Ahmed bin Ateyatalla Al Khalifa

Shaikh Ahmed bin Ateyatalla Al Khalifa is the Minister of Cabinet Affairs in Bahrain and the head of the Central Informatics Organization. He is a member of the Al Khalifa royal family of Bahrain.

In September 2006, he was implicated in the Bandargate scandal, accused of leading and financing a secret organization of government officials, with the aim of marginalizing Bahrain's Shia community, economically, politically and socially.

According to Dr Salah al-Bandar, the whistleblower, Shaikh Ahmed 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

ee also

* Bandargate scandal

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://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] )