Bandargate scandal

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The Bandargate scandal refers to an alleged political conspiracy by the certain government officials in Bahrain to foment sectarian strife and marginalize the majority Shia community in the country. The conspiracy was allegedly lead and financed by Shaikh Ahmed bin Ateyatalla Al Khalifa, Minister of Cabiner 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 Dr Salah Al Bandar, an adviser to the Cabinet Affairs Ministry. Following the distribution of the report, Bahraini police forcibly deported Dr Al Bandar to the United Kingdom, where he holds citizenship.

According to Dr al-Bandar, the Minister 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 Islamic sect to the Sunni sect
payments for election rigging

[edit] 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	Financier
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 Shaikh 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 Shaikh 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 Medias Affairs to President of Royal Court (Shaikh Mohamed Bin Ateyatalla, brother of the above stated Leader of the Cell), Acting as a Chief Editor to Alwatan News	Arranges agendas for the Medias 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, Shaikh 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