Blog archive all
16th March 2011
Reports from Bahrain say that security forces launched an attack on the camp at Pearl Roundabout early this morning and cleared it of protesters (photographs here).
Helicopters were reported overhead and tents were set on fire. It is unclear whether the attack involved any of the Saudi forces who… Read more
16th March 2011
Writing in the Crossroads Arabia bog, John Burgess discusses the Saudi military intervention in Bahrain and concludes:
Once again, the Middle East demonstrates its problem with missed opportunities. Had Bahrain not treated its majority Shi’ite population less well than its Sunni minority, there… Read more
13th March 2011
There is growing international concern about attacks on demonstrators by Yemeni security forces and their allies. On Saturday, several people died (the exact number is unclear) during a pre-dawn offensive against the protesters' camp at Sana'a University.
Across the country, more than 30… Read more
13th March 2011
The Saudi justice system is notoriously unfair but it is especially unfair where non-Saudis from the poorer countries are concerned.
One illustration of the problem comes from a report in Arab News, where the kingdom's prisons chief, Major-General Ali al-Harithy, is quoted as saying that almost… Read more
13th March 2011
The Saudi justice system is notoriously unfair but it is especially unfair where non-Saudis from the poorer countries are concerned.
One illustration of the problem comes from a report in Arab News, where the kingdom's prisons chief, Major-General Ali al-Harithy, is quoted as saying that almost… Read more
12th March 2011
It seems that Yemenis will not be electing a new parliament on April 27 after all. March 10 was the official date for calling the elections. Nothing happened then and, according to the Yemen Observer, the reason is that the electoral registers are not ready.
This technical problem effectively gets… Read more
12th March 2011
Eman Al Nafjan, who blogs as Saudiwoman, has written about yesterday's non-protest in the kingdom. While making some familiar points about the authorities' efforts to quash any demonstrations before they could happen, she argues that uncertainty about who exactly was behind the call for protests… Read more
11th March 2011
With protests called for today in Saudi Arabia, the authorities have been eager to play down any fears. A headline in this morning's Arab News – "No threat seen to stability of kingdom" – sets the tone. While this may be true in relation to today's demonstrations, in the longer term the kingdom… Read more
10th March 2011
Amid continuing popular discontent in the Arab countries, King Mohammed of Morocco promised constitutional reforms in a speech yesterday (full text here).
Among other things, he talked of consolidating the rule of law, enhancing the independence of the judiciary and making the prime minister "fully… Read more
8th March 2011
Amid all the political turmoil in Bahrain, there hasn't been much coverage of a court case last week in which 49 men were given jail sentences ranging from one to six months, in connection with a gay party.
About 200 people were initially arrested "due to immoral activities" on February 3 when… Read more
ARAB ART ONLINE: Susan Hefuna: Al Sabr Gamil (Patience is Beautiful) 2007. Ink stained on wood 140 x 170 cm. More information | Click to enlarge
