(C) UAE CONTINUES TO INVESTIGATE SHEIKH ISSA TORTURE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000695 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DRL, NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: 07/06/2019 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL AE SUBJECT: (C) UAE CONTINUES TO INVESTIGATE SHEIKH ISSA TORTURE Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). REFS: A) ABU DHABI 553 B) ABU DHABI 481 C) ABU DHABI 423 ¶1. (SBU) The Abu Dhabi Prosecution Office announced July 7 that it is investigating "those involved" in the widely broadcast video tape showing Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, seventh son of UAE founder Sheikh Zayed, torturing an Afghan grain dealer (reftels). As with past announcements on this case, the brief statement was carried in the English-language media and did not appear in the Arabic press. ¶2. (SBU) As released by the UAE press agency WAM, the announcement from the Abu Dhabi prosecutor's office emphasized that the purpose of the ongoing criminal investigation was to uncover violations of the "common rights and the rights of all individuals" involved in this case. It noted that Sheikh Issa's lawyer, Habib Al Mulla, is following the investigation. ¶3. (C) Comment. This new UAEG statement echoed what was said private to Ambassador in conversations last month with Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed, Deputy PM and Minister of Interior Sheikh Saif, and other senior UAEG officials: that despite Sheikh Issa's royal status,, the UAEG is pursuing the case and that Sheikh Issa "is just a citizen" to whom all laws apply (refs A and B). Concerned with its international reputation, and with a close eye on its image, unanimity within the UAEG/royal family continues in projecting determination to see the case through. End Comment.