ISLAH PARTY MODERATE ON AL-MOAYED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000518 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR L/LEI, S/CT; DOJ FOR DAAG BRUCE SWARTZ E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2013 TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV KJUS ASEC GM YM TERFIN SUBJECT: ISLAH PARTY MODERATE ON AL-MOAYED REF: A. SANAA 127 ¶B. SANAA 482 Classified By: Pol/Econ Deputy Chief Catherine J. Westley for Reasons 1 .5 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Summary: An Islah party leader entertained the possibility of al-Moayed's guilt after hearing evidence from the U.S. complaint. P/E DepChief met with Islah party political director Mohamed Qahtan on March 17 and discussed the case of Sheikh Mohammed Ali al-Moayed, who is an Islah party Shura Council member (ref a). Qahtan was somewhat persuaded that al-Moayed might be guilty, particularly in regards to the evidence of jihad trainee sponsorship gathered in Afghanistan. Qahtan, a noted party moderate, had requested the meeting to discuss his concerns about the increased danger to Americans as more anti-war demonstrations occur between now and the April 27 parliamentary elections (septel). End Summary. ¶2. (C) P/E DepChief verbally briefed Qahtan about the U.S. complaint against al-Moayed and highlighted its most compelling evidence. She said that the case was very strong and the Islah party should consider whether it wants to actively support al-Moayed. She noted the case is now in the German court system. ¶3. (C) On the evidence presented, Qahtan was less impressed with the informant-produced evidence, skeptical like others cited in the Yemeni press about the $20 million figure of money donated to al-Qaeda and was surprised and troubled about the evidence from Afghanistan showing jihad trainee sponsorship. He asked if the sponsorship was before 1997 and P/E DepChief said no, it was 2000. He looked very concerned at this piece of evidence and said if that were true, Qahtan did not know al-Moayed at all. He repeated that he simply could not believe al-Moayed could be involved in al-Qaeda, but said perhaps al-Moayed is a very good actor. He cracked a bit of a joke and said if al-Moayed was proven guilty, the Islah party would sue to get their donations to his charity back. (Note: P/E DepChief avoided mentioning Hamas and concentrated on al-Qaeda. End Note) ¶4. (C) Qahtan said he had read a report from a Yemeni student in Germany who visited al-Moayed in jail. The report alleged that al-Moayed was being kept in solitary confinement without anything to keep him busy (books, radio) and that an interpreter was not provided when doctors visited (causing health problems) nor when meals were served (creating problems in relation to religious restrictions). Qahtan said he hoped al-Moayed was being treated well and asked that the American Embassy do something to ensure it. P/E DepChief said she had not heard anything about mistreatment and that Qahtan should contact German authorities if he had concerns. Qahtan thanked her for the information and said he would follow the case as it moves through the German courts. ¶5. (C) Qahtan also said that al-Moayed's sons had received phone calls soon after their father's arrest in Germany encouraging them to kidnap a German citizen in retaliation. He said that the sons thought these to come from members of the security forces. Post cannot confirm this allegation. ¶6. (C) The al-Moayed case continues to get high publicity and political play, and the typical view of the case by many, including the government (ref b),is that he could not be involved with al-Qaeda. Members of the Khowlan tribe have been camping out in front of the President's Palace for days demanding ROYG action on the matter. Widespread scorn and derision exists from government to journalistic circles about the $20 million donation figure quoted in the press and cited in the U.S. complaint. ¶7. (C) Comment: Post succeeded in planting a seed of doubt with at least one member of the Islah party regarding al-Moayed's guilt. However, Qahtan is a noted moderate and his atypical reaction is because he is perhaps more amenable to persuasion than others in his party. End Comment. HULL