Crossroads Arabia

‘Sacked’: Saudi King ‘Had Enough’ of Top Conservative?

‘Sacked’: Saudi King ‘Had Enough’ of Top Conservative?

CROSSROADS ARABIA: He’s been getting a bit loud recently with positions contrary to those of the King. Time to go.

 Naseem Tarawnah

Who Am I ‘With’, Who Am I ‘Against’?

Who Am I ‘With’, Who Am I ‘Against’?

NASEEM TARAWNAH: The 7th anniversary of my blog, Black Iris, is a time for reflection on the turbulent past year and to ask, where exactly are we now?

 Naseem Tarawnah

“Harming The King’s Dignity”: Is it Right That 18 Year Old Goes To Jail?

“Harming The King’s Dignity”: Is it Right That 18 Year Old Goes To Jail?

NASEEM TARAWNAH: A young man who burned a picture of the King has been sentenced to two years in jail by a military tribunal. Is that justice?

 Rob L. Wagner

Saudi Arabia: “The Female Body is a Battleground in the War to Stem Reform”

Saudi Arabia: “The Female Body is a Battleground in the War to Stem Reform”

ROB L. WAGNER: An online battle between conservatives and reformers following the Saudi Intellectual Forum illuminates their diverging opinions…

 Naseem Tarawnah

“The King & Public Lands”: Taboo Issue in Jordan

“The King & Public Lands”: Taboo Issue in Jordan

NASEEM TARAWNAH: The way Jordan’s authorities have handled issues of public lands illustrates their meaning of the word ‘transparency’.

 David Westley

News Analysis: World’s Most Powerful People

News Analysis: World’s Most Powerful People

NEWS ANALYSIS: So how does the Middle East do? Not great, but Saudi’s King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud is in the top 10, at number 7.

 Naseem Tarawnah

Royal Criticism: Crossing the ‘Red Line’ in Jordan

Royal Criticism: Crossing the ‘Red Line’ in Jordan

NASEEM TARAWNAH: It was until recently thought to be inconceivable to criticise King Abdullah in public. Recent events have shown that, in this remarkable year, another taboo has fallen.

 Layla

Saudi Schizo: Votes One Day, Lashes the Next

Saudi Schizo: Votes One Day, Lashes the Next

LAYLAH: The decision to allow Saudi women to vote is truly historic. A pity that celebration was interrupted by a very strange announcement.

 Rob L. Wagner

The Saudi Arabian Electoral ‘Experiment’ Continues

The Saudi Arabian Electoral ‘Experiment’ Continues

ROB L. WAGNER: There has been a lot of criticism of Saudi Arabia’s upcoming municipal elections. Some groups, however, know how best to work the system.

 Juan Cole

Aqaba: To Boldly Go Where No King Has Gone Before

Aqaba: To Boldly Go Where No King Has Gone Before

JUAN COLE: Klingons and Romulans wandering through the souk in Aqaba? Could be sooner than you think if King Abdullah’s ambitious plans come to fruition.

 Naseem Tarawnah

‘Royal Vision’: Deja Vu Meet Groundhog Day

‘Royal Vision’: Deja Vu Meet Groundhog Day

NASEEM TARAWNAH: There was mention of ‘an elected government’ but apart from this vague aspiration the speech by King Abdullah stuck to familiar themes.

 Rob L. Wagner

Smear Campaign Targets Women Journalists

Smear Campaign Targets Women Journalists

ROB L. WAGNER: Conservatives anonymously attack outspoken women by questioning their morals and beliefs in Islam.

 Rob L. Wagner

Saudis in ‘Tug of War’ Over Women’s Vote

Saudis in ‘Tug of War’ Over Women’s Vote

ROB L. WAGNER: Guaranteeing rights for women has taken a backseat to what the government sees as the more pressing issue of economic stability…

 Saad Al Dosari

KSA Corruption Commission: Be Fast, Be Furious

KSA Corruption Commission: Be Fast, Be Furious

SAAD AL DOSARI: If the commission against corruption is willing to take my advice, for it to gain credibility and respect, it should adopt the slogan of the ‘Fast & Furious.’

 Rob L. Wagner

Saudi Women Want Support, But Not From Western Feminists

Saudi Women Want Support, But Not From Western Feminists

ROB L. WAGNER: Some prominent Saudi women frequently address Saudi women’s rights on Western news shows. Yet they have little traction in Saudi Arabia.

 Naseem Tarawnah

Jordan: Patriotism used as Weapon to Stifle Debate

Jordan: Patriotism used as Weapon to Stifle Debate

NASEEM TARAWNAH: We have hit a road bump attempting to silence debate. Assumptions have been made that anyone who is critical of the status quo is to be considered disloyal.

 Rob L. Wagner

Riyadh Book Fair Debacle is Nothing More Than Theater

Riyadh Book Fair Debacle is Nothing More Than Theater

ROB L. WAGNER: Religious conservatives’ disruptive behavior at the Riyadh Book Fair illustrates the Saudi government’s acceptance of intolerance as long as it doesn’t interfere with its push to modernize the country.

 Rob L. Wagner

After the Flood: Rising Saudi Anger Getting Response

After the Flood: Rising Saudi Anger Getting Response

ROB L. WAGNER: The Facebook images, twitter messages and online videos fuel Saudi anger and repeatedly raise the question why authorities learned nothing from 2009.