Issa bin Zayed Al Nahyan: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:10, 26 April 2009

Revision as of 10:10, 26 April 2009

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Nabulsi alleges that he safeguarded the Sheikh's most important documents, including [[financial record]]s, investment documents and [[videotape]]s which showed the Sheikh torturing a man with a [[cattle prod]] and a spiked plank. The latter was smuggled out of the country by Nabulsi, who is suing the Sheikh in federal court in Houston, alleging he also was tortured by UAE police when he refused to turn over the videos to the Sheikh following a falling out between them. "They were my security, really, to make my case that this man is capable of doing what I say he can do," said Nabulsi in an interview to be broadcast on the [[ABC News]] program [[Nightline]]. Nabulsi stated that the video tapes were recorded by his brother, on orders from the Sheikh who liked to watch the torture sessions later in his royal palace.<ref name="observer_torture"> {{cite news | last = Day | first = Michael | coauthors = Paul Harris | title = Wealthy brother of UK football chief linked to gruesome Gulf 'torture tape' | language = English | publisher = The Observer | date = Sunday 26 April 2009 | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/26/manchester-city-torture-tape | accessdate = 26/04/2009 }} </ref>

An abridged version of the tape was posted by [[ABC News]] in [[April]] of [[2009]].<ref>[http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=7402099&page=1 ABC News Exclusive: Torture Tape Implicates UEA Royal Sheikh]</ref> It is alleged that the video, taken at some time in 2005<ref name="observer_torture" />, shows Sheikh Issa beating another man, an [[Afghan]] grain merchant called Mohammed Shah Poo, with a wooden plank with protruding nails, firing an [[automatic weapon]] into the sand]] around him and forcing a [[cattle prod]] into his [[anus]] before turning it on<ref name="observer_torture" />. Prior to the abuse, the video allegedly shows a man in a UAE [[police]] uniform tying the victim's arms and legs; at a later point, Issa urges the cameraman to move in closer with the words, "Get closer. Get closer. Get closer. Let his suffering show." <ref name="observer_torture" /> The victim also appeared to have been run over by a [[Mercedes]] [[SUV]], have lighter fluid poured on his [[genitals]] and set alight<ref name="observer_torture" />, and had [[salt]] poured on his wounds.<ref>[http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou080617_mh_saudisheiktorture.10bbe6a0.html Lawsuit: Houston businessman, others tortured by Arab sheik]</ref><ref name="observer_torture" />

Lawyers stated the abuse began because the Sheikh felt he had been overcharged in a grain deal. "Ultimately this video, or certainly large portions of it, will be played in court," said Anthony G Buzbee, who represents Nabulsi in his lawsuit.<ref>[http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=ODU1Mzc3NzEw Torture lawsuit embarrasses UAE]</ref> The lawsuit, filed pursuant to the [[Torture Victims Protection Act]], also lists Sheikhs [[Nasser bin Zayed Al Nahyan|Nasser]] (since deceased), and [[Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan|Saif]], as well as the [[House of Al Nahyan|Royal Family of bin Zayed Nahyan Partnership]] as defendants.<ref>www.websupp.org/data/SDTX/4:06-cv-02683-42-SDTX.pdf</ref>