GOI PERCEPTIONS OF DETENTION SPLIT ON SECTARIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001587 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2016 TAGS: PGOV PINS PTER PHUM KJUS IZ SUBJECT: GOI PERCEPTIONS OF DETENTION SPLIT ON SECTARIAN LINES Classified By: Political-Military Counselor David C. Litt for reasons 1.4 (a) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Recent introductory briefs to incoming GOI officials on the subject of MNF-I detention issues have elicited varied responses, with PM-designate Nuri Kamal al Maliki taking a conservative approach to detainee releases and an active interest in accelerating the transition of MNF- I detention operations to GOI control. Incoming Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al Mashadani was equally firm in his support of immediate large-scale detainee releases and his opposition to early GOI assumption of authority for security internment. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) In a May 6 meeting with the MNF-I Deputy Commanding General of Detainee Operations, Maliki requested that any planned large-scale detainee releases be delayed until after the full formation of the government "so that the government has a chance to look into this - we need to look into the cases, have access to the files. This could be positive or negative. It should not be a US-only decision, it should be shared by all Iraqis." ¶3. (C) "I am very worried about releasing a great number of detainees all at one time," he added, "because of the effect on the crime rate." Maliki was more sanguine about the transition of MNF-I detainee operations, asking "why does the plan take two years? Can we do it earlier?" He also responded positively on the issue of new Iraqi legal authorities for security internment, saying "we will work with the judicial process, we will pass laws - otherwise this will send a message to the terrorists, if we release everybody." ¶4. (C) In contrast, incoming Speaker of Parliament Mashadani opened a 8 May meeting with a plea for the immediate release of large numbers of detainees (especially females) in both MNF-I and Iraqi custody. "The people want release of their innocent brothers and sisters," he claimed. Of detainees in Iraqi custody he said "there are so many abused, there are so many without files. The Iraqi government is accountable to the people, and the detainees are a number one priority for us in government." ¶5. (C) Mashadani expressed no concern about care and conditions in Coalition detention facilities, but opposed a quick transfer of control of MNF-I detainees to the GOI, arguing "half of them will be killed if transition happens now." He blamed the U.S. and MNF-I for poor detainee treatment in Iraqi places of detention, asking why the U.S. allowed abuse to take place at Ministry of Interior and Defense facilities. "You brought in this garbage," Mashadani complained, referring to the previous government. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: The divergence in opinion between the PM-designate and the Speaker is indicative of a trend confirmed by recent conversations with other GOI interlocutors. Detention issues are increasingly viewed through a sectarian lens, with Shi'a Iraqis skeptical of the benefits of substantial relases from MNF-I's 15,000-strong, 92% Sunni detainee population, and Sunni Iraqis incensed by the perception of arbitrary, abusive detentions of Sunni innocents by the Ministry of the Interior. END COMMENT. KHALILZAD