[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
The CIA`s Mop-Up Man: L.A. Times Reporter Cleared Stories with Agency Before Publication The Intercept published email exchanges between CIA public affairs officers and a reporter regarding a story on drone strikes in Yemen and Pakistan.
US military helicopter crashes in Gulf of Aden The US Navy says that a Marine Corps helicopter with twenty-five people on board crashed in the Gulf of Aden.
Foreign Powers Buy Influence at Think Tanks Eric Lipton, Brooke Williams, and Nicholas Confessore write on the donations that Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, among other counties, made to major think tanks in Washington.
Saudi unveils 900km fence on Iraq border Saudi Arabia intends to build a multi-layered fence along its border with Iraq to protect the kingdom against infiltrators.
Saudi Arabia hosts talks with U.S., regional allies on Thursday Saudi Arabia hosts an Arab-US meeting that includes Jordan, Turkey, and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, in Jeddah, with the aim of tackling the crises in Iraq and Syria.
Kerry to hold Saudi talks on Islamic State The US secretary of state meets with Arab foreign ministers to outline a strategy against the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria.
US `encouraged` as UAE and Saudis offer help in coalition attack on Isis Richard Luscombe, Ian Black, and Martin Chulov report on the US efforts to build a coalition for its war on the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria.
U.S. wins Arab support for Syria/Iraq military campaign Members of the Gulf Cooperation Council are among ten Arab states that will join the coalition against the Islamic State.
Russian ambassador to Lebanon deplores “incomplete” Jeddah anti-terrorism conference The Russian ambassador to Beirut asserts that the Jeddah meeting is incomplete because it does not include all the relevant parties.
UAE calls for `unified effort` against militancy in region The United Arab Emirates calls for a “united front” against radical militancy during a NATO summit held in Wales.
Bahrain king calls for crushing terrorism King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa warns that terrorism will remain a threat to the region if no action is taken.
Isis jihadis using captured arms and troop carriers from US and Saudis The Jihadi group is using US-made weapons that it captured in Iraq and anti-tank rockets supplied by Saudi Arabia to a “moderate” rebel group in Syria.
Qatar’s Support of Islamists Alienates Allies Near and Far David Kirkpatrick writes on Qatar’s support of Islamist groups, including the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria.
Libyan PM accuses Qatar of sending planes with weapons to Tripoli Feras Bosalum and Ayman al-Warfalli report on tensions in Qatari-Libyan relations.
Brotherhood figures leave Qatar for London: Interior Ministry Seven Egyptian affiliates of the Muslim Brotherhood leave Qatar and arrive in the United Kingdom.
Expulsion of Brotherhood from Qatar downplayed Ramadan Al Sherbini analyzes the implications of the Muslim Brotherhood leaders’ exodus from Qatar.
How Iran succeeded in Yemen while Saudi Arabia failed Mona Safwan analyzes Saudi Arabia’s failure and Iran’s success in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia pulls diplomats from Yemen Saudi Arabia evacuates most of its diplomats from Yemen following the rising tension between the Houthis and the army.
Egypt ex-president Morsi charged over Qatar files leak The former Egyptian president is formally charged with handing over national security documents to Qatar.
Qatar says it mediated release of Fiji peacekeepers Qatar mediates the release of forty-five Fiji peacekeepers who were kidnapped by al-Qa‘ida-linked rebels in the Golan Heights.
Bahrain and Saudi Arabia announce new causeway Saudi Arabia and Bahrain will build a new causeway between the two countries, to be named “King Hamad Causeway.”
No Saudi visas for Israeli passport holders The kingdom dismisses reports that it issued hajj visas to Palestinians holding Israeli citizenship.
Reports and Opinions
Pro-Isil graffiti found in Saudi schools Slogans in support of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant are found in some schools in Riyadh.
Driver apprehended for extremist slogans Saudi authorities arrest a man in Taif for driving a van that carried slogans in support of the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria.
Three beheaded by the sword in Saudi Arabia An Iraqi man and two Saudi nationals were beheaded last week, bringing the number of beheadings in the kingdom this year to fifty-three.
Saudi Arabia`s clerics condemn IS but preach intolerance A news report on the paradoxes in the stand of Saudi religious cleric who dub the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria as “deviant” and yet embrace Wahhabi beliefs, which encourage intolerance.
Saudi Arabia arrests 88 men for ‘plotting attacks’ A news report on the arrest of eighty-eight men accused of plotting attacks inside and outside the kingdom.
Saudi jails six for going abroad to fight The Specialized Criminal Court sentences six people for up to six years for security offences.
Saudi court jails 24 men on terrorism charges A Saudi court sentences twenty-two Saudi nationals, one US citizen, and one Yemeni to jail terms on terrorism charges.
