C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003020

SIPDIS

CENTCOM FOR POLAD - AMB. HOLZMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2025
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ XL BAGHDAD
SUBJECT: BAGHDAD MAYOR ARRESTED AT AIRPORT

Classified By: Political Counselor Robert S. Ford
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) Mayor of Baghdad, Dr. Alaa Al-Tamimi, was
arrested July 18 by officials from the Al Mamoon
Police Center at the Baghdad International Airport.
The police arrested the mayor on orders from the
Ministry of Interior on suspicion of his possible
links to corruption in the Amanat, Baghdad's
equivalent to City Hall, Tamimi told Poloff on July

18.


2. (U) The mayor spent a night in detention at the Al
Mamoon Facility before being released to resume his
travels to Amman, Jordan. Dr. Al-Tamimi was heading
to Amman to attend a conference on rebuilding efforts
in Iraq when he was arrested, he told Poloff. Mr. Ali
Al-Shaboot, spokesperson for the Committee on Personal
Integrity (CPI), said the Ministry of Interior (MOI)
issued the arrest order, according to Sharq al-Awsat
newspaper on July 20. The arrest order was based on
suspicion of Dr. Al-Tamimi's role in corruption,
embezzlement and mismanagement of public funds
relating to Amanat operations. Al-Shaboot also
confirmed that the order was issued after the mayor
refused to provide information about the charges.


3. (C) The mayor's current problems coincide with the
Baghdad Provincial Council's efforts to dismiss him.
The Provincial Council is accusing the mayor of
incompetence, lack of qualifications to hold his
position, and corruption in his management of the
Amanat, the Provincial Council chairman told Poloff on
July 18. Last week members of the Baghdad Provincial
Council voted to ask the mayor to resign. However,
Al-Tamimi has refused to resign and is seeking support
from the dissolved Baghdad City Council and the ITG to
remain in his office as mayor of Baghdad City.


4. (C) REOs Hillah, Basrah, Mosul, and Kirkuk
minimize considers.

Satterfield