Adel Flaifel
{{Short description|Bahraini State Security Services official}}
Colonel Adel Jassim Flaifel (or Felaifel, or Flaifil) ({{langx|ar|عادل فليفل}}) is a former colonel in the State Security and Intelligence Service of Bahrain. He is accused of committing, or overseeing, acts of physical and psychological torture on Bahraini citizens from 1980s until 1997.[http://hrw.org/english/docs/2002/12/17/bahrai4475.htm Bahrain: Investigate Torture Claims Against Ex-Officer], Human Rights Watch, 17 Dec 2002 He was released from his duties in December 2002 due to protests and pressures from human rights organizations worldwide. In March 2000, King Hamad awarded Flaifel with the Order of Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (Third Class).{{cite news|title=Amiri Decree No 11 of the Year 2000 on the Granting of Medals |url=http://www.legalaffairs.gov.bh/viewhtm.aspx?ID=O1100 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121127184929/http://www.legalaffairs.gov.bh/viewhtm.aspx?ID=O1100 |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 November 2012 |newspaper=Official Gazette of the Kingdom of Bahrain |date=15 March 2000 }}
Flaifel has never been charged with any crime. In the Royal Decree 56 of 2002, an edict issued by King Hamad ibn Isa al-Khalifah granted amnesty to human rights abuses committed by security officers prior to 2001. Torture allegations against Flaifel have been documented by the international human rights organizations,{{cite news|last=Silverman|first=Jon|title=Is the UK facing up to Bahrain's past?|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2842535.stm|accessdate=5 May 2011|newspaper=BBC News Online|date=16 April 2003|quote=Pro-democracy unrest was ruthlessly suppressed in Bahrain and allegations of brutality were made against both Colonel Henderson and his deputy, Adel Felaifel. According to organisations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty, the methods used to cow anti-government activists included beatings, sexual abuse and the ransacking of whole villages.}} Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International.[http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=80256AB9000584F680256C800054851C&lang=e Bahrain: Amnesty International concerned that new legislation allows impunity for human rights offences] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807104633/http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=80256AB9000584F680256C800054851C |date=2007-08-07 }}, Amnesty International, 29 Nov 2002 Protests have been held regularly in Bahrain since 2002 demanding prosecution of Flaifel for carrying out torture.{{cite news|title=Bahrainis demand trial of police 'torturer'|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2509303.stm|accessdate=5 May 2011|newspaper=BBC News Online|date=24 November 2002|quote=The protestors accuse Colonel Adel Flaifel, a former senior official at the interior ministry, of torturing many Bahrainis during political unrest in the 1980s and 1990s.}}{{cite news|title=Protesters remember martyrs on Bahrain's national day|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=APAB&d_place=APAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F86D9FF1A9A69DB&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|newspaper=Associated Press|date=17 December 2002|quote=The protesters also denounced Col. Adel Jassim Flaifil, a former aide to Ian Henderson}}
Flaifel has been accused of carrying out torture along with former Bahrain State Security chief Ian Henderson.{{cite news|last=Mackay|first=Neil|title=Victims identify Scots colonel as Bahrain torturer|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/70151661.html?dids=70151661:70151661&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+21%2C+1999&author=Neil+Mackay%3B+Home+Affairs+Editor&pub=Sunday+Herald&desc=Victims+identify+Scots+colonel+as+Bahrain+torturer&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106161711/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/70151661.html?dids=70151661:70151661&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+21,+1999&author=Neil+Mackay%3B+Home+Affairs+Editor&pub=Sunday+Herald&desc=Victims+identify+Scots+colonel+as+Bahrain+torturer&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 6, 2012|accessdate=5 May 2011|newspaper=Sunday Herald|date=21 November 1999|quote=My first experience of Henderson took place in 1982 when I was hanged like a chicken at the office of Adel Flaifel, one of Henderson's henchmen.}}
In November 2002, 8 Bahraini torture victims lodged complaints against Flaifel with Directorate of Public Prosecutions, however no charges have been taken against him by the government of Bahrain.{{cite news|title=Reparation for Torture: A Survey of Law and Practice in 30 Selected Countries: Bahrain Country Report|url=http://www.redress.org/downloads/country-reports/Bahrain.pdf|newspaper=Redress Trust|date=May 2003|page=5|quote=in November 2002, 8 torture victims lodged complaints relating to their treatment with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for an effective investigation, and requesting that charges be laid against one of the alleged perpetrators, Adel Felaifel, who was already being investigated on relation to fraud and embezzlement charges.|access-date=2011-05-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927151243/http://www.redress.org/downloads/country-reports/Bahrain.pdf|archive-date=2011-09-27|url-status=dead}}
Fraud and embezzlement charges