Kuwait clamps down on terror financing Kuwait vows to take legal action against its nationals accused of financing terrorism.
Sect references banned in Kuwait schools The acting education minister issues an order banning reference to sects on application forms.
Repression in Bahrain
Bahrain urged to free rights activist Bahraini authorities are facing increasing pressure to release Maryam al-Khawaja, who was arrested upon her arrival in Bahrain weeks ago.
Q&A: Bahrain rights defender Maryam Khawaja Preethi Nallu talks to al-Khawaja about human rights and freedom in Bahrain shortly before her arrest.
Maryam al-Khawaja’s arrest shows Bahrain at its worst Sara Yasin describes Maryam al-Khawaja as “the sort of woman that dictators have nightmares about.”
Bahrain postpones trial of prominent human rights activist A Bahraini judge postpones the trial of Maryam al-Khawaja by ten days and orders that she remain in custody.
Bahraini man in citizenship row released A Bahraini man who received Qatari citizenship and encouraged others to do the same is released from custody.
Crisis in Yemen
Yemeni women fight for greater representation Yemeni activists assert that women’s rights have been sidelined.
IMF sets $553m loan for Yemen The International Monetary Fund approves a new loan for Yemen to help stabilize its finances.
Yemen: Who’s Houthi? An Economist article on the Houthi rebels and their demands.
Armed Houthis make demands on Yemen’s government Nasser Arrabyee analyzes the political impact of the Houthis in Yemen.
Yemen president dismisses government to end stand-off Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi dismisses the government and promises to review fuel subsidy cuts in order to end the political deadlock in the country.
Yemen to name new PM in deal with Al Houthis The Yemeni president is expected to name a new prime minister under a new deal with the Houthis.
Yemen`s president faces political stalemate Peter Salisbury analyzes the ongoing political standoff in Yemen.
Yemen: Tension escalates as Houthis press for ‘rightful’ demands Ahmed al-Zarqa reports on the increasing tension in Yemen.
Yemen: The Houthis tighten their control over Sanaa Mona Safwan reports on Houthi rebels enclosing upon Sanaa, and Saudi Arabia’s anxiety over their increasing power.
Yemeni police clash with Shia Houthis in Sanaa Police forces use water cannon and tear gas to disperse thousands of Houthi protesters.
Yemen army and Houthis trade gunfire in Sanaa A news report on renewed clashes between the Houthi rebels and state forces in a Sanaa suburb.
Yemen police fire on Houthi protesters The police kill at least seven Houthi protesters in Sanaa.
Hundreds of families displaced by northern Yemen fighting Hundreds of Yemeni families leave their homes following confrontations between the Houthi fighters and the army.
Progress in Yemen rebels, officials talks Yemeni officials and Houthi rebels met last week to negotiate a deal to end the political stalemate, sparked by calls for the government to resign.
Migrant Workers
British researchers ‘missing’ in Qatar Suspicions emerge that Qatari authorities have detained two British nationals investigating the treatment of migrant workers in the country.
Qatar frees detained British rights researchers Qatari authorities releases the two British nationals, who were accused of violating Qatari law.
Call for UN to investigate plight of migrant workers in the UAE The International Trade Union Confederation calls upon the United Nations to launch an investigation into evidence that thousands of migrant workers are treated as slave labor.
Media
Bahraini activist released after tweet furore The Bahraini authorities release Yacoub Slaiss, who was arrested for posting “offensive” tweets.
Bahrain rejects media watchdog report The Bahraini Information Affairs Authority describes a report issued by Reporters Without Borders as biased.
Watchdog slams Kuwait’s blasphemy charge against blogger Reporters Without Borders condemns the Kuwaiti authorities’ arrest of a blogger over a controversial tweet.
Kuwait jails man for tweets ‘insulting Shiites’ A Kuwait court sentences a Sunni Islamist activist to three years in jail for posting remarks considered demeaning to Shi‘is.
Yemen journalists suffer deadly attacks Saeed Al Batati reports on a string of attacks on journalists in Yemen.
Saudi court upholds 10-year term for rights activist A Saudi court upholds the jail sentence against Raef Badawi, who is convicted of “creating a website insulting Islam.”
Human Rights
Yemen: Lethal Force Against Houthi Protesters Human Rights Watch condemns Yemeni authorities’ use of unnecessary force against Houthi protesters, which left nine dead and sixty-seven injured.
Saudi Arabia: Protest Convictions Flawed, Unfair Human Rights Watch describes the trial of seven men who took part in protests in 2011 and 2012 as “a mockery of due process.”
Oman: Stop Targeting Rights Critic Human Rights Watch urges the Omani regime to stop its harassment of Mohammed al-Fazari.
Bahrain: Free High-Profile Activists Human Rights Watch calls upon the Bahraini regime to immediately release thirteen high-profile dissidents serving long sentences for exercising their human rights.
