[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
Jeremy Scahill on Paris Attacks, the al-Qaeda Link & the Secret U.S. War in Yemen Amy Goodman interviews Jeremy Scahill on al-Qa‘ida in Yemen and the attacks on Charlie Hebdo.
Al-Qaida in Yemen uses video to claim responsibility for Charlie Hebdo attack Jason Burke and Monica Mark report on al-Qa‘ida in Yemen’s claim of responsibility for Charlie Hebdo.
Yemen detains two French al-Qaeda suspects Yemen detains two Frenchmen over suspicion of belonging to al-Qa‘ida.
Iran minister`s Saudi visit delayed due to oil price fall: Tehran Mohammad Javad Zarif postpones a visit to Saudi Arabia in protest of Riyadh’s refusal to cut oil production.
Former Saudi oil boss says it can cope with low price A former senior adviser to the Saudi minister of petroleum asserts that his country can cope with low prices for “at least eight years.”
Revealed: Saudi Arabia`s `Great Wall` to keep out Isil Saudi Arabia is building a 600-mile wall on its borders with Iraq.
US releases Qatari held as `enemy combatant` Jenifer Fenton reports on the release of Ali al-Marri and his deportation to Doha.
Reports and Opinions
Saudi Arabia increases jail sentence for human rights lawyer A Saudi judge sentences Walid Abu al-Khair to an additional five years in jail after he refused to show remorse.
Saudi blogger faces next 50 lashes as government ignores global protests Raif Badawi’s wife asserts that her husband may not be able to withstand another round of flogging.
This cruelty to Saudi blogger Raif Badawi is a cruelty to all Muslims Deborah Orr argues that the violence meted out to Badawi by the Saudi regime is a warning to all Muslims.
Raif Badawi: Sentenced to 1000 lashes, the man who started Free Saudi Liberals website has ignited a global debate Helen Nianias reports on the global reaction to Badawi’s sentence.
The Guardian view on the public flogging of a Saudi liberal An editorial on the flogging of Raif Badawi.
Saudis ‘to review’ flogging of blogger Raif Badawi The Saudi king’s office refers the case of Raif Badawi to the supreme court.
A look at the writings of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi – sentenced to 1,000 lashes Ian Black examines Badawi’s political views.
Senators call on Saudi Arabia to cancel public flogging of blogger Eight US senators write a letter to the Saudi king warning that further human rights violations could threaten relationships.
The Price of Standing Up for Rights in Saudi Arabia Adam Coogle writes on the Saudi regime’s response to Raif Badawi’s political views.
Saudi`s top clerical body condemns Prophet Mohammad cartoons Fahad bin Saad al-Majid describes the new French cartoons as “disrespectful drawings.”
Employment in the Gulf: Not Always What it Seems Jabeen Bhatti, Janelle Dumalaon, and Aida Alami examine how the Gulf countries are attracting Arab academics.
Repression in Bahrain
Political Associations Under Threat in Bahrain as Regime Renews Crackdown on Opposition Abdul Rahim Assi reports on the increasing tension between the Bahraini regime and the opposition following the arrest of Ali Salman.
Two Wounded as Bahraini Police Clashes with Protesters Bahraini security forces clashed with a hundred and fifty protesters in Manama over the arrest of Ali Salman.
Crisis in Yemen
How Yemen spawned the Charlie Hebdo attacks – the Guardian briefing Alan Yuhas examines Yemen’s turbulent history, which allowed al-Qa‘ida in the Arabian Peninsula to thrive.
Five Guantanamo Yemeni inmates sent to Oman and Estonia US officials claim that five Yemeni men held in Guantanamo Bay for more than twelve years have been transferred to foreign custody.
Yemeni president’s chief of staff seized by gunmen Houthi fighters abduct Ahmed Awadh bin Mubarak to derail a meeting on the new constitution.
Yemen crisis: Houthi rebels clash with army in Sanaa A news report on recent clashes between the Houthis and the Yemeni army.
Human Rights
Bahrain: Release Opposition Leader Human Rights Watch calls upon the Bahraini authorities to immediately release Ali Salman.
