Colonel Adel Jassim Flaifel (or Felaifel, or Flaifil) ( Arabic: 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. [1] 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). [2]
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, [3] Human Rights Watch, [1] and Amnesty International. [4] Protests have been held regularly in Bahrain since 2002 demanding prosecution of Flaifel for carrying out torture. [5] [6]
Flaifel has been accused of carrying out torture along with former Bahrain State Security chief Ian Henderson. [7]
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. [8]
Flaifel managed to flee Bahrain on May 3, 2002, despite being wanted for involvement in fraud. [9] 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. [10]
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. [11] 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. [12]
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. [13]
Following the fraud and embezzlement case in Australian courts, Flaifel's assets were frozen internationally and he was not allowed to leave Australia. [14]
These counts later proved to be false under specific special investigations held by the
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. [15] [16] He is running on behalf of the "Islamic Row" Society.
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. [17]
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.
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.
The protesters also denounced Col. Adel Jassim Flaifil, a former aide to Ian Henderson
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mr Felaifel's assets have been frozen internationally and he is not allowed to leave Australia.
Colonel Adel Jassim Flaifel (or Felaifel, or Flaifil) ( Arabic: 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. [1] 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). [2]
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, [3] Human Rights Watch, [1] and Amnesty International. [4] Protests have been held regularly in Bahrain since 2002 demanding prosecution of Flaifel for carrying out torture. [5] [6]
Flaifel has been accused of carrying out torture along with former Bahrain State Security chief Ian Henderson. [7]
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. [8]
Flaifel managed to flee Bahrain on May 3, 2002, despite being wanted for involvement in fraud. [9] 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. [10]
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. [11] 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. [12]
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. [13]
Following the fraud and embezzlement case in Australian courts, Flaifel's assets were frozen internationally and he was not allowed to leave Australia. [14]
These counts later proved to be false under specific special investigations held by the
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. [15] [16] He is running on behalf of the "Islamic Row" Society.
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. [17]
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.
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.
The protesters also denounced Col. Adel Jassim Flaifil, a former aide to Ian Henderson
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mr Felaifel's assets have been frozen internationally and he is not allowed to leave Australia.