Photo by Semira Nikou

Gulf States

Iran Demonstrates Hypocrisy on Bahrain Policy

Bahraini opposition leaders Hamza al-Dairi, second left raising his fist, and Jalal Fairooz, right, holding a candle and Bahraini flag, both former opposition lawmakers from al-Wefaq society, participate in a rally in the eastern village of Sitra, January 2012 (Photo credit: AP) No regional power – including Iran – has escaped the charge of hypocrisy... 

Did the Media Kill the Revolution in Bahrain?

On March 13, Government forces clear Pearl Roundabout, where protesters set up camp in February 2011. (credit: 14 February Media Committee/AP) In an article published in the Guardian on September 4, 2012, Glenn Greenwald critically assessed why CNN International did not air a CNN produced documentary on the Arab Sping called “iRevolution”. Amber Lyon, a journalist... 

An Interview with Saudi Entrepreneur, Aiyah Saihati

In our continuing Podcast series on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Middle Eat and North Africa, we speak to Saudi entrepreneur Aiyah Saihati, the founder and president of Saihati International Group. Aiyah brings her years of experience as a successful businesswoman to bear in this conversation about the future of entrepreneurship in the region. In particular,... 

The Next in Line: Transferring Power in the House of Saud

The funeral of Saudi Crown Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz, who was laid to rest in Mecca in June 2012 (Photo credit: Yousef Allan) The consecutive deaths of the two Saudi Crown Princes, Sultan and Nayef, in less than one year has fuelled discussions among Western and regional observers about the issue of succession and regime stability in Saudi Arabia. Without a... 

Satire and Political Protest in Saudi Arabia

La Yekthar is a popular Saudi satirical series (Source:http://littlebirdtell.blogspot.com/2010/12/la-yekthar.html) As George Orwell famously wrote, “Every joke is a tiny revolution.” Indeed, since time immemorial, humor has been used to confront authority and overturn the status quo. Political satire, in particular, has taken on many forms and has played... 

Animosity Grows between Iran & Bahrain Post-Arab Spring

Bahraini antigovernment protesters react Monday, March 14, 2011, at Pearl roundabout in Manama, Bahrain, when Shiite opposition leader Sheik Habib al-Muqdad (unseen) advised them Saudi forces were believed to... 

Trial of Saudi Civil Rights Activists Mohammad al-Qahtani & Abdullah al-Hamid

Note: This post aims to serve as a reiteration of the trial’s events in order to record an important moment in Saudi’s Civil Rights Movement. The majority of its content was provided by first-hand accounts... 

New Trends in Arab Defense Spending

Protesters shout slogans against military rulers in front of Egyptian military police standing guard near the Ministry of Defense in the Abbassiya district of Cairo In the wake of the Arab Spring, internal dissent... 

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: the Next Generation

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia Since Saudi Arabia’s official founding in 1932 by King Abdul Aziz, the six monarchs who have ruled the country have represented not just a single family, but a single nuclear... 

#MuftahChat: Debating & Defying Stereotypes about the Middle East

Join the Muftah team at the hashtag #MuftahChat on the first and third Wednesday of every month at 12:30 pm Eastern Standard Time for a Twitter discussion of all things Middle East. Themes will include policy,... 
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