Arabian Peninsula Media Roundup (April 5)

[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

Iran poses greatest threat to peace in Middle East, says US Central Command chief Votel made calls for maintaining trained forces in the regions alongside local troops. 

Trump administration drops human rights conditions to sell fighter jets to Bahrain “Lockheed had lobbied strenuously for the sale’s approval, even as rights groups and pro-democracy activists urged the administration not to jettison human rights conditions.”

China`s Saudi drone factory compensates for US ban “Long-time US ally looks east to develop drone arsenal as part of $60bn package also including agreement to co-operate on moon mission.”

US drillers buy protection against low oil prices, showing OPEC cuts are `backfiring` “It`s another sign that U.S. drillers are making it harder for OPEC and 11 other exporting nations, including Russia, to reduce huge stockpiles of crude through coordinated production cuts.”

Yemen war: Saudi general hit by egg, arrest attempt in London An anti-war activist attempted to put General Ahmad al-Asiri under citizen`s arrest in London.

Yemen: Trump Expands U.S. Military Role in Saudi War as Yemenis Brace for Famine The United States is offering additional logistical and intelligence support for the Saudi-led coalition in its war on Yemen.

Rex Tillerson to Lift Human Rights Conditions on Arms Sale to Bahrain “Mr. Tillerson’s decision comes as the Trump administration looks to bolster Sunni Arab states in the Middle East and find new ways to confront Iran in the Persian Gulf.”

Egypt decides to give islands to Riyadh after reconciliation “The Court of Urgent Matters on Sunday nullified a Supreme Court ruling that blocked the handover of Tiran and Sanafir islands to Saudi Arabia.”

Met police look at allegations of Saudi war crimes in Yemen “The Metropolitan police confirmed that their war crimes unit was assessing whether criminal prosecutions could be brought over Saudi Arabia’s devastating aerial campaign in Yemen.” 

Reports and Opinions

Kuwaiti woman arrested for filming Ethiopian employee hanging out of window Scores of domestic workers run away from their employers in Kuwait every year to escape abuse and exploitation.

Egg thrown at Saudi general in protest against military campaign in Yemen General al-Asiri said human rights groups are being duped by the Houthis.

Bahraini Security Forces Prevent Assembly of Largest Shiite Friday Prayers for 37th Week Dozens of Bahrainis took to the streets denouncing continued sectarian persecution by the state and vowing to defend Sheikh Qassim.

Bahraini student in detention alleges torture: Ali Mohamed Hakeem al-Arab “Upon transfer to Dry Dock Prison on 7 March, he said he was repeatedly beaten on both legs. He remains at risk of further torture and other ill-treatment.”

Suspending Human Rights Restrictions on U.S. Arms Sale to Bahrain Sends Dangerous Message “Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will reportedly lift human rights conditions on an arms sale to Bahrain despite that country’s record of oppression against dissidents.”

Bahrain’s Trade Unions Federation Says Hundreds of Workers Haven’t Received Wages since Months Delayed wages amount to millions of Bahraini dinars, affecting thousands of people and their families.

Tom Jones and UB40 to perform in Bahrain despite crackdown “Campaigners in the country have attacked the musicians for agreeing to put a ‘superstar face on authoritarianism’ at state-backed events in Bahrain.”

Arab summit: Arab leaders oblivious to Arab realities “The latest Arab summit ignored domestic deficiencies that undermine the unity and stability of many Arab countries.”

Drones aren’t just toys that cause a nuisance. They’re still killing innocent people “As military spokespeople repeat bland assurances about the precise nature of such operations, civilians continue to die.”

New Texts Out Now: Henri Lauzière, The Making of Salafism: Islamic Reform in the Twentieth Century  “I wrote the book in hopes of answering such questions, but also to challenge the numerous preconceptions and misleading assumptions about Salafism.”

Crisis in Yemen

Why are African men and women still fleeing to Yemen? People from Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea continue to seek shelter in Yemen.

Teachers in Yemen protest over unpaid wages “Abdel Rahman al Moktary, the head of the Teacher`s Union in Taiz, said educators are struggling to feed their families.”

Protest rally against US-Saudi war crimes on Yemen Protesters called for stopping the war and demanded an end to the siege, which is preventing access to food and medical supplies.

The Limits of US Military Power in Yemen A report investigating the continued exist of Al-Qa‘ida in the Arabian Peninsula.

`They`re going to kill me next`: Yemen family fears drone strikes under Trump “In 2014, the Guardian gave Meqdad’s 13-year-old brother a camera to record his daily life. In January 2015, he too was killed in a drone strike.”

UN warns of catastrophe as 18m face famine in Yemen “Fighting on the ground and air strikes on areas held by Houthi rebels, targeted by a Saudi-led coalition backed by the US and UK, have displaced more than three million people.”

Half of all health facilities in war-torn Yemen now closed; medicines urgently needed – UN Malnutrition is on the rise with one out of every two children under the age of five stunted in their growth.

Human rights

Five-year anniversary of the death of 22-year-old photojournalist Ahmed Ismail Hassan Hassan was one of three journalists killed in Bahrain since 2011.

The Saudi government violates the basic principles of evictions Residents of Mosawara neighbourhood are facing forced displacement and risk of losing their homes.

Bahrain Imposes New Restriction and Denies Medical Care at Jau Prison Since a prison break earlier this year security have escalated repressive control measures at the prison facility.

Human rights activists at side event on torture and reprisals Organizers called on the international community “to urgently address the systematic use of torture and reprisals against Bahraini human rights defenders.”

"DatNav" is now available in Arabic! Arabic-language capabilities in DatNav, a guide for browsing digital data for human rights research, has expanded access in the Middle East.

Bahrain: Human rights defenders and journalists under continuous attacks The Gulf Centre for Human Rights is seriously concerned about the health of human rights defenders in Bahraini prisons.

UAE: Outrageous 10-year sentence against human rights defender Dr. Nasser Bin Ghaith a significant blow to human rights Bin Ghaith is accused of “communicating with secret organisations linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.”

Iran: Continued targeting of prominent human rights defenders by authorities must stop Iran continues to persecute those who participated in peaceful protests throughout the country.

UN experts call for release of UAE activist Ahmed Mansoor Local news outlets reported that he was held on charges for spreading hatred on social media.

ACTIVIST DR ALI ESA MANSOOR AL-EKRI RELEASED Dr. al-Ekri has been released after completing his five-year prison sentence.

Arabic