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Ian Henderson (Britain)
Encyclopedia
Ian Henderson is a British citizen known for his alleged use of torture
to put down the Mau Mau Uprising
in Kenya
, and later the 1990s Uprising in Bahrain
as an employee of the Bahrain
government. Some journalists have referred to Mr Henderson as the "Butcher of Bahrain" due to allegations of torture.
, Scotland, but lived most of his life as a Colonial Police Officer overseas. He grew up on a coffee plantation and had one sister, Joy. He married Marie in his twenties and had two children. Henderson currently resides in Bahrain as a guest of the Al Khalifa
royal family. He owns a £250,000 home named "Stoke Shallows" in Holne
, Devon
, England
.
Ian Henderson was employed as the head of the General Directorate for State Security Investigations
in Bahrain for some 30 years. He retired from his position in February 1998. Despite the allegations of abuse throughout his job, both Mr Henderson and the Bahraini Government have always denied involvement in such torture.
Prior to working in Bahrain, Ian Henderson served as a Colonial Police Officer in Kenya
during the 1950s. Ian Henderson was famed for his role in capturing Mau Mau rebel leader Dedan Kimathi
, which he wrote a book on, with the title "The Hunt for Kimathi", also published under the title "Man Hunt in Kenya" by Doubleday.
Mr Henderson was awarded the George Medal
, the highest award for bravery to non-military personnel, and later the Bar to the George Medal, for suppressing the Mau Mau Uprising
. 'Ian Henderson has probably done more than any single individual to bring the Emergency to an end' wrote General Sir Gerald Lathbury when he left Kenya in 1957.
Henderson was honoured by Queen Elizabeth II
with the CBE
1986, George Medal
1954 (and Bar 1955), Queen Elizabeth Coronation Medal 1953, Mentioned in Despatches 1955 and Kenya Police Medal for Distinguished Services 1952. He was honoured by Government of Bahrain
with Order of Bahrain 1st Class and Bahrain Meritorious Service Medal 1st Class.
and Human Rights Watch
) of torturing Bahrainis
while being employed as the head of state security in Bahrain
for some 30 years. The political dissidents alleged that the torture was committed as a means to stamp out the opposition movement in Bahrain that called for the restoration of democracy. Ian Henderson retired from his position in February 1998 and these allegations were the subject of an investigation by the UK government. The Bahrain Government has always denied his, and its own, involvement in the torture allegations and, as a result, Ian Henderson has never been charged with these allegations. The Bahrain Government, because of Royal Decree 56 of 2002
, an edict issued by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, grants amnesty to human rights abuses committed by any Government officials prior to 2001.
The question of the British Foreign Office's complicity in the torture has been raised in the UK Parliament several times. At a parliamentary session on 3 June 1997, MP George Galloway
described Ian Henderson as "Britain's Klaus Barbie
":
In September 1997, the European Parliament
passed a resolution condemning the use of torture in Bahrain, and called on Britain to order Henderson to leave the country.
In an interview published in the Sunday Herald
on 21 November 1999, a Bahraini claiming to have been tortured by Henderson described the encounter:
In Kenya
, Henderson was known as the "torturer-in chief" and "was the prime mover in the preparation of bogus evidence in the 1953 trial at Kapenguria
" during the Mau Mau uprising
.
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
to put down the Mau Mau Uprising
Mau Mau Uprising
The Mau Mau Uprising was a military conflict that took place in Kenya between 1952 and 1960...
in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, and later the 1990s Uprising in Bahrain
1990s Uprising in Bahrain
The 1990s Uprising in Bahrain or 1990s Intifada was an uprising in Bahrain between 1994 and 2000 in which leftists, liberals and Islamists joined forces...
as an employee of the Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
government. Some journalists have referred to Mr Henderson as the "Butcher of Bahrain" due to allegations of torture.
History
Ian Henderson was born in AberdeenAberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Scotland, but lived most of his life as a Colonial Police Officer overseas. He grew up on a coffee plantation and had one sister, Joy. He married Marie in his twenties and had two children. Henderson currently resides in Bahrain as a guest of the Al Khalifa
Al Khalifa
The Al Khalifa family is the ruling family of Bahrain. The Al Khalifa profess Sunni Islam and belong to the Anizah tribe that migrated from Najd to Kuwait in the early 18th century. They are also from the Utub tribe...
royal family. He owns a £250,000 home named "Stoke Shallows" in Holne
Holne
Holne is a village and civil parish on the southeastern slopes of Dartmoor in Devon, England. A community has existed here since at least the 11th century, and today a population of around 250 people is served by a church and a public house, the Church House Inn.-Village:The Church of St Mary the...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Ian Henderson was employed as the head of the General Directorate for State Security Investigations
National Security Agency (Bahrain)
The National Security Agency or National Security Apparatus is an investigating authority in Bahrain that is associated with but not formally part of the Ministry of the Interior. The NSA was formed after King Hamad issued Decree No...
in Bahrain for some 30 years. He retired from his position in February 1998. Despite the allegations of abuse throughout his job, both Mr Henderson and the Bahraini Government have always denied involvement in such torture.
