[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
‘East of Suez’: Are UK forces returning? Frank Gardner reports on British efforts to establish a permanent military presence in the Gulf, on BBC.
UAE and Britain: credibility gulf An editorial warning that Britain’s strategic and military relations with the Gulf state should not ignore human rights abuses in these countries, in The Guardian.
UK cuddles up to Gulf states – hidden dangers ahead Richard Norton-Taylor and Nick Hopkins examine the implications of Britain’s deepening relations with the Gulf states, notorious for their bad human rights record, in The Guardian.
The UAE’s human rights record must be questioned on president’s UK visit Graeme Irvine hopes the British prime minister will raise the secret trial of ninety-four activists in the Gulf state with the Emirati president, in The Guardian.
Britons jailed in Dubai on drug charges ‘tortured’ A news report on the alleged torture of three jailed British men and the pressure from human rights groups on David Cameron to bring up the case with the Emirati president, on BBC.
UK PM concerned over claims of torture in UAE David Cameron expresses his concerns over allegations of torture ahead of the Emirati president’s visit to England, on Al Jazeera English.
Senator Urges Transfer of Guantanamo Detainees to Yemen Amid Revolt Charlie Savage reports on Senator Dianne Feinstein’s recommendation to transfer fifty-six Yemenis in Guantanamo Prison to Yemen, in The New York Times.
Reports and Opinions
Saudi Arabia domestic violence campaign shows woman in niqab with black eye David Blair writes on the “No More Abuse” campaign launched by the King Khalid Foundation, in The Telegraph.
Why Not Criticize the Kuwaiti Opposition? Mona Kareem reflects on the implication of criticizing the Kuwaiti opposition, on Al-Akhbar English.
Repression in Bahrain
Bahrain rejects US report on human rights An article on the Bahraini government’s reaction to a report on human rights abuses published by the US State Department, on Al Jazeera English.
Protesters Arrested and Feared Tortured, Charged Under Terrorism Law, Special Rapporteur on Torture Denied Access A statement by Bahrain Youth Society For Human Rights expressing concern over the arrest of Nafeesa Al-Asfoor and Rayhana Al-Mosawi who were protesting the F-1 race.
Joint Letter to the President of the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA) A letter sent by Mohammed Al-Maskati and Maryam Al-Khawaja to Joseph Blatter urging him to reconsider the nomination of Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa for a position in the association.
Crisis in Yemen
Yemeni Activist Farea al-Muslimi Urges U.S. to Stop the Drone War on His Country Juan Gonzalez and Amy Goodman interview al-Muslimi who spoke before a congressional hearing in the United States on the suffering caused by the American drone strikes in Yemen, on Democracy Now.
Yemeni man brings the horror of drone strikes home to US Senate A transcript of Farea al-Muslimi’s testimony before a senate hearing, in The Independent.
Street Art: Yemen’s forced disappeared A report on Murad Sobay’s art initiative to remember Yemenis who have disappeared in the last four decades, on France 24.
Yemen blames al-Qaeda for troop deaths A news report on the death of five soldiers in an attack on a checkpoint in Rada, on Al Jazeera English.
Human Rights Watch
UAE: Cameron Should Press Rulers on Torture A statement by the organization urging David Cameron to discuss the United Arab Emirates’ bad human rights record with the Emirati president during his visit to England this week.
Letter to UK Prime Minister David Cameron on Upcoming Meeting with UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan A letter signed by seven human rights organizations calling on the British prime minister to express Britain’s “grave concern” over human rights abuses in the Gulf state.
Gulf Center for Human Rights
UAE – Prominent human rights lawyer Dr. Mohammad Al-Roken describes violations committed by authorities against UAE 94 in prison A report on a letter written by Al-Roken to his family, describing human rights abuses against him and ninety-four activists, including denial of access to lawyers, psychological humiliation, and communication with other defendants.
Saudi Arabia – Human rights defender Dr. Abdulkarim Al-Khodr detained for four months before fourth session of his trial starts A news report on the arrest of human rights activist Al-Khodr while in court awaiting the hearing of his trial.
