UPDATE ON THREATS AGAINST MP SHAKILA HASHEMI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 000663 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SA/FO, SCA/A, S/CT, S/CR, SCA/PAB, EUR/RPM STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG, PRM/FO, PRM/ANE NSC FOR AHARRIMAN OSD FOR KIMMITT CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76 POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PRM PHUM AF SUBJECT: UPDATE ON THREATS AGAINST MP SHAKILA HASHEMI Classified By: DCM Richard Norland for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On February 13, PolOff met with Parliamentarian Shakila Hashemi and discussed the details of her daughter's murder, which occurred on January 3 in the front yard of Hashemi's home. Hashemi thought the bullet was intended for her due to her activities in support of women's rights and that her daughter's death was a case of mistaken identity. Both mother and daughter were in the yard when the murder occurred. The Parliament is providing four body guards around the clock for Hashemi and her four surviving children. A subsequent attempted break-in of Hashemi's residence on February 7 was thwarted, and no one was hurt. Hashemi was unclear whether she wants her family to be relocated for security reasons. She never mentioned the possibility of asylum. On February 23, Hashemi attended a rally during which she was observed shouting virulent anti-human rights slogans. She later apologized on a local television station for her negative comments regarding human rights and the UN. END SUMMARY. -------------- Details of Daughter's Murder -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Hashemi explained to PolOff that her daughter was standing in the doorway of her house speaking to her mother (who was in the yard hanging up laundry) when she was shot in the upper right chest. The bullet exited from her lower left back. Hashemi said she was not aware that her daughter was shot. She did not hear a gunshot, nor did she see anyone fleeing from the immediate vicinity. Her daughter cried out three times for help, then blood started coming out of her mouth. Hashemi rushed her daughter to the hospital, where the doctor pronounced her dead on arrival. Hashemi said that it was not until she returned home with her daughter's body that she realized her daughter had been shot. She added that she has no idea who might have wanted to hurt her or her family. Hashemi said the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) and the police have promised to investigate, but no leads have been developed thus far. (Note: DCM raised the investigation with Deputy Minister of Interior Khalid who confirmed that the police are proceeding with an investigation. However, Khalid was also aware of other motives that could possibly lie behind the shooting- see para 11. End Note.) -------------- Parliament Provides 24/7 Security -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The Parliament provided Hashemi with four body guards after her daughter's murder. They protect her and her family 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (Note: Two of them were present outside the room where PolOff met with Hashemi at Parliament. They appeared attentive and Hashemi appeared comfortable with their presence. End Note). Hashemi added that she still does not feel safe and is more afraid for her family than for herself. Hashemi confidently said that if they came after her she would fight them off. -------------- - Attempted Break-in at Hashemi's House Thwarted -------------- - ¶4. (SBU) On February 7, Hashemi discussed her daughter's death publicly in a TV interview. That evening, several individuals attempted to break into her house around midnight. Hashemi,s four bodyguards were outside securing the perimeter on three sides of her home. The fourth side of her home borders an international NGO office (Hashemi did not know the name of the NGO) and there are NGO security guards there, so Hashemi,s guards do not usually patrol that part of the perimeter at night. The attackers used this fourth side to mount their assault. The attackers had made it to the roof of the home when guards from the NGO spotted them KABUL 00000663 002 OF 003 and chased them away. Hashemi said that her older children also chased after the attackers. Her 19 year-old son Samir (who was at the meeting with PolOff) noted that one of the attackers had long hair, past his shoulders. The attackers escaped in an unidentified vehicle. Hashemi said she immediately called the MOI and the police. The MOI Deputy Minister and the police came after the attackers had escaped. ¶5. (SBU) Hashemi has not received threats of any kind since the attack on her house. She would like to move to another location in Kabul but cannot afford to pay any rent. Hashemi moved to her current home seven months ago because she could not afford to pay the rent on her prior home. She is living rent-free in an