Torture Scandal In Abu Dhabi May Grow

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: In The News

(uaetorture.com)

A disturbing video that aired last month on ABC News depicting what appears to be the torture of an Afghan grain farmer by a member of Abu Dhabi's royal family may represent just one of many instances of torture involving Sheik Issa bin Zayed al-Nahayan, a brother of the crown prince.

The ABC report on the video is here. It shows a man identified as Sheik Issa "mercilessly torturing a man with whips, electric cattle prods and wooden planks with protruding nails." A man in a United Arab Emirates police uniform assists with the torture. The victim – reportedly an Afghan grain dealer – also has salt poured on his wounds and is run over with a Mercedes SUV.

In parts of the tape not aired, Sheik Issa reportedly pours lighter fuel on the victim's testicles and lights them on fire and inserts a cattle prod into the victim's anus.

Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE, one of the world's leading exporters of oil. The Nahayan's are its ruling family. The tape was reportedly made by the brother of Bassam Nabulsi, an American businessman and former partner of Sheik Issa who is now engaged in a lawsuit against him, at the request of the Sheik.

(uaetorture.com)

After the report aired, the UAE government said it would investigate the incident, with the Abu Dhabi Justice Department vowing to "conduct a comprehensive review of the matter immediately and make its findings public."

But the tape might just be the first piece of evidence in a wider scandal. The Guardian reported on Sunday that the lawyer for Nabulsi, Sheik Issa's former partner, claims to have "more than two hours of video footage showing Sheikh Issa's involvement in the torture of more than 25 people." According to the newspaper, police are believed to be seen participating in the attacks and some of the victims are thought to be Sudanese immigrants.

Video of what appears to be al-Nahayan engaging in torture can be seen in the ABC News report and at www.uaetorture.com, from which the photos in this post are taken. The site's author says the site was banned in the UAE and writes that that "the Royal Family attempted to sweep the torture under the rug and ignore it."

The scandal has come at a particularly bad time for the royal family. The New York Times reported on Friday that the tape "provoked outrage from members of Congress, who said it could add fuel to lawmakers' reservations about a pending civilian nuclear agreement between the United States and the United Arab Emirates."

The UAE badly wants the deal, which was worked out under President George W. Bush; it would mean the U.S. would share "expertise, technology and fuel in exchange for a promise by the Emirates to abide by international safeguards and the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty."

If the UAE government prosecutes or punishes Sheik Issa, a prominent developer who has stayed in the Four Seasons in Houston, it could "damage the myth of the ruling family," scholar Christopher M. Davidson told the Times. But if they don't, they could jeopardize passage of the deal; Congressman James McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat, has called on Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton to investigate the matter.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by sasboy-2009 May 16, 2009 3:28 PM EDT: It is highly debatable if the United States is in any position at all to adopt a holier than thou attitude with respect to the UAE, let alone lecture it on human rights.

The UAE authorities have condemned the actions of the prince in question, and have launched an official investigation into the matter. The latest is that the authorities there have detained the prince responsible fot the torture and there is a high likelihood he will be punished for his actions in the near future. In any case, at issue are the actions of a perverted individual.

By contrast, as the White House torture memos make clear, the go ahead for the torture in places like Gitmo, Bagram, Abu Ghraib and God knows where else came from the very top, so the issue is not one simply of a few bad apples, whatever the contentions of the many apologists for the Bush admin have to say. And the likelihood of the Obama administration actually prosecuting anyone for the torture that was endemic in these places is very slim. That is the difference.

As this editorial mentions, the US is in no position to lecture other nations on human rights and torture, and unlike the US, the UAE does not attack and invade other countries, neither does it bomb civilians the way the US military routinely does in places like Afghanistan and Pakistan.; Reply to this comment


by Memory_of_UAE May 8, 2009 12:21 AM EDT: Back in early 80's when I lived in the UAE, a young son of the late Sheikh Zayed held the post of the Defence Minister. One day prior to 1986 (I do not recall the exact date) there was a tiny little news ( I read it in the Khaleej Times newspaper) ) that the defence Misister has decided to retire from his post. The circulating verbal news which followed was that during a troops parade he has fired his machine gun and killed 10 -11 army personnel from the troop and hence his retiirement. Then after we heard that He had gone to the USA. After a year of being in the shadow and in some sort of self exile he was back to the bossom of the UAE sheikhdom without any punishment. On the other level of society also unfairness and cruelty were( and possibly still are being) exercised by locals i.e. treatment of housemaids (even physical abuse), treatment of non-Arab, non-western labourers and employees (unfainess, verbal and mental abuse, racism comments, etc.).; Reply to this comment


by charlesho May 6, 2009 2:34 AM EDT: Well. did anyone or the media or the judge asked themself what happen to the real victim? maybe he is in jail or living in a castle form the indemnety he got. as i see this issue i consider the nabulsi a complice with the sheikh since he was his partnair and was watching and filiming the torutre and he is using the pain and suffering of the poor man to get money and fame . if their will be money involved it should go to the victim not the complice. the film is from 2004 , why it is brought up at this time? is the US using the sufering of the victim to stop the nuclear deal with the UAE ? if the UAE stop asking for the nuclear power i think tomorow the campain will stop and even the nabulsi will go to jail instead of the criminal. If the UAE bring financial support for citibank or bank of america or chrysler what will happen with the lawsuite????; Reply to this comment


by 4teirah May 6, 2009 2:14 AM EDT: This man is not only the brother of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, he is the brother of the PRESIDENT of the UAE, and he is the brother of the RULER of Abu Dhabi. As long as CBS keeps referring to him as brother of the Crown Prince they are complicit in 'playing down' the story. This man is also BROTHER to most of the senior government figures in the UAE. There are too many brothers to give them all senior government positions.; Reply to this comment


by Aldymac May 5, 2009 8:50 AM EDT: Have you ever noticed that those who have never suffered personally from torture or a terrorist attack are the most knowledgeable about the subject?; Reply to this comment


by strangeworld May 5, 2009 1:28 AM EDT: The prince is deranged...in another time and place this guy would be a Jeffrey Dahmer or BTK. It's funny how some of the same people who thought that the behavior of Saddam Hussein's two sons was enough to have the US go to war are now sitting back and hoping that this blows over before their big-business buddies lose their contracts with the UAE.; Reply to this comment


by tmittelstaed May 4, 2009 11:36 PM EDT: I suspect that very shortly Sheik Issa bin Zayed al-Nahayan will have an "unfortunate accident" arrainged by the UAE royal family and the entire thing will be swept under the rug again. The idea that the authorities in Abu Dhabi are going to prosecute a royal family member is an utter joke. The UAE is not the US.; Reply to this comment


by jackobyte May 4, 2009 10:38 PM EDT: Power corrupts. Absolutely.

There will always be torture. As evidenced: one is only held accountable for toture if you are on the loseing side.

The sentences for those few unfortunate and loyal convictees of the victor are wrist slaps when you consider people were murdered thru torture.

If the authorities were serious about eliminating torture they would have draconian laws against it. They do not exactly for that, their own puerile pleasure.; Reply to this comment


by shameonbush May 4, 2009 8:42 PM EDT: This story is difficult to read. I'm glad CBS brought this to our attention. Now, can we go back to the torture inflicted by our own country? May we proceed with those investigations? And, my last question, why is Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld still at large?; Reply to this comment


by inventagod May 4, 2009 6:41 PM EDT: Wow - I was wondering where the Bu$h cartel got their ideas... They really weren't all that smart or original, I guess they picked up a few ideas from their oil buddies.; Reply to this comment