The United Arab Emirates And What Torture Really Looks Like

A Royal Sheikh from the United Arab Emirates is seen on tape mercilessly torturing a man with whips, electric cattle prods and wooden planks with protruding nails. "Get closer. Get closer. Get closer. Let his suffering show,” the sheikh says. The torturing Sheikh Issa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the brother of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy head of the UAE armed forces. He is also the half-brother of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is a key political figure and member of the UAE federal Cabinet and minister of presidential affairs.

Rep. James McGovern (D-MA), said in a letter to Secretary of State Clinton that the tape "shocks the conscience" and demanded she "express the outrage of our nation regarding these acts, and call for an end to the impunity that has provided Sheikh Issa the freedom and license to carry out such heinous acts without the fear of legal reprisal or consequences." He has already called for a freeze on US aid to the UAE. The 45 minute-long tape also shows a man in a UAE police uniform tying the victim's arms and legs, and later holding him down as the Sheikh pours salt on the man's wounds and then drives over him with his Mercedes SUV.

The victim, a grain dealer, was apparently tortured over a missing load of grain worth about $5000.

In Issa's defense, at least nobody was waterboarded.

Here is an ABC News report on the torture. GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING:

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