SWEDEN ON PALESTINIAN DETAINEE AT GUANTANAMO

S E C R E T STOCKHOLM 000722

SIPDIS

NEA/IPA FOR SARAH HANKINS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PHUM MOPS KAWK KISL KPAO SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN ON PALESTINIAN DETAINEE AT GUANTANAMO

REF: A. STATE 106853

B. 2007 STOCKHOLM 368

Classified By: POL Counselor Marc Koehler for reasons 1.4 (B) & (D).


1. (S) This is an action request. Please see para 7.


2. (S) Summary: The Swedish Migration Board (SMB) appears
interested in learning more about Detainee 049 based on
comments made in an October 27 meeting with Emboffs. A
"formal" written request is more effective within the Swedish
bureaucracy, according to SMB, and USG agencies should
consider a direct approach to the Swedish Embassy in
Washington, which is authorized to refer cases directly to
the SMB. End Summary.


3. (S) POL Counselor delivered ref A demarche on October 14
to MFA Americas' Desk Officer Jemina Holmberg and MFA's
Security Policy Division Director Nils Daag. Both pledged to
brief the request up their chains as there would be
"political interest" in such a case. Holmberg contacted us
on October 15 and reported that we should also meet with the
independent SMB, which would have primary responsibility for
processing such a request.


4. (S) POL Counselor and Poloff met with the SMB's Chief of
the Asylum and Refugee Unit Oscar Ekblad and Senior Refugee
Quota Coordinator Ruben Ahlvin to deliver ref A demarche on
October 27. Ekblad responded that the SMB is bound by law to
accept references only from the UNHCR or Swedish embassies,
although in "extremely special" cases, the Government could
direct the independent SMB to consider a specific request.
(Comment: Despite MFA interlocutors telling us in the past
that it would be "difficult" to intervene "politically" with
the work of the SMB, as in ref B, Ekblad explicitly noted
that possibility. Accordingly, we will look for an
opportunity to raise the matter again at senior levels with
the Government. End comment.) On his way out the door,
Ekblad pointedly reiterated that a Swedish embassy overseas
was authorized to submit a request to the SMB, and in
response to a question, he affirmed that the Swedish Embassy
in Washington could directly refer a request for a Guantanamo
detainee.


5. (S) Ekblad also stated that he would report our demarche
on Detainee 049 to Carin Bratt, Deputy Director for Migration
and Asylum Issues in the Ministry of Justice, during a
meeting scheduled for October 28. He indicated that if this
case were to "proceed," a follow-up face-to-face meeting
between Emboffs and MoJ would most likely be necessary. He
indicated that a "formal" request in writing would be more
effective than past "informal" approaches related to other
Guantanamo detainees. In that context, he asked for Post to
obtain information, preferably in writing, about why Detainee
049 could not be returned to Gaza and what the risk of
persecution would be for him there. While Ekblad stopped
short of asking for additional information on the detainee
himself pending the outcome of his meeting at MoJ, he stated
that the Swedish Security Police, SAPO, would need such --
including any ties to political organizations -- to be able
to run background checks.


6. (S) Ahlvin and Ekblad noted that Sweden has never accepted
Guantanamo detainees before, and noted the "sensitive" case
of Adil Hakimjan, an ethnic Uighur who had been resettled in
Albania but applied for asylum in Sweden several months ago.
Because he had already obtained residency in Albania, his
application was denied in June and his appeal was denied this
month. Nonetheless, there has been "public outcry" over the
denial, which could "inform the environment" in which this
request is received. Therefore, while the case of Detainee
049 will be considered in a "friendly environment," in light
of the current situation, it could still be a "hard sell"
that would need "political support," Ekblad said.


7. (S) Comment and Action Request: Ekblad indirectly but
repeatedly suggested that Washington agencies request the
Swedish Embassy to consider Detainee 049 for asylum in
Sweden. Any such request should be "formal" and preferably
in writing, he implied. He also asked for additional
information, in written form, on the reasons for Detainee
049's fear of persecution in Gaza.

-- Action request 1: Post suggests Washington agencies
consider a direct approach to the Swedish mission in
Washington regarding Detainee 049.

-- Action request 2: Post requests Department provide
additional information on risks of persecution Detainee 049
might face in Gaza.

End Comment and Action Request.
WOOD