EGYPT: PRISON SUICIDE OF KEY AYMAN NOUR WITNESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002751 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC STAFF FOR WATERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM EG SUBJECT: EGYPT: PRISON SUICIDE OF KEY AYMAN NOUR WITNESS REF: 2005 CAIRO 4981 Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) According to unnamed GOE sources quoted in press accounts, the September 6 death in prison of Ayman Ismail Hassan, who played a pivotal role in the GOE's prosecution of opposition leader Ayman Nour in 2005 (reftel),has been ruled a suicide by hanging. Ayman Nour's supporters are, however, alleging that Ayman Hassan's death was suspicious. Although there is no available evidence to support the claims that Ayman Hassan's death was caused by foul play, Ayman Nour's camp is seizing this opportunity to raise doubts about the GOE's version of events. ¶2. (C) Ayman Hassan, who was both a codefendant with Nour as well as a witness against him, caused a sensation in Nour's 2005 forgery trial when, on June 30, 2005, he recanted his initial testimony against Nour and alleged that the GOE security services had coerced his testimony by threatening his family. The presiding judge, Adel Abdul Salaam Gomaa, later chose to disregard Ayman Hassan's disavowal, and eventually convicted Hassan along with Nour and several other defendants on forgery charges. ¶3. (C) Hassan, who reportedly suffered from psychological problems, had spent most of his imprisonment in Cairo's Bab al-Khalk Isti'naf (Appeals) Prison. According to Ayman Nour's lawyer, Amir Salem (protect),the Isti'naf facility is the GOE's preferred detention facility for inmates with psychiatric problems and includes special cells and procedures intended to prevent suicidal inmates from attempting to take their own lives. ¶4. (C) Lawyer Amir Salem told poloff on September 6 that he believed that Ayman Hassan's death was suspicious and he would call for an investigation. Salem also told poloff that he had been on the verge of filing another appeal on Ayman Nour's behalf, based on Hassan's recanted testimony. In subsequent press interviews, Salem has asserted that Ayman Hassan's death was not a suicide and should be fully investigated. Leading independent daily Al-Masry Al-Youm published a statement from Ayman Nour on September 10 in which Nour alleged that he was skeptical of the GOE's assertion that Hassan committed suicide. Nour further alleged, without providing details, that he had "proof" that Hassan had been "slaughtered." RICCIARDONE