Stockholm partial ceasefire around Hudaida, talks under UN chairmanship, some aid getting through, prisoner exchange talks begin.
Articles tagged: ‘UAE’
Political prisoners
Posted onMany countries in the region hold disgracefully large numbers of prisoners, but information is patchy and unreliable.
Yemen: peace talks
Posted onYemen peace talks begin, with release of prisoners as a confidence measure. Saudi Arabia on the back foot, the US administration obsessed with Iran, but Congress looking for a halt.
Religious tolerance – green shoots
Posted onA number of instances showing respect by Muslims for other religions. A 21st-century development.
Jordan – the economy – MBS
Posted onJordan – continuing protests over austerity and corruption. Remains a significant regional player. MBS doesn’t come.
The perils and pitfalls of scholarly research in the Arab world
Posted onThe Hedges case is symptomatic of the increasing risks of and restrictions on scholarly research in the Middle East.
Mawlid
Posted onMawlid popular holiday, widely celebrated by both Sunnis and Shia but condemned by some including Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The Prophet’s Birthday (al-Mawlid al-Nabawi, or simply Mawlid) is celebrated in the month of Rabi’ al-awwal, by Sunnis usually on the 12th and by Shia on the 17th. There is some flexibility as the precise date is not recorded. This year 12 Rabi’ al-awwal coincides with 21 November, and in most Arab and Muslim states Mawlid will be today or tomorrow, though the celebrations begin the night before. In some countries …
FGM: progress in Africa
Posted onHuge decline since 1990 in FGM in Africa where it is most prevalent. Information about the Middle East remains scanty.
UAE – still spreading its wings
Posted onUAE little exposed to criticism compared with Saudi Arabia, though their policies are close. Separatist South Yemen an exception.
Floods: a bad fortnight
Posted onFloods throughout the region this month causing death and destruction.