Emirates launches probe into allegations against sheikh

UAE detains sheikh following abuse video Sheik Issa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is pictured in the video alledgedly beating a man

The United Arab Emirates detained a member of the country's ruling family and launched an official investigation into allegations that he abused an Afghan man following a dispute over money, the official news agency WAM said on Monday.

Sheik Issa bin Zayed al-Nahyan was being held after prosecutors based in the capital of Abu Dhabi officially launched a criminal investigation into the events depicted in a video that allegedly showed the sheikh severely abusing a man, a judicial department press release said.

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department said that it had accepted the recommendation of its human rights office to refer all documents related to the video "depicting the ill treatment of an individual" to public prosecutors.The 45-minute video -- first broadcast by ABC news and circulated widely on the internet -- showed Nahyan beating the man, running him over and pouring salt on his wounds among abusive bahavior.

"This is to ensure that all human rights obligations are met and enforced, that all national laws are applied equally and with transparency to all, and that the country continues in its efforts to respect the rule of law and ensure that all individuals in the Emirates are provided fair and equitable trials and have an opportunity to be heard," the press release said. The human rights office said its recommendations were based on viewing the video and meeting with the victim in an effort to gather information about the facts surrounding the incident.

The press release also said that the individuals suspected of involvement, including Nahyan and a uniformed police officer, would be suspended from duty and prevented from traveling outside the Emirates.