting Sunni Islam,” on Your Middle East.
Can Qatar’s food security plan ripen? A featured report on Qatar’s experiment with solar power to desalinate water in its efforts to produce most of its food within the next decade, on Al-Jazeera English.
Living poor in Saudi Arabia A photo gallery of the conditions of poor Saudis, in The Washington Post.
In Saudi Arabia, unemployment and booming population drive growing poverty, Kevin Sullivan writes on poverty in the kingdom, in The Washington Post.
Bahraini MP burns Israeli flag in parliament, escapes punitive action A news report on Osama Al-Tamimi who burned the Israel flag to protest the bombing of Gaza, on Al Arabiya News.
Missing ‘Saudigate’ Documents in Sweden Spur Call for Inquiry A news report on the uproar over the removal of the “Saudigate affair” on arms deals from public files.
Gentrification and Xenophobia in the Gulf Mona Kareem writes on the plights of migrant workers in the Gulf state, on Al-Akhbar English.
Repression in Bahrain
Bahrain police deploy teargas at anti-Kim Kardashian protest A news report on clashes between the police and hardline Islamic protesters in Bahrain.
An intolerable status quo in Bahrain Elisa Massimino describes the hearings for twenty-eight medics, which she attended in Doha, in The Washington Post.
US Mass Media ignore Bahrain until Kim Kardashian gives them Tow Reasons not To Juan Cole examines the coverage of Bahrain’s news in American news channels, on his blog Informed Comment.
Parliamentary Elections in Kuwait
Voting ends in Kuwait amidst call for boycott A news report on the parliamentary elections in Kuwait last Saturday, on Al-Jazeera English.
Kuwait election turnout shrinks after opposition boycott Ian Black reports on the parliamentary elections, in The Guardian.
Shia minority makes gains in Kuwait election A news report on the electoral results, on Al-Jazeera English.
Crisis in Yemen
Saudi diplomat killed in Yemeni capital A news report on the assassination of a Saudi military official and his guard in Sanaa, on Al-Jazeera English.
U.S. Buys Yemen a Fleet of Spy Planes for Growing Shadow War Spencer Ackerman analyzes the Pentagon’s decision to buy piloted spy planes for Yemen, on Wired.
Human Rights Watch
UAE No Model of Progress Joe Stork argues against the claim by the Italian ambassador to the United Arab Emirates that the Gulf state is “a model of intolerance.”
UAE: Cybercrimes Decree Attacks Free Speech A statement by the organization condemning the new federal decree on cybercrimes for the threat it poses for liberty and peaceful protests.
The State of Kuwait Mariwan Hama examines the impact of the new electoral law confirmed by the Kuwait emir on the political crisis in the country.
Climate Talks
Gulf states quiet on climate change pledges Sam Bollier writes on the failure to cut emissions, and on the growing of green energy projects in the Gulf states, on Al-Jazeera English.
Protest in Qatar calls for climate action A news report on protests during the eighteenth United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Doha, on Al-Jazeera English.
Doha: a strange place to host a climate-change conference Fiona Harvey reflects on the paradox of holding the eighteenth United Nations Climate Change Conference in Doha, in The Guardian.
Urban Landscape in Mecca
The Bin Laden conglomerate “wants to turn Mecca into Las Vegas” A France 24 article on the destruction of historical sites in Mecca.
Arabic
البحرين: سنة على تقرير بسيوني والازمة تشتد والنظام يمعن في القمع
Youssef Makki writes on the Bahraini crisis and the regime`s increased oppression.
البحرين ٢٠١٤: سيناريو إزاحة الملك يصطدم بتشتت المعارضة وضعف ولي العهد
Abbas Boussafwan reflects on the obstacles of deposing the Bahraini king.
ولي عهد السعودية يطمئن السعوديين على صحة الملك
A news report on the Saudi Crown Prince`s statement that the Saudi King is recovering well after last month`s operation.
عبدالله يظهر تلفزيونياً للمرة الأولى منذ العملية
A news report on the appearance of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on TV after his operation.
رهاب الولاية الحوثية
Abdul Malik al-Ajari describes the terror of the Houthi Emirate.
جمال بن عمر وصياً إضافياً على اليمن
Joumana Farhat argues that the appointment of Jamal bin Omar as an the United Nations Envoy to Yemen is another example of regional and international interference in Yemen`s affairs.
المهمشون: فئة يمنية منبوذة
Joumana Farhat writes on the conditions of marginalized people in Yemen.
المقاطعة تظلل انتخابات الكويت غداً
A news report on the parliamentary elections in Kuwait.
من هو "مجتهد" ولماذا نتابعه في الخفاء
Idris al-Idris writes on the Saudi Twitterer known as Mujtahid and describes the figure behind it as inciting sedition in Saudi Arabia.