Yemen: Violent crushing of protest signals alarming escalation in standoff with Huthis Amnesty International expresses its concern over the use of force against protesters in Yemen.
Update: Saudi Arabia: Court of Appeal upholds sentence of human rights defender Raif Badawi The Gulf Center for Human Rights condemns the decision of the Court of Appeal to uphold Raef Badawi’s jail sentence.
Bahrain: Human Rights Defender Naji Fateel starts a hunger strike for Freedom The Gulf Center for Human Rights and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights report on Fateel’s decision to start a hunger strike.
Kuwait: Human rights defender Abdulhakim Al-Fadhli sentenced to 6 months in prison The Gulf Center for Human Rights deplores the six-month jail sentence of the human rights defender.
Saudi Arabia: Sentence of human rights defender Fadel Al-Manasef reduced by one year following reconsideration by the Court The Gulf Center for Human Rights reports on the reduction of al-Manasef’s fifteen-year jail sentence by one year.
Bahrain: Letter to the 47 countries that signed a joint statement about Bahrain at the United Nations Human Rights Council The Bahrain Center for Human Rights, along with seven other human rights organizations, calls upon the countries that signed a joint statement urging the release of jailed activists in Bahrain in June, to repeat their appeal.
Bahrain: Revoking citizenship, a new tool to punish activists and combat freedom of expression The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses its concern over the Bahraini authorities’ adoption of denaturalization measures against activists.
Health
Mers: Saudis in push to keep Hajj free from deadly virus Health officials in the kingdom assert that they are doing all they can to avoid an outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome during hajj next month.
No work permit in Saudi Arabia for Ebola-hit country nationals Saudi Arabia stops issuing both work permits to workers from Ebola-hit countries and hajj visas to citizens of Guinea and Liberia.
Arabic
البحرين: المثال المعاكس
Amer Mohsen argues that the Bahraini opposition has managed to maintain a nationalist, non-sectarian discourse despite the authorities’ sectarian measures and rhetoric.
البحرين تمدّد اعتقال مريم الخواجة
Bahraini authorities extend the detention of Maryam al-Khawaja for another ten days.
الرياض ــ طهران: بين الخوف والرجاء
Mohammed Sadiq al-Husseini discusses the reasons behind Saudi Arabia’s efforts to reach out to Iran.
داعش والوهابية والتكفير: الاختلاف والتشابه
Badr al-Ibrahim analyzes the similarities and differences between the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria, Wahhabism, and takfiri thought.
صعود «أنصار الله» يحدّ من الصراع القطري ـ السعودي
Ussama Sari argues that the increasing power of the Houthis has intensified Saudi-Qatari rivalry in Yemen.
الانقلاب على «الإخوان»: سيناريوات الحرب والمصالحة في صنعاء
Mona Safwan writes on the Yemeni authorities’ efforts to diminish the political role of al-Islah Party, which became an important player in Yemen’s political life following the 2011 uprising.
الحوثيّون يتجاهلون قرارات هادي: مستمرون في «العصيان المدني»
Ahmed al-Zarqa and Ali Awaidha report on the Houthis’ decision to reject the Yemeni president’s initiative to end political stalement in the country, and to continue their “civil disobedience.”
الحوثيون يحكمون سيطرتهم حول صنعاء... بالنار
Mona Safwan reports on the expansion of the Houthi rebels in many Yemeni cities and Saudi Arabia’s anxiety over their increasing power.
صنعاء: تظاهرتان تجسّدان الانقسام اليمني
Two demonstrations—one led by pro-government groups and the other one by al-Houthi rebels—reveal the divisions in Yemen.
اليمن | المواجهة حتمية بين الحكومة و«الحوثيين»!
A news report on the inevitability of clashes between the Houthis and the government.
خريطة الاعتصام في صنعاء لا تنبئ بمواجهات أهليّة
Jamal Jubran argues that pro-government demonstrations in Yemen are so small and weak that the possibility of clashes with the Houthi rebels is not feasible.
اليمن: استعادة الفوضى ... وإعادة التقسيم
Mona Sawfan argues that the current crisis in Yemen will provide southern Yemen with an opportunity to regain its independence.
المواجهات بين الأمن والحوثيين بقرار سعودي؟
Ahmed al-Zarqa examines whether Saudi support of the Yemeni president can lead to open confrontations between the Houthi rebels and the Yemeni army.
اليمن | الحوثي يهاجم «دواعش» الأحمر: الحلّ الوحيد الاستجابة لمطالبنا
The leader of the Houthis warn that the ideology of the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria is permeating the Yemeni state.
اليمن | الأزمة تبلغ ذروتها: شرارة الحرب بلغت صنــعاء؟
The crisis in Yemen enters a new phase with the death of one protesters and the injury of forty people in Sanaa during clashes between security forces and the Houthis.
