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