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Press release
 
COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE - COMUNICADO DE PRENSA
   
  30 April 2009
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United Arab Emirates: No impunity for Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al Nahyan for acts of torture
 

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) today called on the authorities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to bring to justice Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al Nahyan, a member of the royal family, and to prosecute him for acts of torture committed against an Afghan citizen, Mohammed Shah Poor, with the assistance of the police forces. The UAE Government confirmed the veracity of a video of Sheikh Issa torturing Mr. Poor, although officials of the Ministry of Interior said that the "incidents" depicted in the video "were not part of a pattern of behaviour," and that " the issue had been resolved privately."

"The footage shows Sheikh Issa, assisted by police and others, whipping and raping Mr. Poor, and firing bullets near him. The tape also shows the Sheikh rubbing salt into Mr. Poor's wounds and driving over him repeatedly with a vehicle," said the ICJ. "These acts amount to torture and should be investigated. Sheikh Issa and those who assisted him in carrying out such acts of torture must be held criminally liable," the ICJ added.