Prince Nasser of Bahrain Stripped of UK Diplomatic Immunity

Prince Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who is the eldest son of the King of Bahrain and a frequent visitor to Britain, now faces a criminal inquiry by Scotland Yard into allegations that he beat political prisoners during democracy protests in the wealthy Persian Gulf state in 2011 that left dozens dead or imprisoned.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had previously insisted that Prince Nasser qualified for immunity from prosecution as a member of the Bahraini royal family and in his personal capacity as commander of the country’s Royal Guard. The prince strongly denies the torture claims and the Bahraini authorities insist there is insufficient evidence against him to sustain an investigation.

But two years after the complaint against him was first brought by a Bahraini refugee now living in Britain, the CPS performed a U-turn in the High Court and admitted that its decision had been wrong. The announcement was made on the day that a judicial review hearing had been due to begin into the claim that the original decision made on behalf of Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders was “erroneous in law”.

Tom Hickman, representing the claimant, known only as FF, told the court: “As far as the claimant is concerned, the DPP’s position represents a long over-due recognition that Prince Nasser does not benefit from immunity for acts of torture in proceedings in the United Kingdom.”

He added: “We say that the decision clears the way for an investigation of the prince and consent for an arrest warrant to be sought. There is evidence that will be submitted to the police in due course.”

Torture carried out by a public official anywhere in the world is an offence in Britain under the provisions of the 1988 Criminal Justice Act, making it possible to try allegations of maltreatment committed abroad in the English courts, The Independent reported.