[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
You'll soon have to hand over your DNA if you want to visit Kuwait Anyone living or visiting Kuwait will have to submit their DNA to authorities.
Gulf tourism frenzy in Bosnia delights business, polarizes locals Many Bosnian Muslims were shocked when a group of Arab men prayed outdoors and others have been upset by a Saudi-funded mall that serves no alcohol or pork.
Yemen's ex-president says could work with Russia to 'fight terrorism' Officials from Ali Abdullah Saleh’s party now run a political council that controls much of the country along with the Houthis.
U.S. set to approve sales of Boeing fighters to Qatar, Kuwait – sources After years of delay, the White House has now agreed to the sale of $7 billion worth of Boeing fighter jets to Qatar and Kuwait.
Microsoft apologises after Bing translates ‘Daesh’ into ‘Saudi Arabia’ In a translation slip, Bing’s translation service suggested that “Daesh” meant “Saudi Arabia” in English.
Boris Johnson defends UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia As UK MPs call for a ban on arms sales to Saudi Arabia, the British foreign secretary defends the Saudi bombing campaign in Yemen.
Iran calls for 'puny Satan' Saudi Arabia to be stripped of Hajj duties Iran calls on Muslims to reconsider Saudi Arabia’s control over Hajj and the holiest site for Islam.
Iranian students put life on hold due to extensive delays in US visa processing As a result of a lack in diplomatic relations between the United States and Iran, student visa applicants face more obstacles.
Saudi Arabia tightens up hajj planning to avoid repeat of 2015 disaster Saudi Arabia has introduced mandatory electronic wristbands to enable authorities to track people attending Hajj.
Saudi Arabia, Russia agree to 'historic' oil market cooperation The two countries will monitor the market and draft recommendations to stabilize oil prices.
G20: Theresa May raises Yemen human rights concerns with Saudi Arabia despite UK arms sales UK Prime Minister raised the issue of Saudi human rights violation while UK firms continue to sell huge amounts of arms to bomb Yemen.
Reports and Opinions
Rights group blasts U.S. “hypocrisy” in “vast flood of weapons” to Saudi Arabia, despite war crimes The Obama administration and other Western countries ignored calls by leading human rights groups for an embargo on all weapons transfers to Saudi Arabia.
Are Internet Calls to Blame for Telcos’ Declining Profits? Telecommunications companies block voice calls for internet services like Whatsapp and Signal.
Saudi Arabian man is jailed for 10 years and given 2,000 lashes for tweeting that he is an atheist and criticising religion “The 28-year-old was sentenced after the state's Islamic police discovered 600 tweets professing his atheism.”
Saudi women launch Twitter campaign demanding end to male guardianship Women in Saudi Arabia are compelled to ask permission and guardianship from their male guardians to travel, marry, rent an apartment, file legal claims, among other everyday tasks.
Stop the War Coalition Extremely Concerned About Worsening HR Situation in Bahrain, Saudi Crimes in Yemen London-based Stop the War Coalition “believe the British government should empower arms embargo upon Saudi Arabia and stop backing the war of one of the richest countries in the world, against one of the poorest”.
Kuwait police shave men's heads for cross-dressing Three men in Kuwait, under suspicion for “wiggling,” had their heads shaved while in police custody for “cross-dressing.”
Kuwait named worst expat destination Every Persian Gulf State ranks in the bottom 30 percent in the Family Life index for the latest Expat Insider study.
The US is promoting war crimes in Yemen US-backed war crimes in Yemen means that the Obama administration has facilitated a humanitarian catastrophe that will stain his legacy.
Saudi Arabia Burns Through Foreign Reserves As Oil Prices Tank The Saudi government will also issue its first international bonds in October to raise at least $10 billion.
Crisis in Yemen
Dying for dollars in Yemen: 'I can hide from shelling, but I cannot flee from cancer' Cancer patients across Yemen have had their medication cut.
Yemen: MSF withdraws its teams from six hospitals in north Yemen Before this evacuation, MSF was active in eleven hospitals and health centres in Yemen and provided support to another eighteen hospitals.
UK in denial over Saudi arms sales being used in Yemen, claims Oxfam The charity warned that the UK government has become “one of the most significant violators” of the Arms Trade Treaty.
Where are the hashtags for deadly Isis attack in Yemen? Absence of solidarity with victims criticised on Twitter Sixty pro-government recruits were killed in Aden by a suicide bomber failed to create media attention on par with attacks in Western countries.
Rockets hit Saudi border town as Yemen war flares anew The border city of Najran is targeted anew in this eighteen-month-old Saudi war on Yemen.
'Why do they target us?' Yemeni civilians pay the price of escalating crisis The Saudi-led campaign, backed by the United Kingdom and the United States, has put Yemen on the fast track to disintegration.
Major pro-rebel demonstration in Sanaa While nearly 100,000 people marched peacefully in San‘a, Saudi jets circulated the sky before bombing the area.
Air strike kills 16 members of Yemeni imam's family The Saudi-led coalition bombed the house of an imam, murdering at least four children, the imam, his family, and his two sons.
Saudi warplanes use cluster bombs in airstrikes on Yemen Saudi fighter jets dropped American- and British-made cluster bombs on the northern province of Sa‘da, which have been used against civilians in Yemen.
Blast kills 20 Yemeni government troops, six Qaeda militants dies in drone hit [sic] A bomb was placed at the entrance to an army camp in Marib governorate killed soldiers loyal to the deposed president, Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi
Human Rights
Letter From a Bahraini Jail Rights activist Nabeel Rajab writes from a Bahraini jail cell.
Bahrain: Release Rights Activist, Lift Travel Bans Nabeel Rajab faces up to fifteen years in prison on charges that include criticism of Bahrain’s participation in the Saudi-led military operations in Yemen at his upcoming trial on 5 September 2016.
Human Rights Watch submission to the Committee on the Rights of the Child regarding Saudi Arabia Human Rights Watch presents its research on Saudi Arabia’s compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Over 800 Nepali migrants in jails abroad “Blood money” needed to save Nepali workers facing death sentences in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
Bahrain: Systematic pattern of obstacles to freedom of movement against human rights defenders A series of travel bans have been issued against many human rights activists in Bahrain.
Coalition: Bahrain should free Nabeel Rajab immediately International observers are concerned about Rajab’s deteriorating health and have accused the Bahraini government of failing to give him adequate medical care.
Digital Rights Derailed in Bahrain: BCHR Releases Report on Restricting and Criminalizing of freedoms online Bahraini authorities increase surveillance and tighten their grip over the Internet.
The Ismailis of Najran Human Rights Watch reports call for the end to religious and ethnic discrimination against the Ismailis of Saudi Arabia.
Lawyer Al-Tajer: If Government Remains Stubborn it Will Lead Bahrain to the Unknown Rights activist and lawyer warns that Bahrain is turning into a dystopian police state.