Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAGHDAD3328
2008-10-16 10:32:00
SECRET
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
ADHAMIYA SUNNI SHEIKH CONCERNED ABOUT RECENT
how-toVZCZCXRO6966 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #3328 2901032 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 161032Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9973 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
S E C R E T BAGHDAD 003328
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: ADHAMIYA SUNNI SHEIKH CONCERNED ABOUT RECENT
ARRESTS
Classified By: PMIN ROBERT FORD. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
S E C R E T BAGHDAD 003328
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: ADHAMIYA SUNNI SHEIKH CONCERNED ABOUT RECENT
ARRESTS
Classified By: PMIN ROBERT FORD. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (S) Summary: On October 12, poloffs, met with Sunni Arab
sheikh Amir Hamid Al-Izaawi to discuss security and
reconstruction efforts in Baghdad's Adhamiya district. As a
prominent local figure connected to the tribal support
council, Izzawi said he has yet to receive GOI financial
support. He asked for our help in pressing GOI to release
funds for projects managed by the Adhamiya tribal support
council. We urged that he contact Prime Minister Office that
overseas district council operations. Izzawi also complained
about raids still being conducted by Iraqi security forces
and coalition forces in Adhamiya, noting that their failure
to consult with him or others in the tribal council
leadership undermined their standing with the local
population. (He claimed that these arrests target only
innocent civilians.) End Summary.
2. (C) Izzawi said security is better in Adhamiya because of
the local residents' organizing their own security. He
stated the quality of the Iraqi police in the area was still
dismal. He claimed to have a good relationship with Prime
Minister al-Maliki, proudly showing some photos of him with
the PM. However, he was clear that the American forces
should not leave his neighborhood or Iraq. We urged him to
support the upcoming SoFA. Izzawi was not much interested.
Instead, he was certain that the U.S. would not leave Iraq
after investing so many resources here. (No amount of
arguing would change his mind.)
3. (SBU) Sheikh Izzawi told us that he has applied for
financial aid for Adhamiya tribal council projects from the
Prime Ministry's Office. He has yet to receive a response.
PMIN told Izzawi that the Embassy would see if we could
offer help at Iraq Follow-up Committee for National
Reconciliation (IFCNR). Sheikh Izzawi bemoaned the high
level of unemployment in Adhamiya and the frustration of
young people there. He asked our assistance in getting his
district reconstruction projects. PMIN cautioned that the
day of large American projects in Iraq has concluded. He
noted that most remaining Baghdad projects are managed by
our PRT office, and promised to get the appropriate PRT in
touch with his office.
4. (S) Izzawi also expressed concerns over arrests of
Adhamiya residents carried out by Iraqi Security Forces and
U.S Coalition Forces. He claimed that sometimes the U.S.
forces arrest civilians that have no connection to terrorism.
Izzawi asserted that if these raids continue, resentment
among Sunni Arabs would increase causing a backlash in the
community. He also stressed that when he cannot answer
families' concerns and inquiries, he is left in a very
embarrassing position. This, Izzawi added, will lessen his
credibility among his community and tribe. He also warned us
that Al-Qaida in Iraq would gain an open invitation to
re-establish itself in Adhamiya if these raids and arrests
don't stop.
5. (C) With Izzawi was parliamentarian Ammer Karazan, a
Sunni Arab from Diyala, who alleged that there are still
hundreds or even a thousand Sunni Arabs held without trial at
the detention facility attached to the Criminal and
Investigative Court in Rusafa (east Baghdad). Kazaran
claimed that families who search for their relatives there
often are asked to pay either for information about their
relatives or, for a higher sum, for the release of their
relatives from detention. (Comment: there is an Iraqi
government center in Adhamiya where relatives can seek
information on their family members in detention, and our
experience is that it works reasonably well. It cannot
always locate prisoners, however. End Comment.)
6. (C) Comment: Sheikh Izzawi's concerns about raids and
arrests in Adhamiyah are indicative of a general trend we see
in our discussions with most Iraqi Sunni Arab contacts.
