(C) GOK PROTESTS MISTREATMENT OF MINISTER AT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001748

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, T, CA
RIYADH FOR TUELLER
TEL AVIV FOR DCM LEBARON
TUNIS FOR NATALIE BROWN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2014
TAGS: PREL OVIP KU
SUBJECT: (C) GOK PROTESTS MISTREATMENT OF MINISTER AT
CHICAGO AIRPORT

Classified By: CDA FRANK URBANCIC; REASON 1.4 (B, D).


1. (U) Action request - please see paragraph 4.


2. (C) Charge was summoned to MFA after its cob June 2 to
receive a formal protest at the treatment given to Minister
of Social Affairs and Labor Feisal al-Hajji at the Chicago
port of entry May 2, when he was transiting from London to
Houston for medical treatment. According to the MFA protest,
the Minister declared cash in excess of USD10,000 but was
humiliated and detained for four hours causing him to miss
his connecting flight, even though the Immigration officer
knew he was a Minister of a friendly country traveling on a
diplomatic passport. Apparently the humiliation included
being questioned aggressively, fingerprinted, photographed,
and subjected to a search of his person.


3. (C) The Minister has kept this matter quiet in order to
spare embarrassment to himself as well as to the USG, but MFA
Americas Dept. Director Amb. Khaled al-Babtain made clear
that his Government was lodging an official protest and
demanding a formal reply. Babtain added that he himself had
encountered similar treatment in 2000.


4. (C) ACTION REQUESTED: Department please provide
explanation that we can pass to MFA.
URBANCIC