Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD2590
2006-07-20 02:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

COR HUMAN RIGHTS CHAIR SUPPORTS HR COMMISSION

Tags:  IZ KDEM PHUM PNAT 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5728
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #2590 2010234
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 200234Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5824
INFO RHEHWSR/WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002590 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2016
TAGS: IZ KDEM PHUM PNAT
SUBJECT: COR HUMAN RIGHTS CHAIR SUPPORTS HR COMMISSION
LEGISLATION

REF: 06 BAGHDAD 1823

Classified By: Political Counselor Margaret Scobey for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002590

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2016
TAGS: IZ KDEM PHUM PNAT
SUBJECT: COR HUMAN RIGHTS CHAIR SUPPORTS HR COMMISSION
LEGISLATION

REF: 06 BAGHDAD 1823

Classified By: Political Counselor Margaret Scobey for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)


1. (C) Summary. On July 12, EmbOffs met with newly appointed
Chair of the Human Rights Committee for the Council of
Representatives (CoR),Mohammed al-Haideri (Shia
Coalition/Independent). With less than two weeks under his
belt, al-Haideri told PolOff that his Committee was still in
the process of developing its own bylaws and had not yet
organized a legislative agenda. He told PolFSN in a
subsequent conversation July 17 that his committee was
interested in passing legislation as soon as possible to
establish the Human Rights Commission (ref). Al-Haideri is
also the Imam of Baghdad's Khulaini mosque. End Summary.



2. (C) Al-Haideri told Poloffs that he was in the early
stages of organizing the committee and its functions. His
goal, he said, was to first develop the committee,s bylaws,
and then structure the committee so that each member would
have a particular function. For example, he said the
committee would be divided into subcommittees such as a group
that liaises with the Ministry of Human Rights, a group that
tracks the human rights situation in Iraq, and another group
that analyzes proposed legislation. He noted in a later
conversation that one of his priorities would be to pass the
Human Rights Commission implementing legislation (ref).


3. (C) Al-Haideri claims to be independent of the various
Shia factions, though he did acknowledge strong ties to past
religious leaders in the Shia community. He studied under
the late Ayatollah Mohammed Baqr al Sadr, and was the
personal advisor to Mohammed al-Hakim, the late brother of
Abd al-Aziz al-Hakim. He currently serves as the imam of the
Khulaini mosque in the Jumariya neighborhood in Baghdad's
Rusafa district.


4. (C) Bio-Note: Al-Haideri obtained a Bachelors degree from
Baghdad University from the College of Math and Sciences, and
began his religious studies in Najaf under Mohammed Baqr
al-Sadr. In August of 1980, just months after al-Sadr was
killed, al-Haideri fled to Syria, where he stayed for two
years. He later moved to Iran and remained there until 2003
when he returned to Iraq. Al-Haideri has extensive
international travel. During his time as advisor to al-Hakim,
he traveled throughout Europe and the Middle East. He is
considered to be a Sayyed (descendent of the prophet
Mohammed) and was born in Baghdad on July 1, 1944.
KHALILZAD