GUANTANAMO ISSUES - ARB AND KORAN DESECRATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002179 SIPDIS FOR S/WCI AND NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2015 TAGS: PTER KAWC PINR PREL KISK TC SUBJECT: GUANTANAMO ISSUES - ARB AND KORAN DESECRATION ALLEGATION REF: A. (A) STATE 88745 ¶B. (B) STATE 88240 Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Ambassador met with MFA Under Secretary Abdullah Rashid Al Noaimi on May 14 and discussed ref A information regarding the Administrative Review Board's (ARB) assessment of UAE detainee Abdullah Al Hamiri, and the allegation that the Koran had been desecrated at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay. The Under Secretary accepted a diplomatic note about the ARB assessment without comment. ¶2. (C) On the issue of the alleged abuse of the Koran, Ambassador quoted the Secretary's May 12 remarks before the Senate Appropriations Committee in which the Secretary stated that disrespect for the Holy Koran is not tolerated by the United States. Al Noaimi responded that the USG should continue to highlight such statements condemning disrespect for the Koran. While there had been little if any reaction in the UAE to the "Newsweek" article, unlike Pakistan and Afghanistan, the UAEG closely monitored Friday mosque sermons in both the Sunni and Shi'a communities, Al Noaimi noted. Ambassador emphasized that the allegation that the Koran had been desecrated at Guantanamo was contrary to the USG's fundamental respect for religious freedom. SISON