Salah Al Bandar

Dr Salah Al Bandar is a British citizen of Sudanese origin known for his role in revealing the Bandargate scandal in Bahrain. Al Bandar had been working as a strategic planning adviser to the Cabinet Affairs Ministry of Bahrain since October 2006. On September 13, 2006 he was arrested and deported to London by Bahraini 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 Bandar is also the secretary general of the Gulf Centre for Democratic Development, a London-registered non-governmental organisation.

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Bandargate

Mr. Bandar, 52, a Sunni Muslim, received calls in January 2006 from other Sunnis inside the Bahrain government concerned over an organized campaign to raise tensions within the government and the Bahrainian society. Bandar began investigating the accusations with the help of accountants and government whistle-blowers.[2]

The report

In early September, 2006 he presented a 240-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]

See also

References

  1. ^ Report Cites Bid by Sunnis in Bahrain to Rig Elections, New York Times, 2 October 2006
  2. ^ 300 protesters in Bahrain demand investigation into alleged conspiracy to rig elections, International Herald Tribune, 17 November 2006
  3. ^ Allegations of treason, vote-rigging warn of sectarian strife ahead of Bahrain elections, International Herald Tribune, 2 OCtober 2006
  4. ^ Report Cites Bid by Sunnis in Bahrain to Rig Elections, New York Times, 2 October 2006