ACTION REQUEST; TERRORIST ABDALLAH UNDER

UNCLAS PARIS 000775 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FRANCE DESK FOR CHRIS PALMER; S C/T FOR MARC NORMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PTER FR SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST; TERRORIST ABDALLAH UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR RELEASE ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 2. ¶2. (SBU) On February 27 we were contacted by, and subsequently received a letter to the Ambassador from Georges Kiejman who was legal counsel for the USG (as a civil party) during the prosecution of Georges Ibrahim Abdallah. Abdullah was convicted in 1987 of the 1982 assassination of Embassy Paris U.S. Army Attach Charles Ray, and the attempted assassination of U.S. Consul General Robert Homme in a separate attack in 1984. Kiejman forwarded a separate letter from the Paris Tribunal which indicates that Abdallah, who was convicted to life in prison, has requested conditional release. The letter also states that the civil parties to the case, the U.S. Ambassador to Paris, Mrs. Sharon Ray, her children, and Robert Homme, may, if they wish, present their commentary to the court no later than March 9. Embassy requests immediate guidance on how to proceed with an Ambassadorial response. We also request that the Department contact Sharon Ray, her children, and Robert Homme, to inform them of their legal rights. The Embassy's lawyer has agreed to handle transmission of all documents to the court. BACKGROUND -------------- ¶3. (U) Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, a member of the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Faction (LARF),assassinated U.S. Embassy Paris Army Attache Charles Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov in 1982. In 1984, his group also attacked U.S. Consul General Strasbourg Robert Homme, though he survived his wounds. Abdallah was apprehended by police in 1985, and convicted to life in prison on February 28, 1987. At the time, the U.S. Ambassador to Paris was considered by the court as a civil party to the prosecution. (Note: This is the first time the Embassy has been asked by the court for comments in connection with an application for release by Abdullah. As far as the Embassy is aware, the Israeli government has not been allowed the same consideration, either in this case, or in others like it.) ¶4. (U) Abdallah was refused release in 2004 and again 2005. In 2004 his request for release was granted by a regional court, before being refused by a higher court. In 2005 his case was considered and refused by the Court on Application of Penal Sanctions of Tarbes. He appealed the decision, but his appeal was rejected on January 31, 2006. At that time, he was barred from requesting release again until February 1, ¶2007. He remains imprisoned at the Lannemezan Penitentiary. ¶5. (U) In May 2006 the French judicial system centralized its processing of all parole hearings related to convicted terrorists. The Paris Tribunal is now responsible for the decision in the first instance. Appeals are handled by the Paris Court of Appeals. ¶6. (U) Georges Kiejman judges in his letter to the Ambassador that, without the consideration of other factors, it is probable that Abdallah's release will be approved by the court and he will be expelled from French territory. He adds that Abdallah's health and age will be taken into consideration by the Court. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON