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Saudi police are investigating a complaint by a Filipina maid that she was repeatedly raped over a period of three years by her employer in Taif. It is the second such case in less than a week. Arab News reports.
Posted by Brian Whitaker, 18 May 2010.
Egyptian security forces shot and killed another Sudanese migrant on Saturday night as he tried to cross the border into Israel.
Adam Ali Mohamed, 38, was hit three times after reportedly ignoring a call to stop.
More than 60 migrants have died at the hands of border guards since January… Read more
Yemen's Houthi rebels have not received much attention internationally since the ceasefire was declared in February. Since then, there have been numerous small-scale incidents, indicating that the war is dormant rather than at an end.
Last week, a 30-minute battle between rebels… Read more
It's probably now only a matter of time before women are allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. Today's Arab News reports on a TV debate of the issue, broadcast on the Saudi-owned al-Arabiya channel.
Although the question of women driving in the kingdom has been much discussed over… Read more
There are conflicting reports of an attack in southern Yemen which may have been a botched attempt to assassinate President Salih.
A convoy of vehicles came under fire – apparently from southern separatists – in al-Habilain district of Lahij province yesterday. At least one soldier was killed and… Read more
The repression of Muslims with unorthodox religious views continues in Egypt. Following the absurd ban on Sufi dhikr ceremonies a couple of weeks ago, there's news that nine followers of the Ahmadiyya sect have been held in jail for the last two months under Egypt's… Read more
More than 2,200 Yemenis have tied the knot during the past month at a series of mass weddings funded by Saudi businessmen and various charities, Arab News reports:
"Each groom is given 65,000 Yemeni rials ($290), a gold necklace, a ring and clothes. Another 30,000 rials ($133) and a meal for… Read more
The UN Human Rights Council has been looking at Kuwait this month under its periodic review system. As is now customary at these sessions, the Kuwaiti minister of social affairs, Mohammad al-Afasi, gave an upbeat assessment of the country's human rights achievements and its… Read more
Writing for Salon, Joe Conason is the latest to take a swipe at the US government's disastrous and hugely expensive Arabic-language TV channel, al-Hurra:
Having started as an arm of the Bush administration "democracy campaign" – with its founding chairman handpicked by Karl Rove – al-Hurra has… Read more
There are no political prisoners in Yemen, justice minister Ghazi al-Aghbari claimed yesterday. He was speaking to a technical team from the international "Friends of Yemen" group who had come to look at issues of justice and security.
This is ridiculous, as Jane Novak points out… 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
