The recent dramatic slide in crude oil prices has led to economic strain throughout the Arabian Peninsula, particularly in Bahrain. The near-70% fall in oil price since mid-2014 has “shattered” government revenues. While Saudi Arabia has funded its deficit by drawing on its central bank deposits, and Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE have sufficient assets[…]
14
Jan
Jan
This week, Kuwait’s parliament passed two new laws increasing the government’s power to censor internet media and restrict free expression. On Monday, lawmakers decided that a jail term of up to ten years would become the official punishment for a range of online expression. Then on Tuesday, the parliament passed an additional bill regulating all[…]
13
Jan
Jan
Oman is one among several GCC states that has recently reduced state subsidies on gasoline in response to the decline in oil prices, which is at its lowest since 2003. Gasoline prices for both premium and regular fuel will increase by about a third and a fourth, respectively. Less general government spending is expected to[…]
13
Jan
Jan
According to the Ministry of Interior (MOI), “skirmishes” took place around the Al-Marzouq religious center in Sitra, Bahrain, on January 11, 2016. The MOI said that gunfire mistakenly damaged some of the center’s facilities. Eyewitnesses reported that around 3:00 a.m., a black vehicle opened fire at the Al-Marzouq center, damaging some of the center’s windows[…]
11
Jan
Jan
Saudi news outlets have referred to the recently executed Saudi activist Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr as a pro-Iranian terrorist, a Muslim extremist, and a Hezbollah leader; meanwhile, international commentators have painted al-Nimr as an opposition leader, activist, and prominent religious figure. To provide a better understanding of Sheikh Nimr, Toby Matthiesen offers an in-depth account of[…]
