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