Bahrain: Drop Twitter Charges Against Rights Advocate Human Rights Watch urges the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and other European countries to call on Manama to drop charges against Nabeel Rajab.
Postponement of Raif Badawi flogging on medical grounds exposes shocking brutality of punishment Amnesty International reports on the postponement of the flogging of Badawi.
Bahrain: Ministry of Interior deliberately targets journalists during peaceful protests The Gulf Center for Human Rights expresses concern over the Bahraini authorities’ targeting of journalists covering recent protests.
Saudi Arabia: Prominent human rights lawyer Waleed Abu Al-Khair’s sentence increased to 15 years in prison The Gulf Center for Human Rights deplores the Specialized Criminal Court’s decision to increase Abu al-Khair’s sentence to fifteen years.
16 NGOs Urge International Community to Pressure Bahrain to Drop Charges against Nabeel Rajab The Bahrain Center for Human Rights, along with another fifteen organizations, write to forty-seven states to express concern over the upcoming verdict in the trial of Nabeel Rajab.
NGOs Condemn Sentencing of Former Opposition MP Sayed Jameel Kadhem The Bahrain Center for Human Rights condemns the lower criminal court’s decision to sentence Kadhem to six months in prison.
Arabic
السعودية: وليد أبو الخير لم يعتذر... فعوقب بالسجن 15 عاماً
The Bahraini authorities increased the jail sentence of human rights activist Walid Abu al-Khair to fifteen years.
زوجة المدون السعودي رائف بدوي تطالب بالإفراج عنه
Raif Badawi’s wife asks the Saudi authorities to release him.
تأجيل جلد مدوِّن سعودي لأسباب طبية
The Saudi regime postpones the flogging of Raif Badawi for medical reasons.
نظام «آل خليفة» ينفخ على الجمر
Abdul Rahim Assi reports on the increasing tension between the Bahraini regime and the opposition following the arrest of Ali Salman.
سلمان من معتقله: قضيتنا حكومة تعبّر عن الإرادة الشعبية البحرينية
Ali Salman announces, from his jail, that the Bahraini people want an elected parliament and government that reflect the will of people.
عصر النفط الرخيص | الخليج يريد تركيع أميركا
Hassan Chakrani argues that the Gulf states’ war of oil prices aims to weaken the United States’ control of the oil market.
شطرنج النفط السعودي ونقلة إيران الممكنة
Mustafa al-Labad examines Saudi Arabia’s role in lowering the prices of oil.
القوات الخاصة بيد «مقربين» من صالح والحوثيين
The Yemeni president appoints three officers, close to the Houthis and the former president, as heads of the special units.
"القاعدة" في اليمن يتبنى هجوم باريس بأمر من الظواهري
Al-Qa’ida in Yemen claims responsibility for the attack on Charlie Hebdo last week.
اليمن: الحوثيون يحتجزون مدير مكتب الرئيس..ويلوحون بالمزيد
The Houthis “arrest” Ahmed Awadh bin Mubarak for a few hours to derail a meeting on the new constitution.
السيسي يبحث الأزمة السورية في الإمارات: الاستثمارات أولاً
The Egyptian president visits the United Arab Emirates to discuss economic projects.
«كرنفال سياسي» للسيسي في أبو ظبي
A news report describes the Egyptian president’s visit to the United Arab Emirates as “a political carnival.”
المتحدث باسم العبادي لـ«السفير»: تنسيق عراقي ــ مصري ــ سعودي
The spokesperson for the Iraqi president announces that Iraq, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia will form an alliance to fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria.
قطر: الاحتياطي المالي بلغ مستوى قياسياً
The Qatari national bank reveals that Qatar’s reserves have reached more than forty-six and a half billion dollars.
الرياض والدوحة لواشنطن: حظر طيران فوق سوريا لحماية المسلحين
Riyadh and Doha ask the US administration to impose a no-fly zone over Syria.
الكويت تستضيف المؤتمر الثالث للمانحين
The Kuwaiti foreign minister announces that Kuwait will host a donor conference that aims to raise money for humanitarian purposes in Syria.