Turgidly Rancid Justice
Wasn't it almost a year ago that a video was circulating that showed a member of Abu Dhabi's ruling family, Sheikh Issa bin Zaya-ed al-Nahyan beating a man with whips, using an electric cattle prod, and a wooden plank with protruding nails. And then rubbing salt into the man's wounds? What a dreadful embarrassment. And how revelatory.The victim, an Afghani grain merchant who often conducted business in the United Arab Emirates, appeared at the trial but said nothing. The trial judge read the verdict at a court in the United Arab Emirates. A friend and ally of the United States, and just coincidentally the world's third largest oil exporter.
Sheikh al-Nahyan was, unsurprisingly - as a son of UAE founder Sheikh Zayed - found innocent of the torture and rape of Mohammed Shah Poor. There was, evidently, no judicial necessity for the judge to give a reason for exoneration of responsibility for that abuse so graphically shown in that 45-minute video of 2004.
But two men, Lebanese-American brothers, were sentenced to five years in absentia and fined 10,000 dirhams ($2,723) for what the judge claimed was their part in drugging, recording and publishing a video, and for blackmail attempts.
And Sheikh al-Nahyan's lawyer was proud to announce that the UAE had given ample demonstration of its commitment to justice and the rule of law.
A Nepalese security guard, also seen in the infamous video was acquitted, while a Syrian national was committed to a year in jail for his part in beating Mr. Shah Poor, while a Palestinian and an Indian were sentenced to three years' imprisonment each for sodomizing Mr. Shah Poor with a stick.
All this, because Sheikh al-Nahyan was convinced he was being cheated, short-changed in a grain sale.
Which earned Mr. Poor very special attention revealed by the video which showed him screaming as bullets from an automatic rifle were fired close to him, an electric cattle prod inserted into his anus, lighter fluid poured on his testicles and set afire, being struck with a wooden board with protruding nails, whipped on his body and face, driven over by a 4 x 4 vehicle, breaking some of his bones.
It's worthwhile noting that police were present. Who ably assisted, by tying the victim's arms and legs to prevent his escape and to solicitously facilitate the torture proceedings. But justice has finally been done, and that's the important thing, isn't it, after all?
Friend and allies in the U.S. appear skeptical. "It's not a credible verdict", according to a senior American government official. Oh? Why would he assume that to be the case?
Labels: Justice, Middle East, Traditions
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, January 12, 2010
<< Home