Torture Video Puts UAE Nuke Deal in Doubt
Media Line News Agency
May 19, 2009
The U.S. State Department says it is consulting with Congress on whether to move forward with a proposed civilian nuclear deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family was caught on video apparently torturing an Afghan businessman.
The tape, which came to light in April and was broadcast on ABC and other U.S. TV channels, appears to show Sheikh ´Issa Bin Zayyid Al Nahyan and uniformed police officers beating, torturing, humiliating and running over an Afghani grain dealer with a vehicle as the man begs for his life.
Sheikh ´Issa, a prominent real estate developer, is the brother of Abu Dhabi and UAE ruler Khalifa Bin Zayyid Al Nahyan.
Additional evidence suggests the Gulf prince was filmed torturing at least 25 other people, according to a lawyer familiar with the workings of the Abu Dhabi royal family.
The events on the 45-minute tape probably took place in November 2004.
"We, of course, are very concerned by this video. We are consulting with Congress on the next steps on this agreement," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters at a press briefing on Wednesday.
"Images on the film were disturbing," Kelly said.
The Obama administration appears to be undecided on how to proceed with the nuclear deal in light of the video.
"We think the agreement is an important agreement, and at the appropriate time we´ll take the next steps," Kelly said.
The agreement – a so-called 123 – was signed in January between the UAE and the Bush administration. It will allow the UAE to purchase American nuclear technology and fuel.
In contrast to the agreement the U.S. has signed with other countries, including India, under the proposed deal the UAE will forego the right to uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing. The processes are essential for making the fuel that power nuclear reactors but are also used to produce nuclear weapons.
The issue of nuclear fuel refining is one of the main points of difference between the U.S. and Iran regarding Tehran´s nuclear program.
A 10-minute video aired at a Capitol Hill hearing on Wednesday appeared to show Sheikh ´Issa pouring salt onto the wounds of a man who has just been beaten. He is being helped by another man in police uniform.
"In each case, Sheikh ´Issa is seen beating and terrorizing his victims – and in each case, he is assisted by uniformed individuals, some of whom, especially in the group incident, appear to be official uniformed security or police members," Rep. James McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts, said in a statement at the hearing.
In a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on April 23, McGovern urged her to put the nuclear deal on hold while the video was investigated.
McGovern urged a halt to "further U.S. expenditures of funds, training, sales or transfers of equipment or technology including nuclear until a full review" of the incidents captured on the video.
The film was smuggled out of the UAE by a Texas businessman, Bassem Nabulsi, a former business associate of the sheikh, who claims he was also tortured by Sheikh ´Issa after falling out with him.
Nabulsi´s lawyer has informed the UAE authorities that he has at least two more hours of footage showing Sheikh ´Issa torturing 25 other people, AFP reported.
The case has drawn severe criticism from rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, which called on the UAE government to establish an independent body to investigate the torture of the man, Muhammad Shah Poor, and recommend disciplinary steps against or criminal prosecution of persons implicated in the abuse.
They also urged a probe of the Ministry of Interior´s failure to bring those involved to justice.
"What´s even more shocking is the government´s insistence that it investigated and found no violation of UAE laws," Human Rights Watch said, even though the organization insists that the acts shown in the video constitute "clear violations" of the UAE´s constitution as well as international human-rights law.
The tape, which came to light in April and was broadcast on ABC and other U.S. TV channels, appears to show Sheikh ´Issa Bin Zayyid Al Nahyan and uniformed police officers beating, torturing, humiliating and running over an Afghani grain dealer with a vehicle as the man begs for his life.
Sheikh ´Issa, a prominent real estate developer, is the brother of Abu Dhabi and UAE ruler Khalifa Bin Zayyid Al Nahyan.
Additional evidence suggests the Gulf prince was filmed torturing at least 25 other people, according to a lawyer familiar with the workings of the Abu Dhabi royal family.
The events on the 45-minute tape probably took place in November 2004.
"We, of course, are very concerned by this video. We are consulting with Congress on the next steps on this agreement," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters at a press briefing on Wednesday.
"Images on the film were disturbing," Kelly said.
The Obama administration appears to be undecided on how to proceed with the nuclear deal in light of the video.
"We think the agreement is an important agreement, and at the appropriate time we´ll take the next steps," Kelly said.
The agreement – a so-called 123 – was signed in January between the UAE and the Bush administration. It will allow the UAE to purchase American nuclear technology and fuel.
In contrast to the agreement the U.S. has signed with other countries, including India, under the proposed deal the UAE will forego the right to uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing. The processes are essential for making the fuel that power nuclear reactors but are also used to produce nuclear weapons.
The issue of nuclear fuel refining is one of the main points of difference between the U.S. and Iran regarding Tehran´s nuclear program.
A 10-minute video aired at a Capitol Hill hearing on Wednesday appeared to show Sheikh ´Issa pouring salt onto the wounds of a man who has just been beaten. He is being helped by another man in police uniform.
"In each case, Sheikh ´Issa is seen beating and terrorizing his victims – and in each case, he is assisted by uniformed individuals, some of whom, especially in the group incident, appear to be official uniformed security or police members," Rep. James McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts, said in a statement at the hearing.
In a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on April 23, McGovern urged her to put the nuclear deal on hold while the video was investigated.
McGovern urged a halt to "further U.S. expenditures of funds, training, sales or transfers of equipment or technology including nuclear until a full review" of the incidents captured on the video.
The film was smuggled out of the UAE by a Texas businessman, Bassem Nabulsi, a former business associate of the sheikh, who claims he was also tortured by Sheikh ´Issa after falling out with him.
Nabulsi´s lawyer has informed the UAE authorities that he has at least two more hours of footage showing Sheikh ´Issa torturing 25 other people, AFP reported.
The case has drawn severe criticism from rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, which called on the UAE government to establish an independent body to investigate the torture of the man, Muhammad Shah Poor, and recommend disciplinary steps against or criminal prosecution of persons implicated in the abuse.
They also urged a probe of the Ministry of Interior´s failure to bring those involved to justice.
"What´s even more shocking is the government´s insistence that it investigated and found no violation of UAE laws," Human Rights Watch said, even though the organization insists that the acts shown in the video constitute "clear violations" of the UAE´s constitution as well as international human-rights law.