Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KIRKUK102
2006-04-28 15:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
REO Kirkuk
Cable title:
HALABJAH DETAINEES SPEAK ABOUT KRG ABUSES
how-toVZCZCXRO8411 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHMOS DE RUEHKUK #0102/01 1181534 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O R 281534Z APR 06 FM REO KIRKUK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0640 RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD IMMEDIATE 0602 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE RUEHKUK/REO KIRKUK 0668
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KIRKUK 000102
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
BAGHDAD FOR POL, PAO, ROL COORDINATOR, NCT, IRMO, USAID
E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/28/2016
TAGS: PINS PGOV KDEM KCOR KISL PHUM IZ IR
SUBJECT: HALABJAH DETAINEES SPEAK ABOUT KRG ABUSES
REF: A) KIRKUK 80, B) KIRKUK 79, C) KIRKUK 78
KIRKUK 00000102 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: JBIGUS, PRT LEADER, REO Kirkuk, DoS.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KIRKUK 000102
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
BAGHDAD FOR POL, PAO, ROL COORDINATOR, NCT, IRMO, USAID
E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/28/2016
TAGS: PINS PGOV KDEM KCOR KISL PHUM IZ IR
SUBJECT: HALABJAH DETAINEES SPEAK ABOUT KRG ABUSES
REF: A) KIRKUK 80, B) KIRKUK 79, C) KIRKUK 78
KIRKUK 00000102 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: JBIGUS, PRT LEADER, REO Kirkuk, DoS.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) SUMMARY. A young teacher and student each describe
their detention following the Halabjah protests on March 16.
Neither of them participated in the demonstrations. The PUK
thwarted more student demonstrations in Kalar through beefed-up
security and intimidation. PRT finds these disturbing reports
credible, and believes that the Asayish may have responded even
more harshly to those who actually participated in the
demonstrations. END SUMMARY
2. (C) On 19 April Twanna Khasraw Abdullah, a student union
leader from Halabjah, and Nihat Abd al-Rahman Faraj, former
Halabjah detainee, discussed with IPAO their detention stories
in connection with the March 16 Halabjah demonstrations
(REFTELS).
Arrested and Detained in Hormel Jail
--------------
3. (C) Faraj - a political independent and 29-year-old teacher
- traveled from his home in Hormel (about 15 kilometers outside
Halabjah) to Halabjah on the afternoon of March 16 to verify the
well-being of his younger brother, who participated in the
demonstrations. Faraj stayed that night at his parents' home in
Halabjah and was detained by the Asayish (PUK internal security
forces) the following morning at a checkpoint.
4. (C) Faraj reported that Asayish officers took him to the
Hormel jail that day, where they interrogated him. They
pressured him to divulge information, demanding several times
that he confess why they had arrested him. They tried coercing
Faraj by telling him that they had photographic evidence of his
involvement in the demonstrations and that they only had
detained those persons caught on film. Faraj said Asayish
officers specifically accused him of breaking one of the
Halabjah monument's air conditioning units (REFTEL C). He said
he did not sleep an hour that night because the prisoners were
shouting at the security guards and cursing the government.
Halabjah Prison
--------------
5. (C) The following morning, Asayish officers transferred
Faraj to Halabjah prison. He said most of those detained in
connection with the protests were between the ages of 15 and 20.
The security guards intimidated the detainees through verbal
abuse, which Faraj described as effective because most detainees
were young and scared. Faraj witnessed prison guards beating
several detainees, breaking some of their teeth. He said he
watched security guards place a sack over the head of a
17-year-old, beat him with a cable for a long time, and then
tell him they were going to throw him in a river. When the
security guards dragged the man outside, he begged the guards to
shoot him instead of throwing him in the river. The guards
eventually returned him to his cell.
Released on Father's Reputation
--------------
6. (C) Faraj said he owed avoidance of physical beatings and
several more days of confinement to his father's reputation.
Faraj's father, Mullah Abdul, is famous in Halabjah. Mullah
Abdul, the principal of a primary school in Halabjah, was
arrested three times by the Ba'athist regime for his involvement
in the Kurdish revolution. While Faraj was in Halabjah prison,
his father called the chief of Asayish in Halabjah - Akram (LNU)
- requesting that the Asayish release Faraj because he did not
participate in the protests. Akram told Mullah Abdul that he
would release Faraj even if he were involved "because he is your
son." The Asayish freed Faraj shortly thereafter.