These meetings, usually with local Sunni Arab leaders,
become embroiled in accounts of arrests and pleas for
support. These contacts are much less interested in national
issues such as elections, SOFA and security.
CROCKER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: ADHAMIYA SUNNI SHEIKH CONCERNED ABOUT RECENT
ARRESTS
Classified By: PMIN ROBERT FORD. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (S) Summary: On October 12, poloffs, met with Sunni Arab
sheikh Amir Hamid Al-Izaawi to discuss security and
reconstruction efforts in Baghdad's Adhamiya district. As a
prominent local figure connected to the tribal support
council, Izzawi said he has yet to receive GOI financial
support. He asked for our help in pressing GOI to release
funds for projects managed by the Adhamiya tribal support
council. We urged that he contact Prime Minister Office that
overseas district council operations. Izzawi also complained
about raids still being conducted by Iraqi security forces
and coalition forces in Adhamiya, noting that their failure
to consult with him or others in the tribal council
leadership undermined their standing with the local
population. (He claimed that these arrests target only
innocent civilians.) End Summary.
2. (C) Izzawi said security is better in Adhamiya because of
the local residents' organizing their own security. He
stated the quality of the Iraqi police in the area was still
dismal. He claimed to have a good relationship with Prime
Minister al-Maliki, proudly showing some photos of him with
the PM. However, he was clear that the American forces
should not leave his neighborhood or Iraq. We urged him to
support the upcoming SoFA. Izzawi was not much interested.
Instead, he was certain that the U.S. would not leave Iraq
after investing so many resources here. (No amount of
arguing would change his mind.)
3. (SBU) Sheikh Izzawi told us that he has applied for
financial aid for Adhamiya tribal council projects from the
Prime Ministry's Office. He has yet to receive a response.
PMIN told Izzawi that the Embassy would see if we could
offer help at Iraq Follow-up Committee for National
Reconciliation (IFCNR). Sheikh Izzawi bemoaned the high
level of unemployment in Adhamiya and the frustration of
young people there. He asked our assistance in getting his
district reconstruction projects. PMIN cautioned that the
day of large American projects in Iraq has concluded. He
noted that most remaining Baghdad projects are managed by
our PRT office, and promised to get the appropriate PRT in
touch with his office.
4. (S) Izzawi also expressed concerns over arrests of
Adhamiya residents carried out by Iraqi Security Forces and
U.S Coalition Forces. He claimed that sometimes the U.S.
forces arrest civilians that have no connection to terrorism.
Izzawi asserted that if these raids continue, resentment
among Sunni Arabs would increase causing a backlash in the
community. He also stressed that when he cannot answer
families' concerns and inquiries, he is left in a very
embarrassing position. This, Izzawi added, will lessen his
credibility among his community and tribe. He also warned us
that Al-Qaida in Iraq would gain an open invitation to
re-establish itself in Adhamiya if these raids and arrests
don't stop.
5. (C) With Izzawi was parliamentarian Ammer Karazan, a
Sunni Arab from Diyala, who alleged that there are still
hundreds or even a thousand Sunni Arabs held without trial at
the detention facility attached to the Criminal and
Investigative Court in Rusafa (east Baghdad). Kazaran
claimed that families who search for their relatives there
often are asked to pay either for information about their
relatives or, for a higher sum, for the release of their
relatives from detention. (Comment: there is an Iraqi
government center in Adhamiya where relatives can seek
information on their family members in detention, and our
experience is that it works reasonably well. It cannot
always locate prisoners, however. End Comment.)
6. (C) Comment: Sheikh Izzawi's concerns about raids and
arrests in Adhamiyah are indicative of a general trend we see
in our discussions with most Iraqi Sunni Arab contacts.
These meetings, usually with local Sunni Arab leaders,
become embroiled in accounts of arrests and pleas for
support. These contacts are much less interested in national
issues such as elections, SOFA and security.
CROCKER