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GNRD, the strange "human rights" organisation that was declared bankrupt earlier this month, had an unusually favourable view of human rights in the UAE. It was also on friendly terms with Egypt's Sisi regime and the Kurdish PYD. Another of its friendships, though – and one which it sought to keep…
For several years GNRD, the now-bankrupt human rights organisation, boasted that the European Parliament was one of its international "collaborators" and proudly displayed the parliament's logo on its website. The effect of this was to give the UAE-funded organisation an aura of credibility that…
During the 16 months that Saudi Arabia has been waging war in Yemen there has been little discussion of the kingdom's media strategy, though in some ways it is almost as important as the military strategy. In the article below, Sebastian Sons and Toby Matthiesen argue that the kingdom is relying…
Bahrain stepped up its suppression of critics yesterday by dissolving the kingdom's main opposition party, al-Wefaq, and confiscating its funds. An announcement by the government news agency said the party, which was founded in 2001, had "provided an environment" that embraced terrorism…
A verse from the Qur'an says:
“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because God has given the one more [strength] than the other, and because they support them from their means.”
In Saudi Arabia this forms the basis for a system where all women must be assigned a male…
In April 2016 Saudi Arabia announced an ambitious set of programmes and reforms to be implemented by 2030. Drafted by the kingdom's Council of Economic and Development Affairs, headed by the king's son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, it was known as Vision 2030.
Below is the full text of the plan…
In the midst of Britain's political turmoil there was a rare – and surreal – moment of consensus in the House of Commons this week over the BBC's use of the phrase "so-called".
MPs were discussing a government move to add four more groups to the official list of terrorist organisations: the…
Kuwait yesterday became the first of the Arab Gulf states to set a minimum wage for domestic workers: they must now be paid at least 60 dinars ($198) a month.
A law on domestic work approved by the Kuwaiti parliament last year specified a 12-hour working day with a weekly day off, plus 30 days…
Britain's continuing political upheaval resulted not only in the appointment of a new prime minister yesterday but also a new foreign secretary, Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson – referred to by almost everyone simply as "Boris" or "BoJo".
In some ways, Boris and the Foreign Office ought…
A visit to Syria last weekend by three members of the European Parliament has given the Assad regime a useful propaganda boost.
Ahead of the visit the Syrian government news agency, Sana, reported:
"A delegation from the European Parliament headed by Vice-President for the Committee on…
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