Another Detention Story
--------------
7. (C) Abdullah told IPAO the experiences of a close
associate, Hemen Hama Husayn, who the Asayish detained for 12
days in connection with the Halabjah protests. Abdullah
explained that Husayn's parents prohibited him from going to
Kirkuk REO with Abdullah, due to possible further backlash from
the Asayish. Husayn was in As Sulaymaniyah on March 16 and did
not participate in the Halabjah protests. Husayn told Abdullah
that he believed he was detained because he was affiliated with
the Kurdistan Islamic Group.
8. (C) Three Asayish officers arrested Husayn a day after the
KIRKUK 00000102 002.2 OF 002
protests at the Sirwan market (about five kilometers outside
Halabjah). Asayish officers approached him and interrogated
him, accusing him of protesting. The authorities then placed a
bag over his head, threw him in a pickup truck, and took him to
Halabjah prison. For the next 12 days, Husayn remained in
prison, where security guards blindfolded him and beat him
daily. Husayn said he became unconscious twice, due to the
combination of severe beatings and a chronic chest condition.
Detainees Withhold Truth From NGOs
--------------
9. (C) According to Husayn, human rights NGO's arrived at
Halabjah prison on April 20 - four days after the protests - but
the detainees feared telling NGO's the truth. Husayn said the
detainees were unsure if the NGO's in reality worked for the
PUK. The Asayish allowed Husayn's relatives to visit him after
a week. Husayn said the Asayish transferred those students who
were guilty of destroying the Halabjah monument to As
Sulaymaniyah prison. He plans to sue the KRG for unlawful
detention and human rights abuses.
Kosrat Rasul Frees the Detainees
--------------
10. (C) Abdullah said PUK Politburo Secretary Kosrat Rasul on
18 April held a conference with the city's Halabjah residents in
Halabjah and announced that the detainees who protested in
Halabjah would be released. Abdullah also reported that
Halabjah residents recently were gathering signatures,
requesting that the Kurdistan National Assembly make Halabjah a
separate province from As Sulaymaniyah.
PUK Thwarts Kalar Protests
--------------
11. (C) When asked why no anti-government demonstrations
occurred in Kalar on April 14 during the commemoration of the
Anfal attacks, Abdullah said the PUK sent large numbers of
security personnel to prevent any potential demonstrators. He
said Kalar residents were intimidated by the stories of the
harsh Asayish response to Halabjah protestors. Abdullah added
that a PUK-sponsored student retreat lured students from Kalar
outside the city for the day.
Comment
--------------
12. (C) These first and second-hand accounts of alleged
unlawful detention and human rights abuses are disturbing. We
imagine that the Asayish probably responded more harshly to
those who actually protested. Faraj's youthful appearance and
the fact he was trying to leave Halabjah the morning after the
protests placed him at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Husayn's belief that the Asayish arrested him because of his
affiliation with the Kurdistan Islamic Group is plausible
because PUK authorities initially blamed young Islamic activists
for the demonstrations.
BIGUS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
BAGHDAD FOR POL, PAO, ROL COORDINATOR, NCT, IRMO, USAID
E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/28/2016
TAGS: PINS PGOV KDEM KCOR KISL PHUM IZ IR
SUBJECT: HALABJAH DETAINEES SPEAK ABOUT KRG ABUSES
REF: A) KIRKUK 80, B) KIRKUK 79, C) KIRKUK 78
KIRKUK 00000102 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: JBIGUS, PRT LEADER, REO Kirkuk, DoS.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) SUMMARY. A young teacher and student each describe
their detention following the Halabjah protests on March 16.
Neither of them participated in the demonstrations. The PUK
thwarted more student demonstrations in Kalar through beefed-up
security and intimidation. PRT finds these disturbing reports
credible, and believes that the Asayish may have responded even
more harshly to those who actually participated in the
demonstrations. END SUMMARY
2. (C) On 19 April Twanna Khasraw Abdullah, a student union
leader from Halabjah, and Nihat Abd al-Rahman Faraj, former
Halabjah detainee, discussed with IPAO their detention stories
in connection with the March 16 Halabjah demonstrations
(REFTELS).
Arrested and Detained in Hormel Jail
--------------
3. (C) Faraj - a political independent and 29-year-old teacher
- traveled from his home in Hormel (about 15 kilometers outside
Halabjah) to Halabjah on the afternoon of March 16 to verify the
well-being of his younger brother, who participated in the
demonstrations. Faraj stayed that night at his parents' home in
Halabjah and was detained by the Asayish (PUK internal security
forces) the following morning at a checkpoint.