Prior to working in Bahrain, Ian Henderson served as a Colonial Police Officer in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
during the 1950s. Ian Henderson was famed for his role in capturing Mau Mau rebel leader Dedan Kimathi
Dedan Kimathi
Dedan Kimathi Waciuri , was a Kenyan rebel leader who fought against the British colonial government in Kenya in the 1950s. He was convicted and executed in 1957 for murder and terrorism....
, which he wrote a book on, with the title "The Hunt for Kimathi", also published under the title "Man Hunt in Kenya" by Doubleday.
Mr Henderson was awarded the George Medal
George Medal
The George Medal is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.The GM was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage...
, the highest award for bravery to non-military personnel, and later the Bar to the George Medal, for suppressing the Mau Mau Uprising
Mau Mau Uprising
The Mau Mau Uprising was a military conflict that took place in Kenya between 1952 and 1960...
. 'Ian Henderson has probably done more than any single individual to bring the Emergency to an end' wrote General Sir Gerald Lathbury when he left Kenya in 1957.
Henderson was honoured by Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
with the CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
1986, George Medal
George Medal
The George Medal is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.The GM was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage...
1954 (and Bar 1955), Queen Elizabeth Coronation Medal 1953, Mentioned in Despatches 1955 and Kenya Police Medal for Distinguished Services 1952. He was honoured by Government of Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
with Order of Bahrain 1st Class and Bahrain Meritorious Service Medal 1st Class.
Torture allegations
Ian Henderson has been accused by political dissidents and international human rights agencies (including Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
and Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
) of torturing Bahrainis
Torture in Bahrain
Torture in Bahrain refers to the violation of Bahrain’s obligations as a state party to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and other international treaties and disregard for the prohibition of torture enshrined in Bahraini...
while being employed as the head of state security in Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
for some 30 years. The political dissidents alleged that the torture was committed as a means to stamp out the opposition movement in Bahrain that called for the restoration of democracy. Ian Henderson retired from his position in February 1998 and these allegations were the subject of an investigation by the UK government. The Bahrain Government has always denied his, and its own, involvement in the torture allegations and, as a result, Ian Henderson has never been charged with these allegations. The Bahrain Government, because of Royal Decree 56 of 2002
Royal Decree 56 of 2002
Royal Decree 56 of 2002 is a law issued in Bahrain by King Hamad ibn Isa al-Khalifah that grants impunity to security officers and state officials from being prosecuted for human rights abuses prior to 2001.-External links:...
, an edict issued by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, grants amnesty to human rights abuses committed by any Government officials prior to 2001.
The question of the British Foreign Office's complicity in the torture has been raised in the UK Parliament several times. At a parliamentary session on 3 June 1997, MP George Galloway
George Galloway
George Galloway is a British politician, author, journalist and broadcaster who was a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010. He was formerly an MP for the Labour Party, first for Glasgow Hillhead and later for Glasgow Kelvin, before his expulsion from the party in October 2003, the same year...
described Ian Henderson as "Britain's Klaus Barbie
Klaus Barbie
Nikolaus 'Klaus' Barbie was an SS-Hauptsturmführer , Gestapo member and war criminal. He was known as the Butcher of Lyon.- Early life :...
":
In September 1997, the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
passed a resolution condemning the use of torture in Bahrain, and called on Britain to order Henderson to leave the country.
In an interview published in the Sunday Herald
Sunday Herald
The Sunday Herald is a Scottish Sunday newspaper launched on 7 February 1999. The ABC audited circulation in April 2011 showed sales of 31,123.From the start it has combined a centre-left stance with support for Scottish devolution...
on 21 November 1999, a Bahraini claiming to have been tortured by Henderson described the encounter:
In Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, Henderson was known as the "torturer-in chief" and "was the prime mover in the preparation of bogus evidence in the 1953 trial at Kapenguria
Kapenguria
Kapenguria is a town lying north east of Kitale on the A1 road in Kenya. Kapenguria is capital of the West Pokot District. Kapenguria forms a municipality with an urban population of 13,000 and a total population of 56,000 ....
" during the Mau Mau uprising
Mau Mau Uprising
The Mau Mau Uprising was a military conflict that took place in Kenya between 1952 and 1960...
.
External links
- Amnesty International: Amnesty International welcomes investigation into Henderson's role in torture in Bahrain(Jan 7, 2000)
- Human Rights Watch: Routine Abuse, Routine Denial: Civil Rights and the Political Crisis in Bahrain (June 1997)