[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 increases aid to Egypt to $5bn A news report on Qatar’s financial aid to Egypt to boost its shrinking foreign currency reserves, on Al Jazeera English.
Getting closer to Qatar Dina Ezzat analyzes the Qatari prime minister’s recent visit to Egypt in light of the latter’s foreign policy, on Al-Ahram Weekly.
UAE-Egypt Crisis: Mubarak and Iran Lurk in the Background Bisan Kassab writes on the crisis between Egypt and the United Arab Emirates in light of the Egyptian-Iranian relationship and Emirati loyalty to the Egyptian ex-president, Honsi Mubarak, on Al-Akhbar English.
Deteriorating relations Doaa El-Bey examines the impact of the detention of eleven Egyptians in the United Arab Emirates on the already tense relationship between Egypt and the Gulf state, on Al-Ahram Weekly.
The case of Egyptian detainees in the UAE is increasingly politicized Mai Shams El-Din examines the accusations against the eleven Egyptians detained in the Gulf state, on Egypt Independent.
Reports and Opinions
The US – alongside Saudi Arabia – fights for freedom and democracy in the Middle East Glenn Greenwald unravels the American government’s discourse of freedom and democracy in light of its alliance with, and support of, the repressive Saudi regime, in The Guardian.
In Saudi Town, Women Protest Detentions, Leading to Their Own Christine Hauser reports on the arrest of Saudi women and children who were demanding the release of their relatives outside the Board of Grievances in Buraida, in The New York Times.
Public Prosecutor Seeks Flogging for Saudi Women Protesters Osama Khalid offers an account of the punishments and treatments of the women who were arrested in Buraida, on Global Voices.
Saudi king allows women on top advisory council A news report on King Abdulla’s appointment of thirty women to the Shura Council, in The Guardian.
Saudi Arabia’s King Allows Women to Join National Advisory Council Christine Hauser writes on King Abdulla’s appointment of women to the Shura Council, in The New York Times.
Crisis in Yemen
Human trafficking networks flourish in Yemen A news report on the expansion of human trafficking networks with international reach in Yemen, on Al Jazeera English.
1.3 million Yemeni children ‘deprived of their childhood’: Report A report released by the International Labor Organization on the condition of Yemeni children, on Al-Akhbar English.
Justice for the Disappeared in Yemen Jomana Farhat examines the political campaign demanding to know the fate of the disappeared in Yemen.
Army watches over national dialogue Nasser Arrabyee analyzes the significance and implication of the deployment of the army in Yemen’s main cities.
DCMF condemns government campaign against journalist in Yemen A statement by Doha Centre for Media Freedom condemning the arrest of Khaled Al-Hammadi for an article he wrote for Al Quds Al Arabi last week.
Repression in Bahrain
Bahrain under pressure over refusal to reconsider activists’ sentences Ian Black writes on the British and French governments’ criticism of the Bahraini court’s decision to uphold the prison sentences of thirteen activists, in The Guardian.
Protests in Kuwait
Kuwaiti jailed for insulting emir on Twitter A news report on the two-year jail sentence against Ayyad al-Harbi for tweets considered insulting to the emir, on Al Jazeera English.
With Kuwait Twitter Arrests, the Emir’s Gloves Come Off Mona Kareem analyzes the political implication of the arrest of al-Harbi, on Al-Akhbar English.
The Beheading of Rizana Nafeek in Saudi Arabia
Anger at Saudi beheading of Sri Lankan maid A news report on the human rights groups’ condemnation of the beheading of Nafeek who was accused of killing an infant in her care in 2005, on Al Jazeera English.
The plight of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia An Inside Story program featuring the conditions of migrant workers in the kingdom following the beheading of Rizana Nafeek, on Al Jazeera English.
Saudi Arabia’s treatment of foreign workers under fire after beheading of Sri Lankan maid Gethin Chamberlain writes on the plight of forty-five foreign maids who are sentences to death in Saudi Arabia, in The Observer.
Saudi execution: Brutal, inhuman and illegal? Jo Becker writes on the beheading of Nafeek, on CNN.
Human Rights Watch
Saudi Arabia: Halt Execution of Sri Lankan Migrant Worker AN HRW statement calling upon the Saudi authorities to halt the beheading of Rizana Nafeek.
Amnesty International
Sri Lankan woman at risk of execution in Saudi Arabia An AI statement urging the Saudi king to grant amnesty to Rizana Nafeek.
Beheading of domestic workers shows Saudi Arabia at odds with international standards A statement AI condemning the kingdom for the beheading of Nafeek.
Saudi Arabia: 11 women still held after protest A statement by AI calling upon Saudi authorities to release women who were arrested during protests in Buraida.
Labor
Living and working in Qatar Lyse Doucet reports on the experiences of Qataris and expats who live and work in Qatar, in Qatar Direct: Working Lives, a program broadcast on BBC World News.
Bahrain to probe deadly labour camp fire A news report on the death of thirteen people when a three-storey building caught fire in a labor camp in Manama, on Al Jazeera English.
Environment
Qatar builds farms in the desert Laurence Caramel writes on the Gulf state’s efforts to grow flour, fruits and vegetables to reduce its reliance on imports, in The Guardian.
Media
Al Jazeera: Must do better An article on Al Jazeera’s acquisition of Current TV in an attempt to reach the American audience, in The Economist.