Al Bandar report
The Al Bander report refers to a political conspiracy by government officials in Bahrain to foment sectarian strife and marginalize the majority Shia community in the country. The conspiracy was led and financed by Ahmed bin Ateyatalla Al Khalifa, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and head of the Civil Informatics Organization and member of the Al Khalifa royal family. The allegations were revealed in September 2006, in a 240-page document produced by the Gulf Centre for Democratic Development, and authored by Salah Al Bandar, an adviser to the Cabinet Affairs Ministry. Following the distribution of the report, Bahraini police deported Al Bandar to the United Kingdom, where he holds citizenship.
According to Al Bander, the Minister in Bahrain paid five main operatives a total of more than $2.7 million to run:
- a secret intelligence cell spying on Shi’as
- ‘GONGOs’ – government operated bogus NGOs like the ‘Bahraini Jurists Society’ and the ‘Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society’
- internet forums and websites that foment sectarian hatred
- subsidisation of ‘new converts’ from Shia Islam to Sunnism
- payments for election rigging
Individuals accused in the Bandargate report
| Name | Occupation | Role in conspiracy | Monthly remuneration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmed bin Ateyatalla Al Khalifa | Cabinet Affairs Ministry, President of Central Informatics Organization (CIO), Direct Supervisor to Civil Bureau (State Recruitment Office) and President of the Executive Committee Supervising the Polls of 2006 | Leader of the Secret Cell & Financier | Financer |
| Raed Mohamed Abdulla Shams | Manager Stats Department of CIO, Appointed in 2006 as an Assistant to Secretary General of Cabinet Affairs Ministry for Human Resources, Finance and Services, Deputy to Ministry Assistant. Immediate Supervisor to Jordanian Intelligence Group who is responsible to follow up political situations, co-ordinates and supervises the work of Civil Organizations that are tied to the Web (Jurists, Bahrain First, Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society, Bahrain Politics) and supervises the Endorsement Administrative, Technical Group and the State telecommunications Insurance | Acts as the “Right Hand” of Ahmed, administrating the Secret Web. He does not conceal his sympathy and support for Islamic Reform Society and its political Right Hand of Al-Menbar Islamic Society. | In addition to his monthly salary and renowned allowance he monthly receives BD1200 |
| Mohamed Ali Mohamed Al-Qaed | Administration Manager of CIO, promoted in April 2006 as a General Manager Information Technology and Deputy Assistant to Ministry. He is well known for his tie with Islamic Reform Society and its political Right Hand of Al-Menbar Islamic Society is well known. | Left-Hand for Ahmed, supervises e-Voting Group and Groups of Variety Technical Works | In addition to his monthly salary and renowned allowance he monthly receives BD1200. |
| Jamal Yousuf Mohamed Al-Aseery | Chief Editor of Reform Magazine (Reform Society of the Muslim Brotherhood), Ex-BBC Correspondent, Chancellor and Media Affairs to President of Royal Court (Mohamed Bin Ateyatalla, brother of the above stated Leader of the Cell), Acting as a Chief Editor to Alwatan News | Arranges agendas for the Media and News topics, supervises the Media Group and holds a position of Consultant to Al-Watan News. | In addition to his monthly salary and renowned allowance he monthly receives BD800/- |
| Adel Rashid Bu-Saiba | CIO incumbent, fully committed to Islamic Education Society in the capacity of Manager Social Affairs & Project that is dependent to Al Asalah Political Society. | Supervises the Group whose prime objective to concentrate the Sunni sects against Shi’a sect. | In addition to his monthly salary and renowned allowance he monthly receives BD1000/- |