apartment owned by a relative. -------------- Previous Threats -------------- ¶6. SBU) Hashemi said that in 2003 she was threatened by three men who stopped her in the street and told her not to allow the American military into her office anymore. She explained that, prior to working as an MP, she was running an organization to help children and she often collaborated with the US Army on projects. Additionally, Hashemi explained that her eldest son was killed 14 years ago by the Mujaheddin as revenge for her husband's involvement with the Communists (he worked for former Communist President Najibullah). -------------- -------------- Hashemi Links Her Women's Rights Activities to Threat -------------- -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Hashemi told PolOff that she thought the bullet that killed her daughter was intended for her due to her work to promote women. She noted that she taught 35 classes for girls during the Taliban era. She said she brought the first ultrasound machine for women to Afghanistan and was the first woman to open a development center for children in 2002. Hashemi was also the head of the women's council of District 7 in Kabul in 2001-2002. She said that she helped women during the Taliban era and was the first one to take off her burqa after the Taliban fell. -------------- Hashemi Unsure About Relocating Family -------------- ¶8. (SBU) PolOff specifically asked Hashemi if she wanted to relocate her family elsewhere to protect them, and she replied that she "has not even thought" about sending her son away. She said, "I cannot split my family." She added that she needs to keep her only remaining son at home because her husband is "too sick and too old" and she needs a man in the house. Her husband has been unemployed for several years. Hashemi said he is chronically ill. She supports her four children (aged eight to nineteen),her husband, and her mom, who all live with her. ¶9. (SBU) Later on in the conversation, Hashemi made a different statement about splitting up her family, explaining that she would like to send her son to India to get a good education, but she lacks the money. Hashemi said that her children's education is her top priority, and proudly stated that her youngest daughter speaks five languages and was given an award by former Ambassador Khalilzad for her knowledge of the Afghan constitution. Hashemi then stated that she would have "no issue" with splitting her family up, but does not want to send her children to Iran or Pakistan. When asked specifically what assistance she would like from the USG, she replied, "help me find out who killed my daughter." She also said that "any possible support you could provide would be appreciated," but failed to specify any particular type of help. During the meeting PolOff asked repeatedly about what Hashemi wanted to do to protect her family. Hashemi never mentioned asylum. She asked for general assistance, and help with identifying her daughter's KABUL 00000663 003 OF 003 killer(s). -------------- Hashemi Protests Against Human Rights Groups -------------- ¶10. (C) Hashemi proposed the theory that people want to kill her because of her support for women's rights. However on February 23, Hashemi attended a rally in support of a draft amnesty bill for former fighters, during which she was observed shouting virulent anti-human rights slogans. She later apologized on a local television station for her negative comments regarding human rights and the UN. (Comment: This raises doubts about her idea that she is in danger due to her pro-human/women's rights stance. End Comment.) -------------- Other Rumors About Reasons For Murder -------------- ¶11. (C) Other individuals at parliament have suggested to EmbOffs other reasons for which Hashemi's daughter might have been killed. Some have suggested that Hashemi,s daughter was shot because she was having an illicit relationship. There are also several rumors swirling around Parliament that Hashemi herself is involved in shady business deals (including one suggesting that she ran a brothel during the Taliban era) and that her daughter's daughter murder was due to Hashemi,s private business affairs. (Comment: Character assassination is a national sport in Afghanistan. One could find similar rumors regarding any Afghan public figure. End Comment.) ¶12. (C) Hashemi may also be interested in getting financial support to pay for her children's education overseas. She spoke at length about her children's intelligence and her inability to provide them the education they need to be successful. Initially rejecting outright the suggestion that she send her children abroad for security, she later changed her mind and said that she would like to send them to India for education (but not to Iran or Pakistan). In any case, we have been in touch with UNAMA on this case and are confident that Hashemi is aware of the asylum option via UNHCR if she so chooses. NEUMANN