Salah Al Bandar
Dr Salah Al Bander (also Al Bandar, born 1955) is a British citizen of Sudanese origin known for his role in revealing the Bandargate scandal in Bahrain. Al Bander had been working as a strategic planning adviser to the Royal Court of Bahrain since January 2002, then he was seconded to Ministry of Cabinet Affairs in January 2006. On September 13, 2006 he was arrested and deported to London by Bahraini security officials [1] after he distributed a report revealing a conspiracy to suppress the Shia in Bahrain (who form the majority of the population). The scandal that ensued was named Bandargate, after him. Al Bander is also the Secretary General of the MOWATIN: Gulf Centre for Democratic Development, a London-registered non-governmental organisation.
Bandargate
Dr Al Bander, 52, a Sunni Muslim, received calls in March 2006 from other Sunnis inside the Bahrain government concerned over an organized campaign to raise tensions within the government and the Bahraini society. Al Bander began investigating the accusations with the help of accountants and government whistle-blowers.[2]
The report
In early September, 2006 he presented a 940-page report to advisers of King Hamad and the prime minister, Sheik Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, as well as to Western embassies and the news media. The report indicates a secret plot to "deprive an essential part of the population" (Shiites) of their rights.[3][4]
UK politics
He served as a city councillor in Cambridge for the Liberal Democrats from 2008-2012.[5] He left the Liberal Democrats in 2015.
See also
References
- ↑ Report Cites Bid by Sunnis in Bahrain to Rig Elections, New York Times, 2 October 2006
- ↑ 300 protesters in Bahrain demand investigation into alleged conspiracy to rig elections, International Herald Tribune, 17 November 2006
- ↑ Allegations of treason, vote-rigging warn of sectarian strife ahead of Bahrain elections, International Herald Tribune, 2 October 2006
- ↑ Report Cites Bid by Sunnis in Bahrain to Rig Elections, New York Times, 2 October 2006
- ↑ http://openlylocal.com/members/8581-Salah-Al-Bander
- 300 protesters in Bahrain demand investigation into alleged conspiracy to rig elections, International Herald Tribune, 17 November 2006
- Al-Bandar Ejection Exposes Bahrain Split, Washington Post, 2 October 2006
- Allegations of treason, vote-rigging warn of sectarian strife ahead of Bahrain elections, International Herald Tribune, 2 OCtober 2006
- Al Bander-Gate: A Political Scandal In Bahrain, 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, 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, 13 October 2006
- Documentary video: Political Naturalization in Bahrain
- 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 Dr Salah Al Bandar the UK House of Lords (Parts: 1, 2, 3)
- Video: Discussion with Dr Salah Al Bandar on Kawthar TV (Parts: 1, 2, 3)