BAHRAIN: COMBATANT STATUS REVIEW TRIBUNAL REQUEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001528 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI AND S/WCI E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2014 TAGS: PTER KAWC PINR PREL BA SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: COMBATANT STATUS REVIEW TRIBUNAL REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE REF: A. MILLER-BERNS E-MAIL DATED 9/27/04 ¶B. STATE 210778 ¶C. MANAMA 1476 ¶D. STATE 203875 Classified by Charge d'Affaires Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Pol/Econ Chief October 4 delivered Refs A and B information regarding Guantanamo detainee Shaikh Salman Ebrahim Mohammed Al Khalifa's request for witness testimony to MFA Under Secretary Shaikh Abdul Aziz Al Khalifa. He listened carefully to the points and reconfirmed that the United States was looking for a mutually agreeable way to take written testimony from the two witnesses identified by the detainee. He ruled out the witnesses traveling to either the United States or Guantanamo, but thought that, if the ministry was successful in locating the witnesses and in obtaining their permission, there might be a way for the testimony to be provided in Bahrain. ¶2. (C) In a follow up conversation on October 5, Shaikh Abdul Aziz told Pol/Econ Chief that the MFA had contacted both witnesses identified by detainee Shaikh Salman Ebrahim Mohammed Al Khalifa and they were willing to do "all they could" to provide testimony in support of the detainee. He looks forward to hearing from us on next steps regarding substance and logistics of the testimony. ¶3. (C) In the October 4 meeting, Pol/Econ Chief also briefed Shaikh Abdul Aziz on the status of Refs C and D request for testimony for detainee Abdullah Al Noaimi. MFA Director for Consular Affairs Yusuf Ahmed had informed us earlier that he had spoken with Al Noaimi's father about locating Mohammed Salman Al Khalifa. Al Noaimi's father had been very cooperative, but said that he was unsure precisely who his son wanted to provide testimony. ¶4. (C) In the October 5 follow up conversation, Shaikh Abdul Aziz told Pol/Econ Chief that a member of his staff had contacted the father a second time and the father had said that his son could have been referring to either Mohammed Salman Al Khalifa or Ahmed Salman Al Khalifa. The father believes that his son was more likely interested in Ahmed Salman Al Khalifa's testimony because they have a very close friendship and they had studied together. While the son also has a relationship with Mohammed Salman Al Khalifa, they are not as close. According to the father, Ahmed Salman Al Khalifa himself believes that the detainee would more likely want his testimony. In any case, the father assured Shaikh Abdul Aziz that both men are willing to provide testimony on behalf of Abdullah Al Noaimi. ZIADEH