Press Release: TLHRC on U.A.E Torture Case
Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Co-Chairs Decry Sheikh Issa Verdict in the UAE , Vow to Continue Congressional Efforts to Highlight Human Rights Violations by Unaccountable Royal Family
(Editor’s Note: This is a press release from the Tomas Lantos Human Rights Commission regarding the despicable acquittal of Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, in a rape and torture case in the U.A.E)
Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) Co-Chairmen Reps. James P. McGovern (D-MA) and Frank R. Wolf (R-VA) today strongly condemned Sunday’s acquittal of Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, a member of the royal family and brother of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in a high profile trial in which he was charged with rape, endangering life and causing bodily harm. Initially the Sheikh was cleared of any wrongdoing by other family members acting under color of authority. Subsequently an international outcry resulted in the case going to trial. The TLHRC held a hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives in May 2009 to highlight these abuses. The charges stem from video footage submitted in a U.S. civil trial last year, broadcast by ABC News and widely circulated on the Internet, which depict Sheikh Issa ordering, actively participating in, and documenting by video extremely gruesome acts of torture against an Afghan grain dealer, Mohammed Shah Poor.
The footage was submitted in U.S. courts by former American business partners of the Sheikh, who were found guilty by the UAE court of having tried to blackmail the Sheikh. The UAE court cited the Sheikh’s use of medication at the time and possible tampering with the video footage as justification for the acquittal verdict. Members of the royal family have a history of engaging in abusive acts with impunity, inside and outside the UAE, according to credible eye witnesses and NGO reports.
Said Congressman James P. McGovern: “It is beyond belief that a country once awash in oil money and accustomed to simply buying people and governments off to achieve their royal whims and wishes would violate international human rights standards in such a flagrant way. The royal family reportedly paid ‘compensation money’ to the victim of these despicable and depraved acts, but if they really believe that this farce clears Sheikh Issa in the eyes of the civilized world, they are sorely mistaken. I will work with my colleagues in Congress and the U.S. Administration to see that no members of the royal family will receive visas to travel to the United States as long as this travesty stands.”
Added Congressman Frank R. Wolf:” The State Department’s 2009 Human Rights Report found that, ‘the judiciary [in the UAE] lacked full independence.’ This verdict appears to confirm the State Department’s finding. It is staggering that these horrific actions, captured on tape, would go unpunished.”
Both Co-Chairs expressed their determination to bring further attention to this matter in the United States Congress and the Administration; and to examine the ruling and findings of the presiding judge when they are made public.
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