Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ABUDHABI4951
2005-12-07 14:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
26 ALLEGEDLY GAY MEN IN DETENTION AWAITING TRIAL
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 08/27/2006 05:09:41 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLAS ABU DHABI 04951 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: POL INFO: RSO MEPI AMB PAO DCM P/M ECON DISSEMINATION: POL CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: DCM:MQUINN DRAFTED: POL:RBASSIL CLEARED: POL:JFMAYBURY CG:JDAVIS VZCZCADI149 RR RUEHC RUEHDE RUEHZM DE RUEHAD #4951 3411437 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 071437Z DEC 05 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2658 INFO RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 5616 RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 004951
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR DRL, NEA/ARPI AND NEA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KCRM AE
SUBJECT: 26 ALLEGEDLY GAY MEN IN DETENTION AWAITING TRIAL
REF: ABU DHABI 4881
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 004951
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR DRL, NEA/ARPI AND NEA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KCRM AE
SUBJECT: 26 ALLEGEDLY GAY MEN IN DETENTION AWAITING TRIAL
REF: ABU DHABI 4881
1. (SBU) THE 26 ALLEGEDLY GAY MEN ARRESTED BY ABU DHABI POLICE
DURING A PARTY ON NOVEMBER 23 REMAIN IN POLICE CUSTODY AWAITING
TRIAL, ACCORDING TO AN ABU DHABI POLICE CAPTAIN WORKING IN THE
INVESTIGATIONS DEPARTMENT. THE MEN WILL BE CHARGED WITH
"OFFENSES AGAINST RULES OF DECENCY," THE POLICE CAPTAIN SAID,
ADDING THAT A COURT DATE HAS YET TO BE SCHEDULED.
2. (U) ENGLISH DAILY "KHALEEJ TIMES" REPORTED DECEMBER 1 THAT
THE MEN WOULD BE DETAINED FOR ANOTHER SEVEN DAYS "IN ORDER TO
FACILITATE INVESTIGATIONS." SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN NO
PRESS REPORTS ABOUT THE DISPOSITION OF THE CASE.
3. (SBU) ACCORDING TO THE UAE PENAL CODE, THE MINIMUM PENALTY
FOR A PERSON CONVICTED OF COMMITTING AN "INDECENT ACT" IS SIX
MONTHS IN PRISON, FOLLOWED BY AN EQUAL PERIOD OF PROBATION, BUT
IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER THIS IS THE PART OF THE PENAL CODE THAT
WILL BE APPLIED. SPOKESPERSONS AT THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
AND AT THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR HAD NO FURTHER INFORMATION TO
OFFER THE EMBASSY, WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS CASE.
4. (SBU) HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH HAS BEEN INQUIRING WITH THE EMBASSY
ABOUT THE CASE AND WILL APPARENTLY ISSUE A PRESS RELEASE IN THE
NEAR FUTURE. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH BECAME INTERESTED IN THE CASE
AFTER SEEING PRESS REPORTS THAT THE ABU DHABI POLICE WOULD
SUBJECT THE MEN TO FORCED HORMONE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT.
THE LATTER ASSERTION BY A UAE INTERIOR MINISTRY OFFICIAL WAS
OFFICIALLY DISAVOWED (REFTEL).
5. (SBU) ONE SENIOR MININFO OFFICIAL OBSERVED DURING A CALL BY
DCM ON MONDAY THAT THE USG STATEMENT ON THE INCIDENT SEEMED
UNEXPECTEDLY STRONG, BUT IN A LATER CONVERSATION EXPRESSED
DOUBT THAT THE MEN WOULD BE PUNISHED.
SISON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR DRL, NEA/ARPI AND NEA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KCRM AE
SUBJECT: 26 ALLEGEDLY GAY MEN IN DETENTION AWAITING TRIAL
REF: ABU DHABI 4881
1. (SBU) THE 26 ALLEGEDLY GAY MEN ARRESTED BY ABU DHABI POLICE
DURING A PARTY ON NOVEMBER 23 REMAIN IN POLICE CUSTODY AWAITING
TRIAL, ACCORDING TO AN ABU DHABI POLICE CAPTAIN WORKING IN THE
INVESTIGATIONS DEPARTMENT. THE MEN WILL BE CHARGED WITH
"OFFENSES AGAINST RULES OF DECENCY," THE POLICE CAPTAIN SAID,
ADDING THAT A COURT DATE HAS YET TO BE SCHEDULED.
2. (U) ENGLISH DAILY "KHALEEJ TIMES" REPORTED DECEMBER 1 THAT
THE MEN WOULD BE DETAINED FOR ANOTHER SEVEN DAYS "IN ORDER TO
FACILITATE INVESTIGATIONS." SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN NO
PRESS REPORTS ABOUT THE DISPOSITION OF THE CASE.
3. (SBU) ACCORDING TO THE UAE PENAL CODE, THE MINIMUM PENALTY
FOR A PERSON CONVICTED OF COMMITTING AN "INDECENT ACT" IS SIX
MONTHS IN PRISON, FOLLOWED BY AN EQUAL PERIOD OF PROBATION, BUT
IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER THIS IS THE PART OF THE PENAL CODE THAT
WILL BE APPLIED. SPOKESPERSONS AT THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
AND AT THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR HAD NO FURTHER INFORMATION TO
OFFER THE EMBASSY, WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS CASE.
4. (SBU) HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH HAS BEEN INQUIRING WITH THE EMBASSY
ABOUT THE CASE AND WILL APPARENTLY ISSUE A PRESS RELEASE IN THE
NEAR FUTURE. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH BECAME INTERESTED IN THE CASE
AFTER SEEING PRESS REPORTS THAT THE ABU DHABI POLICE WOULD
SUBJECT THE MEN TO FORCED HORMONE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT.
THE LATTER ASSERTION BY A UAE INTERIOR MINISTRY OFFICIAL WAS
OFFICIALLY DISAVOWED (REFTEL).
5. (SBU) ONE SENIOR MININFO OFFICIAL OBSERVED DURING A CALL BY
DCM ON MONDAY THAT THE USG STATEMENT ON THE INCIDENT SEEMED
UNEXPECTEDLY STRONG, BUT IN A LATER CONVERSATION EXPRESSED
DOUBT THAT THE MEN WOULD BE PUNISHED.
SISON