Saudi Arabia

(By Juan Cole) There are signs of a diplomatic thaw between Iran and the Arab oil monarchies of the Gulf. It has just been announced that the ruler of Kuwait, Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, will make a state visit to Iran. This news comes after it was confirmed that the Iranian foreign minister has been invited […]

Dissent

Some Saudis Kiss their Camels to defy Gov’t MERS Warning

Juan Cole

Saudi homes in on camels in bid to combat MERS (via AFP) Saudi authorities have issued fresh warnings on how to handle the desert kingdom’s wealth of camels, thought to be the source of the mysterious MERS coronavirus in the Gulf state. The Middle East Respiratory System has now killed 147 people out of 491… […]

Islam

Saudi Fatwa against “THE 99” Tolerant Muslim Superhero Comics as “Evil”

Juan Cole

(By Naif Al-Mutawa) Seven years ago, THE 99 [super-hero comics] were granted approvals to Saudi Arabia. What began as a suspicious relationship, my not expecting approvals to begin with, and their suspicion of the subversive nature of the content we were at loggerheads. It turned out that the solution was simple. I had to first […]

Environment

This Saudi prince is accused of killing 2,000 endangered birds while on safari in Pakistan

Juan Cole

Jeez. Happy Earth Day. A Saudi prince has been accused of killing 2,000 endangered birds during a safari in Pakistan earlier this year. More from GlobalPost: These cities are among the greenest in the world The birds, known as houbara bustards, are…

Human Rights

Saudi Arabia arrests Thinker for Encouraging Dissent!

Juan Cole

(By Human Rights Watch) Saudi authorities have repeatedly harassed Abu al-Khair for his human rights work, and now they’ve suddenly jailed him without letting him notify his family. The authorities should free Abu al-Khair immediately and drop the charges against him. UPDATE: Samar Badawi, the wife of Waleed Abu al-Khair, said that authorities allowed him […]

Barack Obama

Get ready for More Disappearing Airliners: Obama moots giving Syrian Rebels Anti-Aircraft Missiles

Juan Cole

(By James McMichael [jamesmcmichael.dc@gmail.com]) President Obama is considering supplying Syrian rebels with Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (Manpads). These antiaircraft missiles are small enough to be carried and fired by a single person; they can destroy jet fighters and civilian airliners alike. If President Obama gives his approval for their supply to Syrian rebels, he will […]

Islam

Will the US side with Saudi or Qatar in the Great Gulf Civil War?

contributors

(By Omar Ali) The Saudi strategy of offering military support to the US while exporting Muslim militancy and portraying itself as the protector of the two holiest sites in the Islamic world has backfired for both Saudi Arabia and the US. Tensions are increasing in the Persian Gulf, with Qatar on one side, and Saudi […]

Human Rights

Whether Princesses or Paupers, Long Road to Saudi Women’s Rights

contributors

(By Rothna Begum and Adam Coogle) When the story broke earlier this month of four Saudi princesses allegedly confined to their Jeddah home by members of their own family, the kingdom soon went into damage control mode. Within a week, several British newspapers started calling Human Rights Watch, asking if we knew about a news […]

Featured

Saudi King channels John McCain, demands Obama Take Hard Line on Iran, Syria, Muslim Brotherhood

Juan Cole

(By Juan Cole) President Barack Obama met late Friday with King Abdullah b. Abd al-Aziz of Saudi Arabia at the latter’s desert camp, flying out from Riyadh by helicopter. The tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United States have come about in part because Riyadh, after being skittish about George W. Bush’s muscular Neoconservatism in […]