Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MANAMA3
2007-01-03 13:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

REACTIONS TO SADDAM'S EXECUTION BREAK ALONG

Tags:  PREL PGOV BA REGION 
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DE RUEHMK #0003/01 0031350
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 031350Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6246
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000003 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/03/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV BA REGION
SUBJECT: REACTIONS TO SADDAM'S EXECUTION BREAK ALONG
SECTARIAN LINES

Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.

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Summary
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000003

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/03/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV BA REGION
SUBJECT: REACTIONS TO SADDAM'S EXECUTION BREAK ALONG
SECTARIAN LINES

Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.

--------------
Summary
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1. (C) Reactions in Bahrain, a Shia majority country with a
Sunni ruling family, to Saddam's December 30 execution
followed predictable lines. The government has issued no
official statement about the execution. Two small Baathist
political societies condemned the trial and execution and
opened a majles to receive condolence calls for "the martyr
of the nation." A Shia politician said the execution
heralded a new era for Iraq and hoped increasing sectarianism
in Iraq did not cause a partition within Bahraini society. A
leftist political activist called the execution a proper end
for a leader who favored adventurism and ruled through
violence. While people to a great extent had already
accepted the execution, its timing and manner in which it was
carried out could exacerbate bitterness between Bahrain's
Sunni and Shia communities. End Summary.

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Baathist Groups Open Condolence Majles
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2. (SBU) Reactions to the December 30 execution of Saddam
Hussein followed predictable patterns in Bahrain, a majority
Shia country with a Sunni ruling family and Sunni-dominated
government, military, and security forces. Perhaps taking
advantage of the long Eid Al Adha and New Year's holiday
closure, the government issued no official statement about
the execution. Bahrain's small Baathist organizations, the
Nationalist Democratic Congregation Society and Al Wasat Al
Arabi Islamic Society, were the most vocal, condemning the
execution and opening a majles to receive condolences for
"the martyr of the nation." (The condolence majles was
covered prominently in one local newspaper.) National
Democratic Congregation Society vice secretary general Dr.
Hassan Al Aali told the press that the execution was unfair
and unjust because Saddam's trial was conducted while Iraq
was under U.S. occupation. He said that the execution was
carried out "for political reasons so the U.S. could gain
control" of Iraq. He expects to see more opposition and
unrest in Iraq. Al Wasat Al Arabi Islamic Society issued a

statement saying "the assassination of the legitimate Iraqi
president was conducted by the American regime, the Zionist
Entity (Israel),and the Safawi regime (Iran)."

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Shia, Moderates Look Beyond Saddam
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3. (SBU) Jalal Fairooz, member of parliament representing
leading Shia opposition society Al Wifaq, told the press that
the execution heralded a new era for Iraq, which he said had
been full of bloodshed under Saddam and the Baath regime. He
worried that the execution could further exacerbate sectarian
tensions in Iraq and hoped it would not have an impact on
Bahrain's political situation. "We can see how the Iraqi
population is divided between Shias, Sunnis, and Kurds, and
we hope this won't cause any partition in Bahraini society,"
he said. Al Wifaq member and human rights activist Nizar Al
Qari said publicly that Saddam received the right punishment
for the crimes his regime committed.


4. (SBU) Dr. Hassan Madan, head of the leftist Minbar
Democratic Society, told the press that execution was the
proper end for a leader who favored adventurism and ruled
through violence. "We need to draw the lesson that
dictatorships invariably end in catastrophes for the people.
We need to uphold the values of tolerance, power-sharing, and
co-existence in order to advance nations. Saddam did the
opposite by engaging in military adventures and dominating
his people through the military and intelligence services."
Ibrahim Sharif, secretary general of the liberal, secular Al
Waad society, said publicly that there should be real
attempts to get at the root of the problem in Iraq. He
accused the -wed States, Britain, and France of arming
Saddam and called for a proper investigation.

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Controversy Over Timing of Execution
--------------


5. (C) Echoing statements from Saudi Arabia and Egypt that
were published in Bahraini newspapers, many people have
criticized the timing of the execution, coming on the morning
of the Sunni celebration of Eid Al Adha. (Most but not all

MANAMA 00000003 002 OF 002


Shia in Bahrain celebrated Eid Al Adha one day later, on
December 31.) Al Waad's Sharif said the execution was
untimely and complained that no one would consider holding an
execution on Christmas or New Year's Day. He said choosing
Eid Al Adha was a sign of disrespect for Muslims. Another
controversial aspect of the execution is the reports of
witnesses taunting Saddam in his final moments. Former
minister and prominent member of the National Democratic
Congregation Society Dr. Ali Fakhro told the Ambassador that
the way the execution was carried out only served to
exacerbate sectarian friction.


6. (SBU) In a statement to the press, Iraqi Embassy DCM
Ahmed Agha said the timing of the execution was appropriate
because in the 1980s, the Baath regime would deliver the
bodies of prisoners who had been killed to their families on
Eid Al Adha. He said the government would tell families that
their relatives' bodies were an Eid present, but they had to
pay the costs of transporting the bodies back home.

--------------
Press Commentary Mixed
--------------


7. (SBU) President of the moderate Al Meethaq political
society Ahmed Juma wrote in Al Ayam newspaper January 3 that
carrying out Saddam's execution in front of cameras on the
occasion of Eid Al Adha gives the impression to the world
that the Arabs represent "a barbarian and savage nation." He
said he does not disagree with the execution but comments
that the way it was carried out harms the image of the Arabs.
Baathist Shura Council member and columnist Sameera Rajab,
who attended the condolence majles for Saddam, wrote in
Akhbar Al Khaleej newspaper that "Saddam's destiny was to die
a martyr. He refused to give in to the occupiers and died
standing tall like the palm trees of Iraq. He stood against
the Israelis and the Iranians and his heroes are still
fighting to preserve our Arab identity from the combined
onslaught of the Anglo-Saxons and Iranians."

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Comment
--------------


8. (C) Reactions to Saddam's execution were mostly low-key
and predictable, with sympathizers condemning the trial and
hanging and opponents praising the delivery of justice. The
controversy over the manner and timing in which the execution
was carried out could have some staying power and may result
in more bitterness between Bahrain's Sunni and Shia
communities than the execution itself, which people had
already come to accept.


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