Royal Sheikh Detained by UAE Over Torture Tape Allegations

[sabra]

Source: ABC News

ABC News Report Spurs Criminal Investigation of Royal Brother's Sadistic Beatings

A member of the royal family in the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al Nahyan, has been "detained" in Abu Dhabi by authorities investigating a chilling videotape that shows him torturing an Afghan grain dealer, according to officials in Washington.

UAE officials told American diplomats the Sheikh was put under "house arrest" this week and prevented from leaving the country as the UAE Ministry of Justice conducts a criminal investigation of the incidents on the videotape, the officials said.

The 45-minute torture tape, first broadcast on ABC News Nightline two weeks ago, shows the Sheikh, the brother of the UAE crown prince, beating his victim with an electric cattle prod and a wooden plank with protruding nails. Men in police uniform are seen on the tape restraining the victim, who has sand shoved down his throat and is later repeatedly run over by a Mercedes Benz SUV driven by the Sheikh.

After first insisting the case was closed and settled privately, UAE authorities reversed course. Officials told ABCNews.com that other individuals seen on the tape who worked for Sheikh Issa have also been detained in the investigation.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=7538363&page=1

[Sultana]

1. Bullshit! Abu Dhabi is trying to save face

They did nothing about Falah bin Zayed gay advances towards an American citizen in Switzerland that resulted in the man being badly beaten.

Normally, homosexuals in UAE are detained and given hormonal treatments to make em "manly". That I am sure didn't happen to Falah because these Sheikhs are the biggest hypocrites, it well known that they indulge in relationships with men behind closed doors.

Torture is the norm when a country is ruled by mafias. Ruling families=mafias

[Chulanowa]

7. And yet, this is still more than we're doing regarding our own torturers

It may be a saving-face motion, it may go nowhere, but at least it's a little something. The US can't even un-thumb it's own ass to TALK about the abuses, much less bring in any kind of legal response.

[No Elephants]

8. If detaining a perp, however, belatedly, is "saving face," I hope the U.S. starts saving face soon.

We all know where they are--Bushie, Cheney, Rummy, Condi, the CIA "enhanced interrogators" and the Abu Ghraib torturers. And we need to hurry. According to the ACLU, some of the statutes of limitation expire this year.

[closeupready]

2. What happened to the victim - did that ever come out?

Did he die?

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. "The victim, who miraculously recovered after months of hospitalization . . . "

.
.
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Commenting on the pledge for an independent inquiry, Buzbee expressed doubt that the UAE government would allow a true investigation.

"I am skeptical about whether there will be a genuine investigation, given the fact that various Abu Dhabi government officials have been aware of these issues for many years," he said.

"…members of the government were actually involved in, or covered up the torture," of Nabulsi, the Afghan trader and others, he added.


More at UAE 'torture' prince 'abused' 25 others


Ya think it's time for the USA to invade the UAE, Saudi Arabia . . ?

Ah what the heck,

they got Saddam hung,

so he can't talk . .

:freak:

[closeupready]

4. If he had invaded them instead, hoo boy, would we be better off.

Just kidding, actually, but yeah, their abuses make me so angry. :mad:

Thank you so much for the info - I was worried about him. :hi:

[No Elephants]

9. Why the USA?

[Senator]

5. UAE "torture" scandal and cover-up sparks outrage in the U.S.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/05/03/torture/index.html">Glenn Greenwald's review of the case, for those who missed it.

--

[closeupready]

6. Yes, Greenwald strikes the proper sardonic tone here,

with sort of his tongue planted firmly in his cheek.