Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MANAMA524
2007-06-11 08:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:
ALLEGED BEATING VICTIMS RELEASED FROM CUSTODY
how-toVZCZCXRO1145 OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHMK #0524 1620806 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 110806Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6909 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000524
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ASEC BA POL HUMRIT
SUBJECT: ALLEGED BEATING VICTIMS RELEASED FROM CUSTODY
REF: A. MANAMA 0518
B. MANAMA 0476
Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000524
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ASEC BA POL HUMRIT
SUBJECT: ALLEGED BEATING VICTIMS RELEASED FROM CUSTODY
REF: A. MANAMA 0518
B. MANAMA 0476
Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) The public prosecution June 7 released Ali Saeed Al
Khabaz and Hameed Yousif Ahmed from custody after prosecutors
became convinced of their innocence based upon eyewitness
reports. Al Khabaz and Ahmed had been detained during a
violent protest the night of May 21 in the Shia village of
Sanabis. Security personnel reportedly beat them after their
detention, resulting in injuries that caused both men to be
admitted into the Bahrain Defense Force hospital (Ref A).
According to Al Wasat newspaper, the two were released as a
result of a meeting the day before between Interior Minister
Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa and Shia opposition
society Al Wifaq secretary general and parliamentary deputy
Shaikh Ali Salman. Al Wifaq spokesman Jassim Al Moamen said,
"The society (Al Wifaq) highly appreciates the decision of
the Minister and calls on him to release the rest of the
detainees (who were picked up during other demonstrations)."
Al Moamen added that the two men would continue to receive
medical treatment for their injuries.
2. (C) Comment: The case of Al Khabaz and Ahmed became a
bit too hot for the government, with the international media
covering reports of a Human Rights Watch call for an
independent commission to investigate the source of the two
detainees' injuries. By releasing the two following the
meeting with Salman, the government seeks to ease some of the
pressure while also allowing credit to go to Al Wifaq, which
is part of the political system, and not the hardline Shia
Haq Movement. In a likely quid pro quo, Salman in his June 8
Friday prayer sermon urged the public to abide by laws
regulating gatherings and protests rather than having an
"uncontrollable security situation."
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
MONROE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ASEC BA POL HUMRIT
SUBJECT: ALLEGED BEATING VICTIMS RELEASED FROM CUSTODY
REF: A. MANAMA 0518
B. MANAMA 0476
Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) The public prosecution June 7 released Ali Saeed Al
Khabaz and Hameed Yousif Ahmed from custody after prosecutors
became convinced of their innocence based upon eyewitness
reports. Al Khabaz and Ahmed had been detained during a
violent protest the night of May 21 in the Shia village of
Sanabis. Security personnel reportedly beat them after their
detention, resulting in injuries that caused both men to be
admitted into the Bahrain Defense Force hospital (Ref A).
According to Al Wasat newspaper, the two were released as a
result of a meeting the day before between Interior Minister
Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa and Shia opposition
society Al Wifaq secretary general and parliamentary deputy
Shaikh Ali Salman. Al Wifaq spokesman Jassim Al Moamen said,
"The society (Al Wifaq) highly appreciates the decision of
the Minister and calls on him to release the rest of the
detainees (who were picked up during other demonstrations)."
Al Moamen added that the two men would continue to receive
medical treatment for their injuries.
2. (C) Comment: The case of Al Khabaz and Ahmed became a
bit too hot for the government, with the international media
covering reports of a Human Rights Watch call for an
independent commission to investigate the source of the two
detainees' injuries. By releasing the two following the
meeting with Salman, the government seeks to ease some of the
pressure while also allowing credit to go to Al Wifaq, which
is part of the political system, and not the hardline Shia
Haq Movement. In a likely quid pro quo, Salman in his June 8
Friday prayer sermon urged the public to abide by laws
regulating gatherings and protests rather than having an
"uncontrollable security situation."
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
MONROE