FM QIRBI ON MOAYED EXTRADITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002742 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2013 TAGS: PTER PREL ASEC YM COUNTER TERRORISM SUBJECT: FM QIRBI ON MOAYED EXTRADITION REF: SANAA 2741 Classified By: CDA Alan G. Misenheimer for Reasons 1.5 (b,d) ¶1. (C) On November 18, FM Qirbi called in Charge to discuss the 11/16 Moayed extradition and several other subjects (septels). Pol/Econ Deputy (notetaker) also joined. ¶2. (C) Qirbi was low-key, stating that the ROYG wished to protect Moayed's rights as a Yemeni citizen. He expressed the hope that Moayed would receive decent treatment in prison ("better than he received in Germany"),and said the ROYG would hope to receive "the full file on the accusations and evidence" now that Moayed is in U.S. custody. Qirbi noted that the Moayed case could be included in upcoming dialogue to address mutual concerns in CT cooperation (septel). ¶3. (C) The Charge observed that public reaction to Moayed,s extradition had so far been muted. Qirbi agreed, but mentioned a "demonstration" by tribesmen related to Moayed in front of the Presidential Palace on November 17. The Charge thanked Qirbi for the ROYG's provision of security cooperation with the Embassy in conjunction with the Moayed extradition. ¶4. (C) Comment: Recent media reports, including an 11/17 al-Jazeera TV interview, have included more activist statements by Qirbi -- e.g. the ROYG will pay for Moayed,s legal defense -- but his approach to Charge was mild and understated. Friday prayers on 11/21 could see some protest (e.g. in Moayed,s home district in Sanaa),but public reaction to the extradition has been virtually invisible to date. The Embassy,s EAC (septel) accordingly decided not to institute new restrictions for the 11/20-21 weekend. MISENHEIMER