BAHRAINI REACTION TO TREATMENT OF IRAQI POWS AT

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000629

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP
CAIRO FOR STEVE BONDY
LONDON FOR ETHAN GOLDRICH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2029
TAGS: PREL PHUM BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAINI REACTION TO TREATMENT OF IRAQI POWS AT
ABU-GHRAIB PRISON


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Robert S. Ford
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Embassy contacts expressed their anger and disgust
about the media reports on the treatment of Iraqi POWs at Abu
Ghraib Prison. After seeing these images on Al-Jazeira
television, President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights
Nabeel Rajab told PolOff on May 3 that the USG expects Arabs
to cooperate when it is clear that the US has no respect for
Arabs. Human Rights Activist Adel Al-Abassi told PolOff on
May 3 that reports out of Iraq in addition to USG's support
of Israel over Palestine is typical US behavior. Bahrain
Women's Society member Soroor Qarooni told PolOff on May 3
that American soldiers and their generals need to be removed
from the region and severely punished. "No human being
deserves this type of humiliation," she said.


2. (C) Youth Forum member Jaafer Hamza told PolOff on April
30 that he could not put into words the shame and pity he
felt, after seeing photos in the local newspaper. Another
member Sami Maliky called PolOff on May 2 to vent his anger
over a picture forwarded to him showing a smiling American
soldier having two Iraqi youths display a sign that read,
"Lance Corporal Boudreaux killed my Dad, then he knocked up
my sister." "You can't blame of us for thinking that all
Americans, even stupid soldiers, must hate Arabs," Maliky
said. Law student Dua' Al Masae'd told PolOff on May 3 that
it was disgusting to see the "enjoying smiles" of the
American soldiers, who sexually posed the naked prisoners.


3. (U) The press reported on May 1 that pre-eminent Shi'a
religious cleric Issa Qassim, during his Friday sermon,
addressed the issue of Iraq and the policy of the American
occupation. He said that Americans are materialistic and have
lost all credibility since they came to loot Iraq and enslave
its people. Qassim then warned the Americans of the gravity
of entering Iraq's holy cities saying that the cities'
shrines are not only for Iraqis, but for all Muslims.


4. (U) Writers and opinion leaders have questioned U.S.
democratic and human rights values. Bahrainis are also
comparing Arab satellite coverage of the POW issue with
coverage on CNN and BBC World. One managing editor told the
PAO that Arabs no longer trust CNN or BBC to report
accurately on what is happening in the region - they only
trust the Arab satellite channels. Many Bahrainis believe
that the mistreatment of Iraqi POWs is much more widespread
than has been reported in the U.S. media. They believe
prisoners in Guantanamo and Afghanistan have also been
subjected to torture.


5. (C) On the other hand, one of the most anti-American
newspaper editors told Charge on May 3 that the one positive
from this affair is that the US Army started the
investigation. If the investigation is serious, the US will
regain a fraction of its lost credibility.


6. (C) COMMENT. Most of the Embassy contacts who provided
their opinions on the Iraqi POWs during the course of
discussing regular Embassy business. Although the Bahrain
population appears angry regarding the treatment of Iraqi
POWs, we do not expect that its reaction will translate into
any type of organized protest or specific threat nor does it
appear to affect their relationships with Embassy personnel.
END COMMENT.
FORD