Flaifel managed to flee Bahrain on May 3, 2002, despite being wanted for involvement in fraud.{{cite news|title=Bahrain's New National Security Agency|url=http://www.gulfsecurityreport.com/gsr/GSR020518.htm#_BAHRAIN%E2%80%99S_NEW_NATIONAL|accessdate=5 May 2011|newspaper=GulfSecurityReport.com|date=18 May 2002|quote=Indeed, the GDCI also faced charges of involvement in fraud, and Interpol has been asked to help track one officer, Colonel Adel Flaifel, who is wanted for financial dealings. Opposition groups have also accused him of involvement in torture. Flaifel was able to leave the country on 3 May despite a travel ban.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217073449/http://www.gulfsecurityreport.com/gsr/GSR020518.htm#_BAHRAIN%E2%80%99S_NEW_NATIONAL|archive-date=17 February 2010|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} He fled to Brisbane, Australia where he purchased 50 million Australian dollars' worth of prime Brisbane central business district buildings. It would later turn out that he was being sought after by Interpol on fraud and embezzlement charges, following a request from the Bahrain Government on May 20, 2002.{{cite news|last=Griffith|first=Chris|title=Mystery CBD buyer named as Interpol fugitive|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-90265135.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105222836/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-90265135.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2012|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=10 August 2002|quote=A mystery Middle-Eastern buyer of A$50 million worth of prime Brisbane CBD buildings has been identified as the fugitive deputy head of Bahrain Intelligence who is sought by Interpol on fraud and embezzlement charges. Former colonel Adel Jassim Felaifel fled to Australia from Bahrain where he is wanted for unlawfully obtaining a document by force, unlawfully obtaining property by fraudulent means, and issuing cheques without sufficient funds.}}
Two individuals, Omar Ali Babtain, the president and chief executive officer of the United Medical Group, which equips and manages hospitals throughout the world, and Khalid Bin Nasser Bin Abdulla Al Misnad, president of the Misnad Group, an international trading and construction company, lodged a challenge against Flaifel with the Supreme Court in Brisbane challenging his ownership of the Australian properties.{{cite news|last=Griffith|first=Chris|title=Mystery CBD buyer named as Interpol fugitive|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-90265135.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105222836/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-90265135.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2012|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=10 August 2002|quote=Omar Ali Babtain, the president and chief executive officer of the United Medical Group, which equips and manages hospitals throughout the world, and Khalid Bin Nasser Bin Abdulla Al Misnad, president of the Misnad Group, an international trading and construction company, have lodged the challenge in the Supreme Court in Brisbane.}} The pair claimed Flaifel had sold them properties in the Middle East worth 59.5 million Australian dollars, but never transferred the contracts, and used that money to purchase the Australian properties.{{cite news|last=Griffith|first=Chris|title=Mystery CBD buyer named as Interpol fugitive|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-90265135.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105222836/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-90265135.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2012|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=10 August 2002|quote=He said Mr Felaifel sold him and Mr Misnad Middle-Eastern properties for A$59.5 million between June 2001 and April this year, but never transferred the contracts.The two believe their money funded his Australian property acquisitions.}}
When it became apparent that Flaifel was in Australia, Lord Avebury, the vice-chairman of Britain's Parliamentary Human Rights Group, said he would call on Australia to try Flaifel for his alleged torture of Bahraini political activists.{{cite news|title=Investor tortured people, says lord|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-90760883.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105222846/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-90760883.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2012|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=26 August 2002|quote=However Lord Eric Avebury, the vice-chairman of Britain's Parliamentary Human Rights Group and previously its chairman for 21 years, said he would urge Australia to try the former colonel under law reflecting its international treaty obligations.}}
Following the fraud and embezzlement case in Australian courts, Flaifel's assets were frozen internationally and he was not allowed to leave Australia.{{cite news|last=Griffith|first=Chris|title=Fugitive in fight for visa|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=31 August 2002|quote=Mr Felaifel's assets have been frozen internationally and he is not allowed to leave Australia.}}
These counts later proved to be false under specific special investigations held by the
- General Directorate for State Security Investigations
- Bahrain Intelligence Agency (BIA1)
2010 Election campaign
Adel Flaifel is registered as a candidate to run as a member of the Council of Representatives of Bahrain (lower house of Parliament) in the 2010 legislative elections in Bahrain from Electoral District 5 of the Muharraq Governorate.[http://www.bahrain2010.com/candidate_detail.php?canid=2 Adel Flaifel, Bahrain Elections 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923013807/http://bahrain2010.com/candidate_detail.php?canid=2 |date=2010-09-23 }} (Arabic)[http://www.bahrain2010.com/en/candidate_detail.php?canid=2 Adel Flaifel, Bahrain Elections 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619172029/http://bahrain2010.com/en/candidate_detail.php?canid=2 |date=2010-06-19 }} (English) He is running on behalf of the "Islamic Row" Society.
Death threat incident
On 5 December, Flaifel tweeted death threats against three activists involved in the 2011-2012 Bahraini uprising: Mohammed Al-Maskati, Nabeel Rajab, and Yousef Al-Mahafdha. The incident led the International Federation for Human Rights and the World Organisation Against Torture to issue a joint statement calling for a letter-writing campaign on the men's behalf.{{cite web |url=http://www.fidh.org/Death-threats-against-Messrs,11025 |title=Death threats against Messrs. Mohammed Al-Maskati, Nabeel Rajab and Yousef Al-Mahafdha - BHR 009 / 1211 / OBS 136 |author= |date=7 December 2011 |work= |publisher=FIDH |accessdate=14 April 2012}}