| Naser Mohammed Yousif Lori | Ex-employee of CIO, Since 2004, he works as a Deputy Assistant to President of Royal Court, Mohamed Bin Ateyatalla, in the capacity of Co-Ordination & Follow-up, he has strong relation with fundamentalists stream in Bahrain and the Gulf such as Al-Salafiya, Board Member and Supervisor to Awalatan Newspaper Project he also possesses 10% of its nominal stocks | Has connection with Royal Court Naturalization Committee | In addition to his monthly salary and renowned allowance he monthly receives BD1000/- |
| Mohamed Ahmed Abdulla | General Secretary Assistant to Cabinet Ministry, at the grade of Deputy Assistant to Ministry | - | BD500 |
| Maher Al-Khan | Central Informatics Organization | - | BD500 |
| Yousif Binkhalil | Alwatan Newspaper | - | BD500 |
| Ahmed Bu-Hazza’a | - | - | BD500 |
| Yousif Abdulla Yousif | Benefits Company | - | BD250 |
| Yousif Al-Bader | Central Informatics Organization | - | BD250 |
| Khalid Ahmed | Central Informatics Organization | - | BD250 |
| Nabeel Shams | Central Informatics Organization | - | BD250 |
| Maisoon Al-Qaisy | Central Informatics Organization | - | BD150 |
| Rashid Musalam Rashid | Central Informatics Organization | - | BD500 |
| Naser Al-Emady | Ministry Office Manager, Civil Services Bureau (Governmental Recruitment) | - | BD750 |
| Hala Asheer | Central Informatics Organization | - | BD250 |
| Hussain Ali Al-Mutawa | Private driver | - | BD300 |
| Hamad Al-Mahaiza’a | Central Informatics Organization | - | BD500 |
| Ahmed Khairy | Accountant | - | BD400 |
| Ali Saqer | Driver | - | BD150 |
| Fahad Bin Abdulaziz | General Judgment Center | - | BD500 |
| Faisal Fulad | Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society | - | BD500 |
See also
References
- 300 protesters in Bahrain demand investigation into alleged conspiracy to rig elections, International Herald Tribune, 17 November 2006
- Report Cites Bid by Sunnis in Bahrain to Rig Elections, The New York Times, 2 October 2006
- Al-Bandar Ejection Exposes Bahrain Split, The Washington Post, 2 October 2006
- Allegations of treason, vote-rigging warn of sectarian strife ahead of Bahrain elections, International Herald Tribune, 2 October 2006
- « Bandargate » et tensions confessionnelles, Alain Gresh, Le Monde diplomatique, 19 October 2006
- Al Bander-Gate: A Political Scandal In Bahrain Archived 2012-05-26 at the Wayback Machine, Bahrain Center for Human Rights, September 2006
- Documents related to Bandargate, Bahrain Center for Human Rights
- BandarGate, Lord Eric Avebury, 5 October 2006
- Banning Publication of News or Information Related to the “Bandar-Gate” Scandal, Bahrain Center for Human Rights, 6 October 2006
- “Bandar-Gate” and the Dangerous Role Played by Some Human Rights Societies and its Relation to the secret organization Archived 2019-02-27 at the Wayback Machine, Statement by Bahraini Human Rights Activists, 10 October 2006
- Activists and journalist receive threats for highlighting Bandargate scandal, Bahrain Center for Human Rights, 12 October 2006
- Bahrain: Must be election season, Toby Jones, 12 October 2006
- Concern over the lack of an official response to Al Bandergate, Bahrain Center for Human Rights, 13 October 2006
- Petition From A Hundred Prominent Figures And Activists To The King Of Bahrain regarding Bandargate scandal Archived 2019-02-27 at the Wayback Machine, 13 October 2006
- Documentary video: Political Naturalization in Bahrain Archived 2017-10-19 at the Wayback Machine
- Mahmood's Den Bandargate Archive
- Bandargate Blog
- BANDARGATE!, Gulf Daily News, 24 September 2006
- BANDARGATE: The unanswered questions, Gulf Daily News, 27 September 2006
- Probe Call, Gulf Daily News, 27 September 2006
- MPs call for Al Bandar probe, Gulf Daily News, 27 September 2006
- Secret offer to run society is alleged, Gulf Daily News, 29 September 2006
- Activists charting action plan, Gulf Daily News, 29 September 2006
- High Court issues Bandar Press gag, Gulf Daily News, 5 October 2006
- Societies call to lift Press gag, Gulf Daily News, 9 October 2006
- Video: Press conference of Salah Al Bandar the UK House of Lords (Parts: 1, 2, 3)
- Video: Discussion with Salah Al Bandar on Kawthar TV (Parts: 1, 2, 3)
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