Saudi Arabia – Serious concern for safety of human rights defender, Mohammed Saleh Al-Bajadi, who has been held in incommunicado detention since September A statement by the organization expressing concern over Al-Bajadi’s health and safety.
Arabic
سلمان العودة: ثائر ام واعظ؟
Madawi Al-Rasheed analyzes a book published by a prominent figure in the Saudi Salafi movement, Salman al-Awdah, entitled Questions of Revolution.
"الاختفاء القسري" في سجون السعودية
Anhar Hizaji discusses a case of forced disappearance in Saudi Arabia.
هل يخلع الإبراهيمي العباءة العربية عن مهمته السورية؟ خلافات خليجية تحبط مخططاً قطرياً لخطف أمانة "الجامعة"
Mohammed Ballout writes on the repercussions of the clash between the Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi and the Qatari minister of foreign affairs Hamad bin Jasim, and on internal conflicts among Gulf states, which undermined Qatar`s plan to take over the Arab League.
دول الخليج امام زلزالين: طبيعي وسياسي
Said al-Shihabi reflects on the natural and political earthquakes threatening the Gulf states.
الحركات الاسلامية ودول الخليج: فرصة لتصحيح العلاقة؟
Abdul Wahab al-Afandi examines relations between Islamist movements and Gulf countries.
حرب خليجية إيرانية جديدة على الابواب
Ahamd Radhi predicts an Iran-Gulf war in the near future.
`بلكونة` جون جينيه تكشف حاضر اليمن ومستقبله
Habib Abd Arrab Sururi reflects on the Yemeni scene in light of Jean Genet`s The Balcony.
مدانون من القاعدة في اليمن يشتمون القاضي من قفص الاتهام ويهددون بتصفيته
A news report on the death threats made by al-Qaeda suspects on trial in Yemen to the judge.
البيض يقول إنه عرض على الأمم المتحدة مطالب الجنوبيين بالاستقلال عن شمال اليمن
A news report on Ali Salim al-Beidh`s statement to the United Nations regarding southern Yemen`s demand for independence from the north.
منظمة: 81 غارة لطائرات بدون طيار في اليمن عام 2012
A news report on a Yemeni human rights organization`s assertion that there were eighty-one drone strikes in Yemen in 2012.
اليمن: هادي يدرس تشكيل حكومة جديدة والصراع يبدأ باكرا على رئاستها: أبرز المرشحين نعمان والسعدي والترب والأصبحي
Khalid al-Hamadi writes on the Yemeni president`s intention to form a new government and the struggle over the position of the prime minister.
الكويت تجمد مشروع قانون للاعلام أثار جدلا
A news report on the Kuwaiti government`s decision to freeze a controversial media law.
المعارض الكويتي البراك: الكويتيون جميعا متمسكون بنظام الحكم
Mahmood Harbi reports on a statement made by the Kuwaiti opposition figure, Mussallam al-Barrak, that he does not seek to overthrow the regime.
اعتقال شابتين في البحرين بتهمة محاولة تنفيذ هجوم خلال سباق الفورمولا واحد
A news report on the arrest of two young women in Bahrain, who are accused of attempting to carry out "a terrorist attack" during the Formula One Grand Prix.
المانيا تصدق على توريد مزيد من الاسلحة لقطر
A news report on the German government`s ratification of arms exports to Qatar.
ما هذا البالون المنفوخ الذي اسمه دولة قطر؟
Mohammed Said Rissass examines Qatar`s increasing regional influence.
البحرين: تقرير الخارجية الأميركية ليس حقيقياً ويعزز دور الإرهاب
A news article on the Bahraini government`s condemnation of the US State Department report on human rights abuses in the kingdom.
مدير السجون السعودية: جهات دولية تنشر تقارير سلبية عن سجون المملكة
A news article on a statement issued by the general director of prisons in Saudi Arabia regarding the negative reports circulated by international groups on the condition of prisons in the kingdom.
جولة هاغل: تكتم مصري وتسلح إماراتي
A news article on Chuck Hagel`s visit to the Middle East, including putting the final touches on a five billion dollar arms deal with the United Arab Emirates.
وزير الدفاع الامريكي يختتم زيارته الرسمية للسعودية
A news article on Hagel`s visit to Saudi Arabia.