Dr Salah Al Bander (also ''Al Bandar'', born 1955) is a British citizen of
Sudanese origin known for his role in revealing the
Bandargate scandal
The Al Bander report refers to a political conspiracy by government officials in Bahrain to foment sectarian strife and marginalize the majority Shia community in the country. The conspiracy was led and financed by Ahmed bin Ateyatalla Al Khalifa ...
in
Bahrain
Bahrain ( ; ; ar, البحرين, al-Bahrayn, locally ), officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, ' is an island country in Western Asia. It is situated on the Persian Gulf, and comprises a small archipelago made up of 50 natural islands and an ...
. Al Bander had been working as a strategic planning adviser to the Royal Court of
Bahrain
Bahrain ( ; ; ar, البحرين, al-Bahrayn, locally ), officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, ' is an island country in Western Asia. It is situated on the Persian Gulf, and comprises a small archipelago made up of 50 natural islands and an ...
since January 2002, then he was seconded to Ministry of Cabinet Affairs in January 2006. On 13 September 2006 he was arrested and deported to London by Bahraini security officials after he distributed a report revealing a conspiracy to suppress the
Shia
Shīʿa Islam or Shīʿīsm is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that the Islamic prophet Muhammad designated ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib as his successor (''khalīfa'') and the Imam (spiritual and political leader) after him, mo ...
in Bahrain (who form the majority of the population). The scandal that ensued was named
Bandargate
The Al Bander report refers to a political conspiracy by government officials in Bahrain to foment sectarian strife and marginalize the majority Shia community in the country. The conspiracy was led and financed by Ahmed bin Ateyatalla Al Khalifa, ...
, after him. Al Bander is also the Secretary General of the
MOWATIN: Gulf Centre for Democratic Development, a London-registered non-governmental organisation.
UK politics
He served as a city councillor in
Cambridge
Cambridge ( ) is a College town, university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cam ...
for the
Liberal Democrats from 2008-2012.
He left the
Liberal Democrats in 2015.
See also
*
Bandargate scandal
The Al Bander report refers to a political conspiracy by government officials in Bahrain to foment sectarian strife and marginalize the majority Shia community in the country. The conspiracy was led and financed by Ahmed bin Ateyatalla Al Khalifa ...
*
Politics of Bahrain
*
Whistleblower
A whistleblower (also written as whistle-blower or whistle blower) is a person, often an employee, who reveals information about activity within a private or public organization that is deemed illegal, immoral, illicit, unsafe or fraudulent. Whi ...
References
300 protesters in Bahrain demand investigation into alleged conspiracy to rig elections International Herald Tribune, 17 November 2006
Washington Post
''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large na ...
, 2 October 2006
Allegations of treason, vote-rigging warn of sectarian strife ahead of Bahrain elections International Herald Tribune, 2 OCtober 2006
Al Bander-Gate: A Political Scandal In Bahrain Bahrain Center for Human Rights, September 2006
Documents related to Bandargate Bahrain Center for Human Rights
Lord Eric Avebury, 5 October 2006
Banning Publication of News or Information Related to the “Bandar-Gate” Scandal Bahrain Center for Human Rights, 6 October 2006
“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
Activists and journalist receive threats for highlighting Bandargate scandal Bahrain Center for Human Rights, 12 October 2006
Toby Jones, 12 October 2006
Concern over the lack of an official response to Al Bandergate Bahrain Center for Human Rights, 13 October 2006
Petition From A Hundred Prominent Figures And Activists To The King Of Bahrain regarding Bandargate scandal 13 October 2006
Documentary video: Political Naturalization in BahrainMahmood's Den Bandargate ArchiveBandargate BlogBANDARGATE! Gulf Daily News, 24 September 2006
BANDARGATE: The unanswered questions Gulf Daily News, 27 September 2006
Probe Call Gulf Daily News, 27 September 2006
MPs call for Al Bandar probe Gulf Daily News, 27 September 2006
Secret offer to run society is alleged Gulf Daily News, 29 September 2006
Activists charting action plan Gulf Daily News, 29 September 2006
High Court issues Bandar Press gag Gulf Daily News, 5 October 2006
Societies call to lift Press gag Gulf Daily News, 9 October 2006
Video: Press conference of Dr Salah Al Bandar the UK House of Lords(Parts
123
Video: Discussion with Dr Salah Al Bandar on Kawthar TV
(Parts
123
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bandar, Salah Al
Politics of Bahrain
British whistleblowers
British Sunni Muslims
English people of Sudanese descent
Living people
1950s births
People deported from Bahrain