[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
Qatar and the UK stand together in the fight against terrorism The Qatari prime minister writes an article on the Qatari emir’s visit to the United Kingdom.
Emir of Qatar aims to paint positive image of country on UK visit Ian Black reflects on the Qatari emir’s visit to London.
Britain targets Qatar as priority market for arms sales Richard Norton-Taylor writes on UK efforts to increase the sale of arms to Qatar.
Qatar pares support for Islamists but careful to preserve ties Amena Bakr argues that though Qatar has joined the fight against the Islamic State, it remains a haven for “anti-Western groups.”
Oil wars: Saudi vs the world? A news report on Saudi Arabia’s role in lowering the price of oil.
UAE`s leading role against Isis reveals its wider ambitions Ian Black analyzes the United Arab Emirates’ role in the war on the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria.
U.S. asks U.N. to blacklist ex-Yemen president, rebel leaders The United States asks the United Nations to impose sanctions on the former Yemeni president and two Houthi leaders for threatening peace and stability.
Reports and Opinions
Feminist activist detained in Saudi Arabia over ‘calls for women’s liberation’ Souad al-Shammary is arrested on charges of “insulting Islam.”
Repression in Bahrain
The family that protests against Bahrain`s brutal regime Jessica Salter writes on the Bahraini authorities’ ongoing persecution of al-Khawaja family.
Bahrain human rights activist freed on bail Nabil Rajab has been released on bail after spending a month in prison.
Bahrain court suspends main Shia opposition group a month before election Bahraini authorities decide to suspend al-Wifaq National Islamic Society for three months.
Crisis in Yemen
Prominent Yemeni politician killed in Sanaa Mohammed Abdel-Malek al-Mutawakel was assassinated in Sanaa.
At least 23 killed as Yemen troops battle al Qaeda in Hodeidah: local officials Twenty soldiers and three al-Qa‘ida fighters were killed in clashes in Hodeidah.
Suicide bomber in Yemen kills 20 Houthi fighters: sources A suicide car bomber kill about twenty Houthi rebels in al-Bayda.
Three dead in clashes between Yemen’s Houthis and al-Islah party Clashes between the Houthis and al-Islah members leave three people dead.
Yemen`s Houthis capture strategic city The Houthi rebels capture Radmah, a key city along the Aden-Sanaa highway.
Yemen`s Houthis give ultimatum to president The rebel group gives the Yemeni president ten days to form a government, warning that “all options are open.”
Yemeni factions agree to form government Political players in Yemen, including the Houthi rebels, sign a deal authorizing the president and the prime minister to form a government of technocrats.
Al Houthis dismantle protest camps in Sana’a The Houthi rebels began to dismantle their protest camps on the outskirts of Sanaa.
Media
Sheikh Mohammed announces $1.22bn investment in internet, media zones Dubai to invest more than one billion dollars in its internet and media free zones over the next five years.
Migrant Workers
United Arab Emirates: public affluence, private abuse Rothna Begum writes on the blight of female migrant domestic workers in the United Arab Emirates.
Human Rights
Bahrain: Halt deportation of individuals arbitrarily stripped of nationality Amnesty International deplores a Bahraini court’s decision to denaturalize and deport ten citizens.
Bahrain: Women human rights defenders at risk in detention The Gulf Center for Human Rights deplores the Bahraini authorities’ disregard for the health of detained female human rights activists.
Saudi Arabia: Women’s rights defender Souad Al-Shammari arrested for tweets The Gulf Center for Human Rights condemns the arrest of Souad al-Shammary.
Bahrain: Bahrain’s allies must take action to free human rights defenders The Gulf Center for Human Rights along with thirty-nine other organizations call on the international community to condemn the ongoing crackdown on human rights activists.
Culture
Life and Death in the Graves of Mecca and Medina John M. Willis writes a reply to Andrew Johnson’s article in The Independent on Saudi authorities’ decision to move the final resting place of the Prophet Muhammad.
Arabic
سلطات البحرين تجمّد عمل «الوفاق» لثلاثة أشهر
The Bahraini authorities decide to suspend al-Wifaq National Islamic Society for three months.
نظام البحرين يسخّر القضاء طرفاً.. ضد "الوفاق"!
Ali Chaker argues that the the suspension of al-Wifaq shows that the Bahraini regime is relentless in its oppression of the opposition.
الحوثيون يخسرون 20 مقاتلاً في موقع لـ«القاعدة»
A suicide car bomber kills twenty Houthi rebels in al-Bayda.
اليمن: اتفاق على توزيع الحقائب الوزارية «اللقاء المشترك» يرفض المشاركة
Ahmed al-Zarqa writes on the formation of the new government in Yemen.
الحوثيون يمهلون هادي 10 أيام لتأليف الحكومة
The Houthi rebels give the Yemeni president ten days to form the government.
اليمن | اتفاق على تأليف «حكومة كفاءات»
After a month of negotiations, Yemeni political players agree to form a government of technocrats.
اليمن: مقتل ضابط وجندي برصاص تنظيم "القاعدة"
An officer and a soldier are killed in two incidents in Lahaj and Abyan.
اليمن: 3 قتلى بهجوم لـ"الحوثيين" في اب
Three people die in clashes between the Houthis and al-Islah members in Ibb.
الحوثي أمام الامتحان الأكبر
Abdullah Zughaib analyzes the challenges facing Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthis.
الحوثيون يتقدمون جنوباً باتجاه عدن
The Houthi rebels march on Aden.
"القاعدة" تحتجز 15 جنديا غرب اليمن
Al-Qa’ida militants take fifteen soldiers as hostages in the city of Hadida.
صنعاء: اغتيال زعيم حزبي
Mohammed Abdel-Malek al-Mutawakel was assassinated in Sanaa.
اعتقال ناشطة سعودية بتهمة "التطاول على الاسلام"
The Saudi authorities arrest Souad al-Shammary, a human rights activist, on charges of “insulting Islam.”
الملك السعودي.. إذا شاء
Khalil Harb analyzes the Saudi king’s options in dealing with internal and regional threats.
السعودية: السجن لـ3 محامين بتهمة ازدراء القضاء
A Saudi court sentences three lawyers to eight years in prison on charges of insulting the judiciary.
رفسنجاني يبرق للملك السعودي لوقف حكم إعدام الشيخ النمر
Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani calls upon the Saudi king to suspend the death sentence of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.
عبد الإنكليز... عن نشأة مملكة ابن سعود
Jaafar al-Bikli analyzes the relationship of Abdulaziz al-Saud, the first Saudi king, with the British.
أمير الكويت في الرياض على خلفية نزاع نفطي
The Kuwaiti emir visits Riyadh in order to discuss the rift over oil excavation in al-Khafji.
السعودية وإيران: حرب أسعار النفط إذ تشتعل
Mustafa al-Labbad writes on the oil price war between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
زيارة أمير قطر لبريطانيا: حرب علاقات عامّة
Nagham Asad maintains that the Qatari emir’s visit to the United Kingdom aims to improve Qatar’s image following reports that Qatar is supporting the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria.