Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD3318
2006-09-06 20:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
KRG HUMAN RIGHTS MINISTER DISCUSSES TRANSITION,
how-toVZCZCXRO2910 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #3318 2492005 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 062005Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6738 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 003318
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2026
TAGS: PHUM PNAT KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: KRG HUMAN RIGHTS MINISTER DISCUSSES TRANSITION,
PRISON INSPECTIONS, AND WOMEN'S ISSUES
REF: A. KIRKUK 113
B. BAGHDAD 3254
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR MICHAEL J. ADLER, FOR REASONS
1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003318
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2026
TAGS: PHUM PNAT KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: KRG HUMAN RIGHTS MINISTER DISCUSSES TRANSITION,
PRISON INSPECTIONS, AND WOMEN'S ISSUES
REF: A. KIRKUK 113
B. BAGHDAD 3254
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR MICHAEL J. ADLER, FOR REASONS
1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) In an August 30 meeting, KRG Minister of Human Rights
Yousif Mohammed Aziz told PolOff that the integration of the
two KRG human rights ministries had proceeded smoothly (ref
A) and that he was looking forward to developing the new
ministry into a stronger institution. As such, he was
institutionalizing a monthly public human rights report,
establishing an interagency human rights council with UNAMI
participation, and focusing on human rights awareness
campaigns. The Ministry, with a staff of 490, is comparable
in size to the national Iraqi Ministry, but operationally
appears to be more developed with strong prisons and women's
issue directorates. As of yet, the KRG Ministry of Human
Rights has had no interaction with the national MoHR though
Post has encouraged the two ministers to meet and is working
to facilitate an introduction.
2. (C) During the August 30 conversation, Minister Yousif
bragged that his prison inspections directorate, with its
rigorous tracking of inmate conditions and judicial status,
was responsible for improvements of prison conditions in
Kurdistan. He claimed that the Ministry engaged heavily with
the Ministry of Justice on any inmate whose judicial status
was left in question for more than six months. He added that
concerns were publicly detailed in the Ministry's monthly
human rights report along with accompanying recommendations.
Prison Directorate officials explained to PolOff in a
separate conversation August 30 that the majority of prison
abuse in Kurdistan was generally a result of substandard
facility conditions compounded by a deficiency of appropriate
training for prison guards.
3. (C) When asked whether the Ministry was able to inspect
the secretive Asayish (anti-terrorist security service)
detention facilities, the Minister replied in the negative.
He said that both the PUK and KRG Asayish act under the cloak
of anti-terrorism and that his ministry could not be involved
in such matters. According to KDP Ministry of Interior
officials, the KDP Asayish reports to the KRG Prime Minister
while the PUK Asayish reports to the PUK Ministry of
Interior. PolOff expressed disquiet that these facilities
were not being monitored, but the minister, who is a former
Peshmerga official and proponent of strong security measures,
appeared unconcerned.
4. (C) Minister Yousif noted that women's issues are among
the ministry's top priorities. He explained that since the
KRG did not have a Women's Ministry, it was incumbent upon
the Human Rights Ministry to ensure that women's rights were
protected in Kurdistan. He lamented the recent increase in
honor killings (ref B) and indicated that his women's issues
directorate would be developing legislation to impose harsh
punishment on individuals engaging in those practices. He
said that he was developing close ties with the Human Rights
Committee in Kurdistan's National Assembly to facilitate any
proposed ministry legislation. (Note: the new KNA session
convened September 5). In the meantime, the Ministry provides
funding to Khazant women's shelter and interacts closely with
the other 5 shelters located in the Kurdistan area, providing
support when needed.
BIO NOTE
--------------
5. (SBU) A surgeon by training, Minister Yousif claims that
he used to be one of President Talabani's physicians. A PUK
member and Sulymaniya native, Minister Yousif was previously
the Human Rights Minister in Sulymaniya before the merger of
the two KRG ministries. He became fluent in English while in
medical school, and has only sporadically left the country,
most recently this past summer to meet with human rights
leaders in Canada and Finland. The Minister expressed a
desire to undertake a similar trip to the US.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2026
TAGS: PHUM PNAT KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: KRG HUMAN RIGHTS MINISTER DISCUSSES TRANSITION,
PRISON INSPECTIONS, AND WOMEN'S ISSUES
REF: A. KIRKUK 113
B. BAGHDAD 3254
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR MICHAEL J. ADLER, FOR REASONS
1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) In an August 30 meeting, KRG Minister of Human Rights
Yousif Mohammed Aziz told PolOff that the integration of the
two KRG human rights ministries had proceeded smoothly (ref
A) and that he was looking forward to developing the new
ministry into a stronger institution. As such, he was
institutionalizing a monthly public human rights report,
establishing an interagency human rights council with UNAMI
participation, and focusing on human rights awareness
campaigns. The Ministry, with a staff of 490, is comparable
in size to the national Iraqi Ministry, but operationally
appears to be more developed with strong prisons and women's
issue directorates. As of yet, the KRG Ministry of Human
Rights has had no interaction with the national MoHR though
Post has encouraged the two ministers to meet and is working
to facilitate an introduction.
2. (C) During the August 30 conversation, Minister Yousif
bragged that his prison inspections directorate, with its
rigorous tracking of inmate conditions and judicial status,
was responsible for improvements of prison conditions in
Kurdistan. He claimed that the Ministry engaged heavily with
the Ministry of Justice on any inmate whose judicial status
was left in question for more than six months. He added that
concerns were publicly detailed in the Ministry's monthly
human rights report along with accompanying recommendations.
Prison Directorate officials explained to PolOff in a
separate conversation August 30 that the majority of prison
abuse in Kurdistan was generally a result of substandard
facility conditions compounded by a deficiency of appropriate
training for prison guards.
3. (C) When asked whether the Ministry was able to inspect
the secretive Asayish (anti-terrorist security service)
detention facilities, the Minister replied in the negative.
He said that both the PUK and KRG Asayish act under the cloak
of anti-terrorism and that his ministry could not be involved
in such matters. According to KDP Ministry of Interior
officials, the KDP Asayish reports to the KRG Prime Minister
while the PUK Asayish reports to the PUK Ministry of
Interior. PolOff expressed disquiet that these facilities
were not being monitored, but the minister, who is a former
Peshmerga official and proponent of strong security measures,
appeared unconcerned.
4. (C) Minister Yousif noted that women's issues are among
the ministry's top priorities. He explained that since the
KRG did not have a Women's Ministry, it was incumbent upon
the Human Rights Ministry to ensure that women's rights were
protected in Kurdistan. He lamented the recent increase in
honor killings (ref B) and indicated that his women's issues
directorate would be developing legislation to impose harsh
punishment on individuals engaging in those practices. He
said that he was developing close ties with the Human Rights
Committee in Kurdistan's National Assembly to facilitate any
proposed ministry legislation. (Note: the new KNA session
convened September 5). In the meantime, the Ministry provides
funding to Khazant women's shelter and interacts closely with
the other 5 shelters located in the Kurdistan area, providing
support when needed.
BIO NOTE
--------------
5. (SBU) A surgeon by training, Minister Yousif claims that
he used to be one of President Talabani's physicians. A PUK
member and Sulymaniya native, Minister Yousif was previously
the Human Rights Minister in Sulymaniya before the merger of
the two KRG ministries. He became fluent in English while in
medical school, and has only sporadically left the country,
most recently this past summer to meet with human rights
leaders in Canada and Finland. The Minister expressed a
desire to undertake a similar trip to the US.
KHALILZAD