Qatar

Nicolai Due-Gundersen | (The Conversation) | – – A blockade against Qatar by its Gulf neighbours is now in its fifth month. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates severed socio-economic ties with Qatar as punishment for its alleged support of terrorism and interference in their affairs. As well as hurting Qatar’s economy, […]

Featured

Saudi Arabia wants to improve Image; Here’s How

Juan Cole

They have to stop intervening, fighting wars and fomenting radicalism; an image touch-up won’t help

Qatar

Qatar: New Law Gives Domestic Workers Labor Rights

contributors

Human Rights Watch | – – (Beirut) – Qatar’s adoption of a new law on domestic workers provides labor rights for domestic workers for the first time, Human Rights Watch said today. Qatari authorities should enact strong enforcement policies and close loopholes that place domestic workers at risk of exploitation. On August 22, 2017, the […]

GCC

What impact will Saudi-Qatar Struggle have on Palestinians?

contributors

By Israa Khater | ( OpenDemocracy.org ) | – – No conflict in the Middle East spares the Palestinians, and the recent crisis in the GCC is no exception. Following the escalation of the GCC crisis and the deteriorating relationship between Qatar and the Gulf Triad (Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain), along with Egypt, […]

Corruption

Did UAE plant Fake News about Qatar to Fool Trump?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The intrepid Karen DeYoung and Ellen Nakashima report at WaPo that anonymous US intelligence officials have decided to go public with what they know about the attempt of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to frame Qatar. The hacking attack on May 23 that planted fake news, […]

Authoritarianism

Saudi Bloc: Qatar’s Al Jazeera can Stay, it Just has to Report as We Say

contributors

TeleSur | – – Al Jazeera said it rejects any “external intervention” and reiterates its “independence and professional editorial stance.” The four Arab countries currently boycotting Qatar are set to drop their demand that the Al Jazeera Media Network be shut down, a United Arab Emirates minister said. The closure of the Qatar-based broadcaster and […]

journalism

Al Jazeera Defies Saudi Bloc’s pressure to close: ‘Journalism itself is under Siege’

contributors

AJ+ | (Video News Report) | – – “Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain want Al Jazeera – including AJ+ – to be shut down. Here’s what Al Jazeera journalists think of that.” Al Jazeera Responds To The Qatar-Gulf Crisis | AJ+

Qatar

Saudi-Led Group: Qatar to be Sanctioned for ‘Negative’ Response to Demands

contributors

TeleSur | – – Saudi Arabia said restrictions on Qatar will continue, but it did not announce new sanctions against Doha. Foreign ministers from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain have issued a statement on Wednesday saying that Doha’s response to their demands to end the crisis was “negative” and current restrictions […]

censorship

UN: Saudi Bloc attempt to close Al Jazeera is attack on Freedom of Expression

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Reuters reports that U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, is “extremely concerned by the demand that Qatar close down the Al Jazeera network, as well as other affiliated media outlets.” The statement was released by UNCHR spokesman Rupert Colville. Colville added: “Whether or […]