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

References

* [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/17/africa/ME_GEN_Bahrain_Elections.php 300 protesters in Bahrain demand investigation into alleged conspiracy to rig elections] , International Herald Tribune, 17 November 2006
* [http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/02/africa/web.1002bahrain.php Report Cites Bid by Sunnis in Bahrain to Rig Elections] , New York Times, 2 October 2006
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/02/AR2006100200868.html Al-Bandar Ejection Exposes Bahrain Split] , Washington Post, 2 October 2006
* [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/02/africa/ME_GEN_Bahrain_Elections.php Allegations of treason, vote-rigging warn of sectarian strife ahead of Bahrain elections] , International Herald Tribune, 2 OCtober 2006
* [http://blog.mondediplo.net/2006-10-19-Bandargate-et-tensions-confessionnelles « Bandargate » et tensions confessionnelles] , Alain Gresh, Le Monde diplomatique, 19 October 2006
* [http://www.bahrainrights.org/node/528 Al Bander-Gate: A Political Scandal In Bahrain] , Bahrain Center for Human Rights, September 2006
* [http://www.bahrainrights.org/bandargate Documents related to Bandargate] , Bahrain Center for Human Rights
* [http://ericavebury.blogspot.com/2006/10/bandargate.html BandarGate] , Lord Eric Avebury, 5 October 2006
* [http://www.bahrainrights.org/ref06100500 Banning Publication of News or Information Related to the “Bandar-Gate” Scandal] , Bahrain Center for Human Rights, 6 October 2006
* [http://www.bahrainrights.org/node/586 “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
* [http://www.bahrainrights.org/ref06101201 Activists and journalist receive threats for highlighting Bandargate scandal] , Bahrain Center for Human Rights, 12 October 2006
* [http://abuaardvark.typepad.com/qahwa_sada/2006/10/bahrain_must_be.html Bahrain: Must be election season] , Toby Jones, 12 October 2006
* [http://www.bahrainrights.org/ref06101300 Concern over the lack of an official response to Al Bandergate] , Bahrain Center for Human Rights, 13 October 2006
* [http://www.bahrainrights.org/node/610 Petition From A Hundred Prominent Figures And Activists To The King Of Bahrain regarding Bandargate scandal] , 13 October 2006
* [http://www.bahrainrights.org/node/467 Documentary video: Political Naturalization in Bahrain]
* [http://mahmood.tv?cat=148 Mahmood's Den Bandargate Archive]
* [http://bandargate.wordpress.com/ Bandargate Blog]

* [http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/1yr_arc_Articles.asp?Article=156596&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29188&date=9-24-2006 BANDARGATE!] , Gulf Daily News, 24 September 2006
* [http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/1yr_arc_Articles.asp?Article=156858&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29191&date=9-27-2006 BANDARGATE: The unanswered questions] , Gulf Daily News, 27 September 2006
* [http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/1yr_arc_Articles.asp?Article=156857&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29191&date=9-27-2006 Probe Call] , Gulf Daily News, 27 September 2006
* [http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/1yr_arc_Articles.asp?Article=156855&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29191&date=9-27-2006 MPs call for Al Bandar probe] , Gulf Daily News, 27 September 2006
* [http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/arc_Articles.asp?Article=157066&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29193 Secret offer to run society is alleged] , Gulf Daily News, 29 September 2006
* [http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/arc_Articles.asp?Article=157065&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29193 Activists charting action plan] , Gulf Daily News, 29 September 2006
* [http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/arc_Articles.asp?Article=157782&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29199 High Court issues Bandar Press gag] , Gulf Daily News, 5 October 2006
* [http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/arc_Articles.asp?Article=158221&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29203 Societies call to lift Press gag] , Gulf Daily News, 9 October 2006

* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1761650440367619517 Video: Press conference of Dr Salah Al Bandar the UK House of Lords] (Parts: [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1761650440367619517 1] , [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7158604986203919896 2] , [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5132678251566923268 3] )
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-963296667793244069 Video: Discussion with Dr Salah Al Bandar on Kawthar TV] (Parts: [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-963296667793244069 1] , [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=428303001749595497 2] , [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7675050598231414932 3] )

ee also

*Human rights in Bahrain