REFUGEE ADMISSIONS REFERRAL: DHIA NOOR MOWAFAK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000839

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/A LIZ HARRIS; EMBASSY CAIRO FOR REGIONAL
REFCOORD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL IN IZ
SUBJECT: REFUGEE ADMISSIONS REFERRAL: DHIA NOOR MOWAFAK


NEW DELHI 00000839 001.2 OF 002



1. (SBU) Embassy New Delhi refers the following former
translator for the U.S. military to the U.S. refugee
admissions program (USRAP). Below is biographic information
of the principal applicant and dependents, a description of
the persecution claim, his current economic means and health
conditions, and justification for recommending him for the
USRAP.


2. (SBU)

Principal applicant (PA):

NAME: Dhia Noor Mowafak
DOB: 2 December 1964
POB: Baghdad
GENDER: Male
MARITAL STATUS: Married

Dependents:

NAME: Tahrir Magada Marof
DOB: 10 October 1973
GENDER: Female
MARITAL STATUS: Married
RELATION TO PA: Wife

NAME: Ranya Dhia Noor
DOB: 1993
GENDER: Female
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
RELATION TO PA: Daughter

NAME: Dhia Noor
DOB: 1995
GENDER: Male
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
RELATION TO PA: Son

NAME: Abdul Rahan
DOB: 2000
GENDER: Male
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
RELATION TO PA: Son


3. Description of persecution claim, as presented by PA via
telcon and emails: Dhia Noor Mowafak served as an
interpreter with the U.S. army in Baghdad for three years.
He claims that, starting in early 2006, a group of men
wearing black clothes who carried machine guns visited his
home approximately five or six times and threatened to kill
him. He could not identify the group. The first time, the
black-clad group came to his house and said something to the
effect of, "We know you. You are working for the U.S. Army.
You are Palestinian. We are going to kill you."
Approximately one month later, they returned to his house and
threatened him again. Following the second visit, Dhia Noor
Mowafak's youngest son (six years old) was kidnapped from
school. Mowafak spent about 40 days looking for his son
before the kidnappers demanded a ransom of about
75,000-80,000 USD. Mr. Mowafak said that he used all of his
savings and borrowed the rest of the money from
friends/family. He was instructed to meet the kidnappers at
a particular place and hand over the money, which he did.
His son was returned alive. Again, he could not identify the
kidnappers. At this point, Dhia Noor Mowafak started looking
for ways to escape from Iraq. He said that he could not
return to Palestine because he was born in Baghdad.
Eventually, the harassment escalated and "they took my money,
took my home, and my family was forced to leave with only the
clothes on their backs." He paid someone a fee to secure
transportation out of Iraq - and arrived in India in December

2006.


4. PolOff has spoken with Dhia Noor Mowafak and sent scanned
copies of his documentation (including U.S. military
identification badge indicating that he was a translator and
letters of recommendation by U.S. military officials, etc) to
the RefCoord in Baghdad. In addition, CONS checked CLASS and
he has no hits.


5. Mowafak explained to Poloff that he is desperate for

NEW DELHI 00000839 002.2 OF 002


assistance. He claims that he is suffering from a heart
problem in which "my arteries are weak and my father died of
the same condition." His wife also has high blood pressure.
In addition, the family has no access to financial means and
Mowafak has asked for assistance in order to support his
family. PolOff has been in touch with UNHCR, which is
currently experiencing considerable backlogs, and making
appointments through September 2007.


6. Justification for Resettlement: Mowafak is under threat
because of his employment with the U.S. government. His
service to the USG merits special handling and, because of
health concerns and no access to financial support, he is
particularly vulnerable. UNHCR is experiencing considerable
delays and will not be able to refer Mowafak for processing
in a timely manner. We welcome Embassy Baghdad's assessment
as well.
MULFORD