Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD1645
2006-05-18 03:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
BAGHDAD REGIONAL COUNCIL CHAIRMAN ALLEGES FATWA BY
how-toVZCZCXRO8810 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHGB #1645 1380331 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 180331Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4519 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE RUEHIHL/REO HILLAH 2095 RUEHBC/REO BASRAH 2127 RUEHKUK/REO KIRKUK 2096 RUEHMOS/REO MOSUL 2098 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUZCDAB/MNC-I BAGHDAD IQ RUZCDAA/MNF-I BAGHDAD IQ RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001645
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINR IZ
SUBJECT: BAGHDAD REGIONAL COUNCIL CHAIRMAN ALLEGES FATWA BY
SADR SPOKESMAN CALLING FOR DEATHS OF SUNNI COUNCIL MEMBERS
Classified By: PRT BAGHDAD DEPUTY TEAM LEADER COL KEN FISHER FOR REASON
S 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001645
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINR IZ
SUBJECT: BAGHDAD REGIONAL COUNCIL CHAIRMAN ALLEGES FATWA BY
SADR SPOKESMAN CALLING FOR DEATHS OF SUNNI COUNCIL MEMBERS
Classified By: PRT BAGHDAD DEPUTY TEAM LEADER COL KEN FISHER FOR REASON
S 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Baghdad Regional Council (BRC) Chairman Khadem
Al-Shamary told PRT Baghdad PolOff this afternoon that
Abdulhadi Al-Haraji, allegedly a spokesman for Moqtada
Al-Sadr, issued a fatwa on 16 May ordering the deaths of Mr.
Al-Shamary and the remaining Sunni members of the BRC.
According to Mr. Al-Shamary, the fatwa accused Regional
Council members of 1) 'collaborating with the Americans' as
well as 2) 'ridiculing the Shia'. Mr. Al-Shamary, a
politically independent Shia himself, believes that the
second charge refers to outspoken comments against JAM and
other militias made by several BRC members including
Al-Shamary.
2. (C) Al-Shamary stated that he contacted both Baghdad
Provincial Council Chairman Mueen Hameed and Deputy Governor
Qassem Namah shortly after hearing the news May 16.
Al-Shamary explained that Mueen said that he would work on
this issue through Deputy Chairman Mohan, as well as with
Deputy Governor Qassem. Both are prominent Sadrists in
Baghdad provincial government. Allegedly, Chairman Mueen
called Mr. Al-Shamary at about 22:00 that day and said he
believed that 'the case had been closed' by Al-Haraji, but
that he should 'not trust anyone' as the order for the fatwa
had already been distributed to Jaysh al-Mahdi offices in
Rusafa, Khark, and Sadr City and could not be easily
recalled. He also explained that Al-Haraji said he 'may have
been confused' about Mr. Al-Shamary's ethnicity, and that he
has accepted the word of DG Qassem, barring any new evidence.
The fatwa remains in effect concerning the remaining Sunni
BRC members, according to Al-Shamary.
3. (C) Mr. Al-Shamary is now in hiding, and fears that his
family, still resident in Mada'in, may also be targeted. He
believes that OMS/JAM is trying to remove him and the other
politically independent members of the BRC as part of a
campaign to extend their political control in the qadas
outside central Baghdad. Seven Sunni members of the original
council have been killed and another ten have fled Iraq since
the council's formation. (Comment: Mr. Al-Shamary has been a
reliable and forthcoming Embassy contact for several years.
PRT Baghdad has not yet corroborated the details provided
with PC Chairman Mueen at the request of Mr. Al-Shamary, who
expressed concerns that direct US engagement with provincial
leadership on this matter may further compromise his safety.)
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINR IZ
SUBJECT: BAGHDAD REGIONAL COUNCIL CHAIRMAN ALLEGES FATWA BY
SADR SPOKESMAN CALLING FOR DEATHS OF SUNNI COUNCIL MEMBERS
Classified By: PRT BAGHDAD DEPUTY TEAM LEADER COL KEN FISHER FOR REASON
S 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Baghdad Regional Council (BRC) Chairman Khadem
Al-Shamary told PRT Baghdad PolOff this afternoon that
Abdulhadi Al-Haraji, allegedly a spokesman for Moqtada
Al-Sadr, issued a fatwa on 16 May ordering the deaths of Mr.
Al-Shamary and the remaining Sunni members of the BRC.
According to Mr. Al-Shamary, the fatwa accused Regional
Council members of 1) 'collaborating with the Americans' as
well as 2) 'ridiculing the Shia'. Mr. Al-Shamary, a
politically independent Shia himself, believes that the
second charge refers to outspoken comments against JAM and
other militias made by several BRC members including
Al-Shamary.
2. (C) Al-Shamary stated that he contacted both Baghdad
Provincial Council Chairman Mueen Hameed and Deputy Governor
Qassem Namah shortly after hearing the news May 16.
Al-Shamary explained that Mueen said that he would work on
this issue through Deputy Chairman Mohan, as well as with
Deputy Governor Qassem. Both are prominent Sadrists in
Baghdad provincial government. Allegedly, Chairman Mueen
called Mr. Al-Shamary at about 22:00 that day and said he
believed that 'the case had been closed' by Al-Haraji, but
that he should 'not trust anyone' as the order for the fatwa
had already been distributed to Jaysh al-Mahdi offices in
Rusafa, Khark, and Sadr City and could not be easily
recalled. He also explained that Al-Haraji said he 'may have
been confused' about Mr. Al-Shamary's ethnicity, and that he
has accepted the word of DG Qassem, barring any new evidence.
The fatwa remains in effect concerning the remaining Sunni
BRC members, according to Al-Shamary.
3. (C) Mr. Al-Shamary is now in hiding, and fears that his
family, still resident in Mada'in, may also be targeted. He
believes that OMS/JAM is trying to remove him and the other
politically independent members of the BRC as part of a
campaign to extend their political control in the qadas
outside central Baghdad. Seven Sunni members of the original
council have been killed and another ten have fled Iraq since
the council's formation. (Comment: Mr. Al-Shamary has been a
reliable and forthcoming Embassy contact for several years.
PRT Baghdad has not yet corroborated the details provided
with PC Chairman Mueen at the request of Mr. Al-Shamary, who
expressed concerns that direct US engagement with provincial
leadership on this matter may further compromise his safety.)
KHALILZAD