MINISTER OF JUSTICE MEET AND GREET

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002054 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2016 TAGS: PHUM PNAT KDEM IZ SUBJECT: MINISTER OF JUSTICE MEET AND GREET REF: BAGHDAD 01960 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARGARGET SCOBEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Summary. In a June 12 introductory meeting with the new Minister of Justice (MOJ) Hashim abd Rahman al-Shibli, Emboffs expressed their desire to maintain a close relationship with the Ministry and to support its transition to primary responsibility for virtually all detention facilities. The Minister thanked EmbOffs and highlighted his general commitment to the principles of human rights and in enforcement of the law. End Summary. ¶2. (C) IRMO representatives outlined the Embassy's efforts to facilitate an easy transition of detainees from other institutions to MOJ detention facilities. The IRMO director stressed the importance of having the right set of people and resources to successfully take on this job, as well as the necessity of training more judges to minimize the judicial backlog. Minister Hashim acknowledged these comments. ¶3. (C) PolCouns raised the recent discovery of abuse at "Site 4", the Iraqi National Police (INP) detention complex where more than 1,400 detainees in squalid, conditions were found (ref). Minister al-Shibli noted his general awareness of the prison abuses occurring at site 4, but not of the specifics. EmbOffs described the conditions of abuse discovered by the interagency team (including MOJ personnel) and agreed to provide additional information. When asked whether he was aware if nine MOI detention facility personnel had been fired, he responded in the affirmative. He also acknowledged his participation in a newly formed committee on prison inspection and abuses (which also includes MOD, MOI, and MoHR). ¶4. (C) Comment: Soft-spoken and amicable, the Minister was very passive during the meeting. Preferring to listen and agree with what was being said, al-Shibli failed to provide insight into his own priorities or beliefs. As the meeting was ending, the Minister stated that he would be a strong minister and would enforce the laws, but did not flesh out this statement. SPECKHARD