[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.]
Reports and Opinions
Kuwait ministry to fire long-serving expatriates Habib Toumi reports on the decision of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor to terminate the contracts of foreigners who worked for the ministry for thirty years by the end of June.
Reports: 11-year term for Kuwait woman over tweets A news report on the jail sentence of a Kuwaiti woman charged with insulting the emir and calling for regime change.
Qatar: Democracy? That’s for other Arabs An article on the lack of meaningful political reform in Qatar.
Speculation mounts that Qatar is ready for leadership transition Simeon Kerr discusses the speculation over the possible departure of the prime minister and potential abdication of the emir.
Emirates Balk at Activism in Region Hit by Uprisings Ben Hubbard writes on political repression in the United Arab Emirates and the trial of ninety-four dissidents.
Saudi authorities crack down on low-level dissenters as tolerance faces Michael Peel and Abeer Allam write on the increasing levels of political repression in the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia blocks Viber messaging service Sebastian Usher reports on the Saudi telecommunications regulator blocking Viber for not agreeing to be monitored.
Saudi Arabia: Writer and human rights defender Mikhlif Al-Shammari summoned to appear before the District Court Gulf Center for Human Rights expresses concern over the summoning of al-Shammari for criticizing the Public Notary.
Repression in Bahrain
Obama urges ‘meaningful reform’ in Bahrain A news report on a meeting between the crown prince and Barak Obama who stressed the importance of US-Bahraini partnership and called upon the Gulf state to implement reforms.
Report: Protestors in Bahrain Behind Bars The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights publishes its semi-annual report on the number of protesters jailed and sentenced this year.
Crisis in Yemen
Yemen’s Houthi rebel leader laid to rest A news report on the burial of Hussein al-Houthi’s remains nine years after his death.
Anger at US drone war continues in Yemen Rebecca Murray writes on the impact of the death of a family in a drone strike in Khashamir last year.
Yemen court may try Saleh over 2011 protest killings A news report on a Yemeni court’s decision to probe the former president’s role in the killing of forty-five protesters during the uprising in 2011.
Thousands protest Houthi killings in Yemen A news report on thousands of Zaidis demonstrating in Sanaa to protest the death of ten rebels and the wounding of dozens during clashes with the police the day before.
Migrant Workers
Saudi official whips migrant worker with belt A news report on a video that shows an official chasing Afghani workers out of the passport office with a belt.
Indonesian dies in Saudi residency protests A news report on the death of a woman in front of the Indonesian consulate in Jeddah during a riot by thousands of workers who were waiting for hours to confirm their residency status.
Human Rights Watch
Yemen: Order to Free Hunger Strikers Ignored A statement by the organization calling upon the Yemeni government to release the nineteen detainees on hunger strike.
UN Human Rights Council: Adoption of the Outcome of the UPR of the United Arab Emirates The organization urges the Emirati authorities to adopt the recommendations in the Human Rights Council’s Universal Period Review.
Media
Al-Jazeera and Co. Challenge Qusayr Victory Zainab Hawi examines the coverage of the Syrian army regaining control of Qusayr by al-Jazeera, al-Arabiya and Future TV.
Arabic