PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE PRESSES AMBASSADOR ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001814


DEPARTMENT FOR S/WCI, AND NEA/ARP:AMACDONALD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2018
TAGS: PTER KISL PREL PGOV YM
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE PRESSES AMBASSADOR ON
MOAYAD

REF: SANAA 1650

Classified By: Ambassador Stephen A. Seche for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) On November 4, the Ambassador met with a Yemeni
Parliamentary Committee formed to lobby for the immediate
release of accused terrorist financier Sheikh al-Moayad and
his companion Zayed. Members of the committee pointed out
that Moayad is well-regarded in Yemen, with no ties to
terrorist activity.


2. (C) Abdulaziz Jubari of the ruling General People's
Congress (GPC) emphasized that the incarceration of Moayed
can be used by foes of the USG as evidence that the war on
terror is actually a war on Islam. Opposition Islah
Parliamentarian Ahmed al-Khawlani stressed to the Ambassador
that Moayad's health is poor and deteriorating and Ali Ahmed
al-Imrani pointed out that it is important to the bilateral
relationship that he not die in US custody.


3. (U) The Ambassador clarified for the committee the status
of Moayad's case and emphasized that whatever the courts
decide it is unlikely that Moayad would return to Yemen in
the near future.


4. (C) Comment: As we noted in reftel, the decision of the
three-judge appellate panel presents an opportunity to
re-assess the way forward on Moayad's case that best serves
US interests. We believe that the ROYG would accept terms
for Moayad's return to Yemen that would include house arrest.
Given his age and deteriorating health, we believe this
option merits careful consideration, especially in view of
the negative implications were he to die while in U.S.
custody and acquire "martyr" status. At the same time,
given the strong public pressure on President Saleh to
persuade the U.S. to return Moayad to Yemen, we can leverage
agreement to do so for concessions from the ROYG in other key
areas of the bilateral relationship. End Comment.


SECHE