NINEWA PROVINCE: HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002691

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/I, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM PINR IZ
SUBJECT: NINEWA PROVINCE: HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS
OPERATE, BUT WITH DIFFICULTY

Classified By: Ninewa PRT Leader Jason Hyland, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

This is a Ninewa Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) message.

Summary
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1. (C) The Ninewa (Mosul) PRT Rule of Law section recently
met with several key human rights organizations in the
northern Iraqi province of Ninewa. In an encouraging sign,
there is a surprising amount of human rights activity in the
province -- given the inherent security risks in Iraq today
-- by both the Government of Iraq (GOI) and non-governmental
organizations (NGO). However, the Human Rights Committee of
the Ninewa Provincial Council (HRC) has allegedly refused to
meet with both the NGOs and the GOI entities, and many jails
deny access to monitors from these organizations. The Iraqi
Police (IP) in the province have established a human rights
cell, although its effectiveness is unclear. Following is a
snapshot of human rights organizations in Iraq,s
second-largest province.

Human Rights NGOs in Ninewa
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2. (C) There are several established human rights
organizations functioning in Ninewa Province. One of the
most active is the Islamic Organization for Human Rights
(IOHR). The IOHR has produced a website (in Arabic) about
its work, but translation has not been done to make it
readily accessible to the international community. It has
allegedly run into a lack of cooperation from the HRC (which
refuses to meet with it) and the local jails, citing a lack
of access and transparency. The IOHR focuses mainly on
prison transparency and filing claims on behalf of
individuals whose family members have been arrested. (Note:
We are seeking further information about this organization,
and will report septel.)


3. (C) The Iraqi Red Crescent, which faces problems with
access to jails, security, and transportation, also functions
in the province. However, due to its association with the
previous regime, not all sectors consider it a neutral party.
Other NGOs include the women's wings of the various
political parties, all of which focus on the rights of women
within their party.

Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights
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4. (C) The Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR) functions in
the province, although it runs into the same problems as NGOs
in terms of the HRC. The PRT will meet with the HRC to
follow up on these allegations on August 13. Some jails have
blocked access and refused to cooperate with the MoHR's
efforts to gain access to information about cases. The MoHR
has not yet made its reports on the situation in the province
publicly available.


5. (C) Bio Note: The Head of Office for the MoHR in Ninewa is
Nashwan S. Mohammed Ali (please protect). Ali is a lawyer by
training and has professed to be devoted to the cause of
human rights. He is very forthcoming with the PRT with
information and provides translated copies of reports done by
the MoHR. Ali understands English, although his spoken
English is very poor. He prefers to speak in Arabic. End
Bio Note.

Iraqi Police HR Cell
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6. (C) The Iraqi Police (IP) in the province has a Human
Rights Cell, and the PRT recently began to meet with it. The
IP offered to provide copies of human rights reports to the
PRT. The Iraqi Police have not yet provided human rights
awareness training to police on the job or in the training of
new recruits.

Comment
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7. (C) Surprisingly, there are human rights organizations
(both GOI and NGO) functioning, at least minimally, in Ninewa
Province. The improved, but still difficult, security
situation and the alleged lack of cooperation by some
provincial authorities have hindered the effectiveness of
these organizations. The PRT will continue to work with

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these organizations to gather information on the human rights
situation in Ninewa and support other constructive
activities, and remains ready to engage other organizations
that may have up until now kept a very low profile.

CROCKER