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UAE detains 'torture tape' sheikh | UAE detains 'torture tape' sheikh |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Abu Dhabi prosecutors have detained a member of their own ruling family after a video was circulated apparently showing him torture another man. | Abu Dhabi prosecutors have detained a member of their own ruling family after a video was circulated apparently showing him torture another man. |
Public prosecutors say they also have begun criminal inquiries into Issa bin Zayed al-Nahyan's actions on the tape. | Public prosecutors say they also have begun criminal inquiries into Issa bin Zayed al-Nahyan's actions on the tape. |
The investigation is the first reported of a ruling family member in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. | The investigation is the first reported of a ruling family member in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. |
Previously, Emirati officials had named Sheikh Issa as the man in the video but said the case was "resolved privately". | Previously, Emirati officials had named Sheikh Issa as the man in the video but said the case was "resolved privately". |
"The Public Prosecution Office has officially launched a criminal investigation into the events depicted on video and detained Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al-Nahyan pending the outcome of this investigation," the official news agency WAM reported on Monday. | "The Public Prosecution Office has officially launched a criminal investigation into the events depicted on video and detained Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al-Nahyan pending the outcome of this investigation," the official news agency WAM reported on Monday. |
"This is to ensure that all human rights obligations are met and enforced, that all national laws are applied equally and with transparency to all," WAM said, quoting a statement by the Judicial Department. | "This is to ensure that all human rights obligations are met and enforced, that all national laws are applied equally and with transparency to all," WAM said, quoting a statement by the Judicial Department. |
On 30 April, after initially dismissing accusations about the video, the Abu Dhabi authorities condemned the torture depicted in the tape and called an inquiry into the case. | On 30 April, after initially dismissing accusations about the video, the Abu Dhabi authorities condemned the torture depicted in the tape and called an inquiry into the case. |
The latest statement, issued on Monday, did not give reasons behind the change in approach, or the circumstances of the sheikh's detention. | The latest statement, issued on Monday, did not give reasons behind the change in approach, or the circumstances of the sheikh's detention. |
Hospital treatment | Hospital treatment |
The advocacy organisation Human Rights Watch described reports of the sheikh's detention as reassuring, but called on the Emirates government to demonstrate complete transparency in the case. | The advocacy organisation Human Rights Watch described reports of the sheikh's detention as reassuring, but called on the Emirates government to demonstrate complete transparency in the case. |
Country profile: UAE | |
"Secretive prosecutions will not deter further abuses," said Human Rights Watch Middle East director Sarah Leah Whitson. | "Secretive prosecutions will not deter further abuses," said Human Rights Watch Middle East director Sarah Leah Whitson. |
The video shows Sheikh Issa repeatedly beating the man, Mohammed Shah Poor, a grain merchant of Afghan origin, and running him over with a car. Several other men assist in the tape, including one in a uniform of the security forces. | The video shows Sheikh Issa repeatedly beating the man, Mohammed Shah Poor, a grain merchant of Afghan origin, and running him over with a car. Several other men assist in the tape, including one in a uniform of the security forces. |
The incident, said to have taken place in 2004, came to light after US television network ABC broadcast clips of the tape, which was smuggled out of the UAE by a former business associate of Issa bin Zayed al-Nahyan. | The incident, said to have taken place in 2004, came to light after US television network ABC broadcast clips of the tape, which was smuggled out of the UAE by a former business associate of Issa bin Zayed al-Nahyan. |
Reports say the merchant had lost a consignment of grain belonging to Sheikh Issa worth $5,000 (£3,300). He survived the abuse, but needed extensive hospital treatment. | Reports say the merchant had lost a consignment of grain belonging to Sheikh Issa worth $5,000 (£3,300). He survived the abuse, but needed extensive hospital treatment. |
In a letter to ABC News, the UAE authorities initially said a police investigation that cleared the sheikh had "correctly followed... all rules, policies and procedures" set out by the Police department. | In a letter to ABC News, the UAE authorities initially said a police investigation that cleared the sheikh had "correctly followed... all rules, policies and procedures" set out by the Police department. |
The UAE is a federation of seven wealthy emirates with substantial oil reserves and a large expatriate population. Each emirate is run by a ruling family and citizens are granted few political rights. | The UAE is a federation of seven wealthy emirates with substantial oil reserves and a large expatriate population. Each emirate is run by a ruling family and citizens are granted few political rights. |