Bandargate scandal

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

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

References

See also

  • Human rights in Bahrain

ar:بندرجيت

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