SECTARIAN VIOLENCE HAMPERS SUNNI PARTICIPATION IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003552

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2015
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PTER IZ
SUBJECT: SECTARIAN VIOLENCE HAMPERS SUNNI PARTICIPATION IN
POLITICAL PROCESS

Classified By: POLCOUNS ROBERT S. FORD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY. The August 25 discovery of the bodies of 36
Iraqis, apparently all Sunni Arabs allegedly taken from their
Baghdad homes early on August 24 by men in Iraqi Security
Forces (ISF) uniforms, has shaken the Sunni Arab community.
Sunni Waqf head Ahmed Abdul Gafur al Samarai told PolCouns on
August 27 that he was less interested in discussing
constitutional issues than talking about what he called the
regular killings occuring in and around Baghdad by men in ISF
uniforms. Waqf officials claim that sectarian targeting,
allegedly by ISF, continues unabated. It is possible the
killers were not ISF. However, in the absence of a credible
government response, few among our Sunni Arab contacts think
the Interior Ministry is not responsible. Achieving greater
Sunni engagement in the political process will likely be an
uphill battle; this type of violence can only make the effort
harder. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) The August 25 discovery of 36 bodies in Wasit Province
near the Iraq-Iran border, alleged to be those of Sunnis
taken from Baghdad's Al-Huriya neighborhood in the early
morning hours of August 24, has shaken the Sunni community.
Sunni Waqf head Ahmed Abdul Gafur al Samarai told PolCouns on
August 27 that he would not discuss constitutional issues
when Sunnis are being killed by what appears to be Iraqi
Security Forces (ISF). On August 29 he told PolCouns that
the Waqf had assisted families in burying their dead. Adnan
Dulaimi, the former head of the Waqf, told Ambassador August
30 that he had attended the funerals and said the incident
had shaken the Baghdad Sunni community. Dulaimi wondered how
convoys could of police vehicles and men in uniform move
through the curfew-restricted streets at night if they are
not police.


3. (C) According to Waqf Administrator Naji Ithawi, witnesses
claim that men in Commando uniforms driving Iraqi Police (IP)
vehicles took the 36 men from their homes. (NOTE: Other
reports indicate that the abductors wore army uniforms. END
NOTE.) The bodies were found partially clothed, handcuffed,
with bullet wounds to the head. Ithawi said police
discovered the ration card of Hussein Ahmed al-Mashdani in
his underwear and notified the family of his location.
Al-Mashdani's brother, a guard at the Waqf, went to Kut,
where the bodies were being stored, and identified his
brother's body. According to Ithawi, the other victims were
also members of the al-Mashdani tribe. The families, fearing
for their own lives, were afraid to travel to Kut to retrieve
the bodies. Deputy Assistant Minister of Interior Ali Mali,
working with Samarai, coordinated the return of the bodies
to Baghdad. Minister of Interior Baqr Jabr, a Shi'a SCIRI
party member, told the Ambassador August 29 that the Ministry
would conduct an investigation into the killings.


4. (C) Both Samarai and Ithawi claim that similar incidents
of violence are commonplace. Ithawi said that there have
been multiple incidents of Sunni taken into custody by what
appear to be ISF, only to be found dead within days of their
detention. He noted the case of Amir Zaen al-Ani, an
engineer with the Waqf, who was taken into custody the week
of August 22 -- allegedly by ISF. Al-Ani's family said they
were asked to pay USD 30,000 but were able to only come up
with USD 20,000. Al-Ani's body was discovered several days
after the money was delivered to his captors.

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COMMENT
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5. (C) This type of violence, and the perception of impunity
by ISF, will make it only harder to increase constructive
Sunni engagement in the political process. Especially
problematic is the conviction among many Sunni political
figures -- men bred on conspiracy -- that the Iranian-backed
Badr Corps is manipulating the Interior Ministry either by
conducting rogue operations or accessing Interior Ministry
materials. We are not sure who is responsible for this
incident; it is possible these were not ISF. However, in the
absence of any credible government response, few Sunni Arabs
with whom we speak believe the Ministry of Interior is not
responsible. END COMMENT.
Khalilzad