REACTIONS TO CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS BRIEFING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000742 SIPDIS BAGHDAD FOR AMBASSADOR ERELI E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2018 TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM BA SUBJECT: REACTIONS TO CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS BRIEFING REF: A. MANAMA 681 ¶B. MANAMA 592 Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Sunni community leaders are angry over a Capitol Hill briefing presented by a leader of the Shi'a Haq movement. Haq's prestige on the Shi'a street has shot up. The mainstream Shi'a Wifaq party will try to regain lost ground by criticizing the government more energetically over sectarian discrimination. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The briefing by three Bahraini Shi'a activists (ref A) to the Congressional Human Rights Caucus (CHRC) on October 15 has become the topic of heated discussion in Bahrain. Much of the Sunni community is upset at the presence before Congress of Abduljalil Singace of the Haq movement, which opposes participation in elections and inspires many of the Shi'a youth who regularly skirmish with police. Sunni leaders from government, politics, and civil society complained that the Caucus should have sought out activists from the Bahraini mainstream, or at least granted the Bahraini Ambassador's request to speak. Many Shi'a on the other hand, have praised Haq's role in the briefing. "Bahrain = Darfur of the Gulf" -------------- ¶3. (C) Immediately following the Hill briefing the activists participated in a demonstration in front of the Bahraini embassy. Photos of the demonstration are circulating widely by e-mail here in Bahrain; one, posted on the BCHR website, shows Singace holding a sign reading "Bahrain = Darfur of the Gulf", another shows a demonstrator holding a sign reading "King Hitler bin Isa Al Khalifa," which particularly outraged many of our Sunni contacts. Two Ministers Express Concern -------------- ¶4. (C) Minister of Commerce Hassan Fakhro, who often passes us messages to and from the King, called CDA on October 19 to tell him of the GOB's "deep concern" about the briefing. Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmad Al Khalifah told CDA October 22 that the briefings "lacked balance" and that the reported refusal of CHRC co-chairman Representative Frank Wolf or his staff to meet with Bahrain's Ambassador was "unfair." The FM admitted that "sectarian discrimination is present," in Bahrain, but claimed the briefers exaggerated the problem. He asserted that the GOB tries hard to guarantee individual rights. Like the U.S., he said, Bahrain will need time to overcome discrimination in its society. ¶5. (SBU) CDA responded to both Fakhro and Shaikh Khalid that members of Congress and their staff spoke for themselves, while the Department's view on this issue is set out in detail in our human rights and IRF reports. CDA undertook to report their concerns to Washington. U.S. a "snake", "enemy" -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Both of the Sunni Islamist parties that make up the government's majority in the elected lower house of parliament publicly denounced the U.S. over the briefing. Abdullatif Al Shaikh, Secretary General of the Minbar Islamic Society, told media the three briefers "are deluded if they think this snake (i.e., the USG) will defend their freedoms." Asala MP Adel Al Ma'awda told newspapers that "it is very strange that some Bahrainis run towards America, the enemy of the Muslim and Arab World." ¶7. (SBU) Other Sunnis also piled on. In his published Friday sermon, moderate Sunni cleric Salah Al Jowder denounced Congress for "meddling in the internal affairs of the country." Faisal Fulad, Shura council member and newly elected president of the Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society, complained to poloff that other briefers should have been invited to present a balanced picture. Many Shi'a Pleased; Wifaq Not to Be Outdone by Singace -------------- -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Many Shi'a have endorsed the briefing. In his Friday sermon on October 17, Hameed Al Mubarak, a senior Shi'a Sharia court judge, said that "the nation's awareness is enhanced by a good sense of criticism and how the nation handles this criticism." Wifaq MP Sayed Jameel Kadhem on MANAMA 00000742 002 OF 002 October 17 told reporters that Bahrainis sought help from abroad because "they have found no alternative internally," despite "obvious" religious and sectarian discrimination. ¶9. (SBU) The briefing made Haq the heroes of the hour with the Shi'a street. Reflecting Wifaq's competition with Haq, Wifaq MP Jassim Husain told poloff that Wifaq plans to expand its international outreach to Europe and Asia. He said Wifaq will also make sure discrimination is a leading issue in the session of parliament that began October 19. ¶10. (SBU) Comment: In the past, Singace has earned a reputation as an exaggerator, and more measured Shi'a activists have worried that he would damage the credibility of all Shi'a campaigners here. For example, Singace and Haq continue to charge the GOB with faking the death in April of a policeman at the hands of Shi'a rioters; he also claims that last December the GOB killed a Shi'a rioter who, according to an independent autopsy report, died of natural causes. Nevertheless, there is undoubtedly societal and governmental discrimination against Shi'a in Bahrain, as we report each year in the Human Rights and Religious Freedom reports. With limited numbers of wise community leaders on each side of the sectarian line, it will be a challenge to address the problem. Wild allegations and "King Hitler" banners feed Sunni fear of the Shi'a majority. ¶11. (SBU) Comment, continued: Most Shi'a credit Haq with a great victory for Shi'a rights. Wifaq will now dial up the stridency of its own message in order not to be outdone. End Comment. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** HENZEL