4. (C) Faraj reported that Asayish officers took him to the
Hormel jail that day, where they interrogated him. They
pressured him to divulge information, demanding several times
that he confess why they had arrested him. They tried coercing
Faraj by telling him that they had photographic evidence of his
involvement in the demonstrations and that they only had
detained those persons caught on film. Faraj said Asayish
officers specifically accused him of breaking one of the
Halabjah monument's air conditioning units (REFTEL C). He said
he did not sleep an hour that night because the prisoners were
shouting at the security guards and cursing the government.
Halabjah Prison
--------------
5. (C) The following morning, Asayish officers transferred
Faraj to Halabjah prison. He said most of those detained in
connection with the protests were between the ages of 15 and 20.
The security guards intimidated the detainees through verbal
abuse, which Faraj described as effective because most detainees
were young and scared. Faraj witnessed prison guards beating
several detainees, breaking some of their teeth. He said he
watched security guards place a sack over the head of a
17-year-old, beat him with a cable for a long time, and then
tell him they were going to throw him in a river. When the
security guards dragged the man outside, he begged the guards to
shoot him instead of throwing him in the river. The guards
eventually returned him to his cell.
Released on Father's Reputation
--------------
6. (C) Faraj said he owed avoidance of physical beatings and
several more days of confinement to his father's reputation.
Faraj's father, Mullah Abdul, is famous in Halabjah. Mullah
Abdul, the principal of a primary school in Halabjah, was
arrested three times by the Ba'athist regime for his involvement
in the Kurdish revolution. While Faraj was in Halabjah prison,
his father called the chief of Asayish in Halabjah - Akram (LNU)
- requesting that the Asayish release Faraj because he did not
participate in the protests. Akram told Mullah Abdul that he
would release Faraj even if he were involved "because he is your
son." The Asayish freed Faraj shortly thereafter.
Another Detention Story
--------------
7. (C) Abdullah told IPAO the experiences of a close
associate, Hemen Hama Husayn, who the Asayish detained for 12
days in connection with the Halabjah protests. Abdullah
explained that Husayn's parents prohibited him from going to
Kirkuk REO with Abdullah, due to possible further backlash from
the Asayish. Husayn was in As Sulaymaniyah on March 16 and did
not participate in the Halabjah protests. Husayn told Abdullah
that he believed he was detained because he was affiliated with
the Kurdistan Islamic Group.
8. (C) Three Asayish officers arrested Husayn a day after the
KIRKUK 00000102 002.2 OF 002
protests at the Sirwan market (about five kilometers outside
Halabjah). Asayish officers approached him and interrogated
him, accusing him of protesting. The authorities then placed a
bag over his head, threw him in a pickup truck, and took him to
Halabjah prison. For the next 12 days, Husayn remained in
prison, where security guards blindfolded him and beat him
daily. Husayn said he became unconscious twice, due to the
combination of severe beatings and a chronic chest condition.
Detainees Withhold Truth From NGOs
--------------
9. (C) According to Husayn, human rights NGO's arrived at
Halabjah prison on April 20 - four days after the protests - but
the detainees feared telling NGO's the truth. Husayn said the
detainees were unsure if the NGO's in reality worked for the
PUK. The Asayish allowed Husayn's relatives to visit him after
a week. Husayn said the Asayish transferred those students who
were guilty of destroying the Halabjah monument to As
Sulaymaniyah prison. He plans to sue the KRG for unlawful
detention and human rights abuses.
Kosrat Rasul Frees the Detainees
--------------
10. (C) Abdullah said PUK Politburo Secretary Kosrat Rasul on
18 April held a conference with the city's Halabjah residents in
Halabjah and announced that the detainees who protested in
Halabjah would be released. Abdullah also reported that
Halabjah residents recently were gathering signatures,
requesting that the Kurdistan National Assembly make Halabjah a
separate province from As Sulaymaniyah.
PUK Thwarts Kalar Protests
--------------
11. (C) When asked why no anti-government demonstrations
occurred in Kalar on April 14 during the commemoration of the
Anfal attacks, Abdullah said the PUK sent large numbers of
security personnel to prevent any potential demonstrators. He
said Kalar residents were intimidated by the stories of the
harsh Asayish response to Halabjah protestors. Abdullah added
that a PUK-sponsored student retreat lured students from Kalar
outside the city for the day.
Comment
--------------
12. (C) These first and second-hand accounts of alleged
unlawful detention and human rights abuses are disturbing. We
imagine that the Asayish probably responded more harshly to
those who actually protested. Faraj's youthful appearance and
the fact he was trying to leave Halabjah the morning after the
protests placed him at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Husayn's belief that the Asayish arrested him because of his
affiliation with the Kurdistan Islamic Group is plausible
because PUK authorities initially blamed young Islamic activists
for the demonstrations.
BIGUS