اليمن: 7 قتلى برصاص قوات الأمن
Security forces kill seven protesters in Sanaa in the most recent clashes with the Houthi fighters.
اليمن | المواجهات مستمرة في صنعاء... والأهالي ينزحون خوفاً من الأعظم
A news report on ongoing clashes in Sanaa as residents start fleeing the capital.
اليمن: مقتل 3 جنود في هجوم انتحاري في حضرموت
Three Yemeni soldiers die in a suicide car bomb in Hadramawt.
اليمن: اتفاق مبدئي مع الحوثيين
The Yemeni government agrees to lower fuel prices in an attempt to end the stand-off with the Houthis, who in turn promised to end their sit-ins.
اليمن | «أنصار الله»: المفاوضات عادت إلى «النقطة الصفر»
A news report on the failure of the negotiations between the Houthis and the Yemeni government.
لهذا فشلت السعودية في اليمن ... ونجحت إيران!
Mona Safwan writes on the Saudi failure and the Iranian success in Yemen.
اقتصاد المعرفة والتعليم الوهابي
Amer Mohsen writes on the political economy of Wahhabi knowledge and teaching in Saudi Arabia.
أوباما و«الدولة الإسلامية» والصين والسعودية من منظار جيو ـ سياسي
Mustafa al-Labbad examines the reactions of regional and international powers—in particular the United States, China, and Saudi Arabia—to the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria.
الوحش الذي كَبُرَ تحت أعين واشنطن والرياض
Sabah Ayyoub maintains that the Gulf states’ sectarian politics and money has led to the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria.
خيوط اللعبة | السعودية و«داعش»... حدود المواجهة
Sami Kleib analyzes Saudi Arabia’s view of the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria.
السعودية تستضيف اجتماعاً عربياً - أميركياً حول الإرهاب
Saudi Arabia hosts an Arab-US meeting—including the United States, Jordan, Turkey, and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council—in Jeddah, aiming to fight terrorism.
كيري يطلق من جدة التحالف الدولي ضد «داعش»
The US secretary of state launches a coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria, from Jeddah.
جدة تثبّت التفاهم الأميركي ـ السعودي: الحملة تشمل ليبيا ولبنان وسوريا والعراق واليمن
A news report on the new US-Saudi collaboration.
«مؤتمر جدّة» يعيد بناء «محور الاعتدال» برعاية أميركيّة
Fouad Ibrahim argues that the Jeddah meeting is a Saudi-US bargain aiming to spare Saudi Arabia the accusation that it promotes terrorism.
السعودية توافق على تدريب مقاتلي المعارضة السورية
Saudi Arabia agrees to host training camps for fighters in the Syrian opposition.
قطر وتمويل «داعش»: المقاربة الأميركية
Though it does not have proof that the Qatari authorities are funding the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria, the United States believes that Qatari individuals are funding the group.
السفير الروسي في لبنان: لقاء جدة في وجه الإرهاب ناقص
The Russian ambassador to Beirut asserts that the Jeddah meeting, which intends to fight terrorism, is incomplete because it does not include all the parties involved.
ما وراء الهجرة السنية من البحرين إلى قطر
Abbas Safwan analyzes the migration of some Sunni Bahrainis to Qatar.
نفاق من البحرين وخبث من قطر
Khalil Harb analyzes “the war of naturalization” between Qatar and Bahrain.
السعودية: تدشّن سياجاً أمنياً على حدودها الشمالية
Saudi Arabia starts building a new security fence on its borders with Iraq and Jordan.
السعودية تعتقل 88 "إرهابياً"
The Saudi interior ministry announces that it has arrested eighty-eight men suspected of plotting attacks inside and outside the kingdom.
قطر تؤكد توقيف بريطانيين بسب"مخالفتهما القوانين"
Qatari authorities announce the arrest of two British nationals for breaking the law.
قطر تفرج عن بريطانيين كانا معتقلين لديها
Qatar releases two British nationals, who were investigating the conditions of migrant workers.
السعودية | عائلة النمر تنفي إصدار حكم «الحرابة» على الشيخ
The family of the jailed religious scholar, Nimr al-Nimr, denies reports that he was sentenced to death by crucification and the cutting of his hands and legs.
احتقان يرافق جلسة الحكم على الشيخ النمر
A Saudi court is expected to sentence Nimr al-Nimr very soon.
الإمارات: محاكمة 15 شخصاً من "النصرة" و"أحرار الشام"
The trial of fifteen Islamists, accused of joining and funding two terrorist organizations, began in Abu Dhabi last week.
جسر جديد بين البحرين والسعودية بكلفة خمسة مليارات دولار
A new bridge linking Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will cost five billion dollars.