[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
U.S.-Saudi Relations Patrick Chappatte`s cartoon on the tense relations between Washington and Riyadh, and John Kerry’s visit to the kingdom.
Saudi nuclear weapons ‘on order’ from Pakistan Mark Urban investigates reports about Saudi Arabia’s investment in Pakistani nuclear weapons projects.
UAE begins trial of Egyptians, Emiratis over Brotherhood ties Rania El Gamal reports on the start of the trial of thirty Arab nationals in Abu Dhabi accused of setting up an illegal branch of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood in the Gulf state.
US-Iran rapprochement to bring stability: Bahrain Habib Toumi reports on the Bahraini foreign minister’s reaction to the news of talks between Tehran and Washington.
Chuck Hagel to attend Manama Dialogue next month The US Secretary of Defence will attend the international security conference to be held in Manama next month.
Reports and Opinions
Oman bans strikes in essential services The Omani authorities ban strikes in oil companies, refineries, ports, and airports.
Third Kuwaiti minister faces grilling A Kuwaiti lawmaker demands that the Minister of Planning and Development be questioned over incompetence and mismanagement, which brings the number of ministers investigated so far to three.
Qatar World Cup will not clash with Winter Olympics – Blatter Fifa President asserts that the tournament will be held in either November or December in 2022.
Repression in Bahrain
Bahrain sentences members of ‘Imam Army’ A Bahraini court sentences four activists to life and six others to fifteen years in jail on charges of setting up a group linked to the Revolutionary Guards in Iran with the intention of assassinating public figures.
Bahrain: Authorities Promoting Sectarian Tensions by Targeting Shia Muslims During Ashoura The Bahrain Center for Human Rights and the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights express concerns over the attacks by security forces on neighborhoods inhabited by Shi`a Bahrainis during the month of Muharram.
Bahrain: Citizenship Revoked for 31 Individuals in Act of Retribution for Freedom of Expression The Bahrain Center for Human Rights condemns the denaturalization of thirty-one Bahraini activists.
Crisis in Yemen
Yemen air strikes kill al-Qaida militants A news report on the death of five alleged al-Qaeda fighters in Abyan in air strikes suspected to be carried out by US drones.
Al Houthi, Salafist ceasefire may be crumbling in Yemen A news report on the impending failure of a ceasefire between Huthi and Salafist fighters in Dammaj last week.
Al Houthi-Salafist fighting stops in Yemen Fighting stops in Dammaj after the Yemeni government managed to broker a ceasefire agreement two days ago.
Migrant Workers
Saudi police clash with foreign workers after visa raids A news report on the attacks by Saudi police on foreign workers, which left two people dead and scores wounded.
Saudi Arabia arrests thousands of illegal migrant workers The Saudi authorities start a nationwide campaign against undocumented foreign workers following the application of a new labor law.
After Clashes With Saudis, Laborers Opt to Go Home Ben Hubbard describes the scene in Saudi Arabia, where thousands of foreign workers are being deported to their home countries.
Philippines checking on reports of abuse in Saudi crackdown The Philippines sent a team to investigate reports of abuse during crackdown on illegal workers.
UN calls Qatar World Cup labour camps ‘slum-like dump’ – video Francois Crepeau, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, condemns the living conditions of migrant workers in Qatar.
Human Rights Watch
Why Workers’ Rights in Qatar Also Matter to German Business Wenzel Michalski urges German companies discussing business opportunities in Qatar to take measures to ensure against abuses of workers.
Dispatches: Saudi Should Crack Down on Flawed Laws, Not Migrants Adam Coogle condemns the nationwide crackdown on undocumented migrant workers in the kingdom and calls for the improvement of labor legislations.
Dispatches: Fifa President Should Meet Zahir Belounis in Qatar Nicholas McGeehan asks Sepp Blatter, who is visiting Qatar to discuss migrant workers’ rights with the emir, to meet with the French professional football player to get a first-hand account of the treatment of migrant workers.
Joint Letter to King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Candidacy for the Human Rights Council A group of human rights organizations address a letter to the Saudi king, urging him to take steps to protect human rights in the kingdom.
Gulf Center for Human Rights
Bahrain – Medical professionals subjected to ill treatment in prison to set up body of medics for Human Rights Ibrahim al-Demistani, Hasaan Matooq, and Ali al-Ekri write a letter from prison detailing the conditions of their detention.
Oman – Arbitrary arrest and detention of human rights defender Khalfan al-Badwawi GCHR reports on the arrest of the human rights activist and urges the Omani government to release him.
Kuwait – Authorities continue to target human rights defenders Members of the National Committee to Monitor Violations appear before the Kuwaiti Criminal Court to hear the charges against them, which include insulting the emir and challenging his authority.
Arabic
آل سعود… العداء للإسلام والعروبة
Thuraya Assi writes on Al Saud`s animosity towards Islam and Arabism.
كيري في السعودية `الممانعة`: سياسة جبر الخواطر
An editorial on John Kerry`s visit to Saudi Arabia, which aimed to ease the tension between the two countries.
النظام السعودي يحاصر التيار الحقوقي
Madawi al-Rasheed writes on the Saudi government`s war on human rights lawyers.
صحيفة ألمانية: السعودية تنوي شراء غواصات
A news report on Saudi Arabia`s intention to buy German submarines.
العراق في مواجهة السعودية، خطوات مشرقية
Ahmed Fakhir analyzes the war Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states, and Turkey are waging against Iraq.
تجاوزات "الهيئة" في السعودية: الإلغاء هو الحل
Sarah al-Mashafi argues that the best way to deal with the violations of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice is to dissolve the committee.
الكويت تنفي شغل مقعد السعودية في مجلس الأمن
Kuwait denies reports that Kuwait would like to take up the non-permanent seat in the Security Council, which was turned down by Saudi Arabia.
العمالة اليمنية في السعودية: أداة ابتزاز سياسي
Fari` al-Muslimi argues that Yemeni labor in Saudi Arabia has become a tool of political blackmail in the hands of the Saudi authorities.
اليمن: السعودية ترحل أكثر من 25 الف عامل يمني خلال 5 أيام وتوقعات بتحولهم لقنابل موقوتة ضدها
Khalid al-Hamadi reports on the deportation of more than twenty-five thousand Yemeni workers in Saudi Arabia during five days following the application of the new labor laws in the kingdom.
البحرين: السلطات تستهدف ذكرى عاشوراء
A news report on the Bahraini authorities` efforts to limit Ashura rituals this year.
البحرين: حملة لإنهاء الإفلات من العقاب
A news report on the Bahrain Center for Human Rights` campaign, "Wanted: For Justice in Bahrain," which sheds light on the Bahraini authorities` human rights violations
صراع استخباري أميركي-سعودي على سوريا
Mohammed Ballout analyzes the US-Saudi intelligence fight over Syria.
اليمن | استكمال الحوار اليوم
A news report on the resumption of the national dialogue in Yemen.
مسؤول يمني ل`القدس العربي`: الحوثيون يحاولون تفجير الوضع لتعطيل الحوار الوطني
Mohammed Jmeeh talks to a Yemeni official who accuses the Huthis of exacerbating the situation in Yemen in order to thwart the national dialogue.
الكويت تواصل اعتقال عشرات الفلسطينيين منذ عام 1991 بدون محاكمة والسفير الفلسطيني يلتزم الصمت ويمتنع عن التعقيب
Walid Awad reports on the ongoing arrest of Palestinians in Kuwait since 1991 and the silence of the Palestinian ambassador.