UPDATE ON ARREST OF PROMINENT TRIBAL LEADER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 001599 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/17/2019 TAGS: PHUM PGOV IZ SUBJECT: UPDATE ON ARREST OF PROMINENT TRIBAL LEADER REF: A. BAGHDAD 1546 ¶B. BAGHDAD 1294 ¶C. BAGHDAD 64 Classified By: Acting Political Counselor John G. Fox for reasons 1.4 ( b) and (d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) On June 9, Emboffs conducted a follow-up visit to detainee Sheikh Mutlab al-Massari, a prominent West Baghdad Sunni tribal leader and SOI affiliate who had close cooperation with the Embassy, the Baghdad PRT, and the U.S. Military. As outlined ref B, Mutlab's case is significant in that it highlights many systemic problems in Iraq, from the gulf of distrust between Sunnis and the Shi'a-dominated government, to the slow vagaries of the judicial system, to substandard and inhumane conditions at MOD detention facilities. Mutlab is being held by the Iraqi Army 56th Brigade - a special army unit that reports directly to PM Maliki, on suspicion of involvement with the illegal "New Ba'th Party." Our conversation with Mutlab was brief and closely monitored by the Iraqis. Mutlab had lost weight and appeared haggard but in fair health. The 56th Brigade officers declined to identify themselves or offer any substantive information, even claiming they had no idea whether 50 or 1000 prisoners were held at the detention facility. U.S. military officers who have seen the facility described it as severely overcrowded. End summary. -------------- -------------- In the hands of Maliki's Special "Baghdad Brigade" -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) On June 9, Emboffs visited detainee Sheikh Mutlab al-Massari, a prominent Sunni tribal leader, SOI affiliate, and close Embassy and U.S. military contact. He was detained on May 12, apparently on suspicion of connections to the "New Ba'th Party" (reftel). Massari is being held at Camp Honor in the International Zone, in the detention facility of the Iraqi Army's 56th Brigade, also known as the "Baghdad Brigade," which reports directly to Prime Minister Maliki, outside of the Ministry of Defense chain of command. ¶3. (C) Some Iraqi critics have denounced the 56th Brigade as Maliki's personal "Republican Guard," structured to protect the PM against coups and political threats to his regime. (Comment: Unlike most other IA units, no U.S. training or advisory unit is attached to the 56th brigade. This is apparently a purposeful firewall established by Maliki and his advisors to avoid U.S. scrutiny of this unit's activities. End comment.) ¶4. (C) Upon arrival at the 56th Brigade facility, Emboffs were greeted by four Iraqi Army officers led by an obese man wearing General's insignia, and a fifth Iraqi wearing civilian attire. Each declined to identify themselves, and the officers did not wear standard name plaques on their army uniforms. The Iraqis confirmed Mutlab was being held on suspicion of links with the Ba'th Party, but suggested that he had not been formally charged. (Note: We understand Mutlab was arrested when his name was found on a list in the home of a person suspected of links to the New Ba'th Party. Mutlab and his family believe this person was also associated with former PM Allawi's Iraqiya Party and suspect the seized list was one of Iraqiya members, which included Mutlab. End note.) -------------- Due Process -------------- ¶5. (C) When Emboffs asked about Mutlab's access to legal counsel, the Iraqis told us he had been assigned a court-appointed lawyer. Emboffs asked if we could provide Mutlab's case number to the private attorney Mutlab's family had hired, the Iraqis flatly claimed "there is no case number." The Iraqis did not appear versed in the next legal Qnumber." The Iraqis did not appear versed in the next legal steps in Mutlab's case. The Iraqis were either intentionally obtuse or ignorant about the legal process. When asked for the next steps in the case, they simply told us "the courts will decide." (Note: We understand Central Criminal Court Judge Saad Lamie has led the investigation, which is still pending. End note.) ¶6. (C) Noting that Mutlab's family had not seen him since his transfer to the 56th Brigade Facility on May 25, Emboffs asked how the family could arrange a visit. The Iraqi officials said a schedule for family visits would be established within a week. (Note: We understand families are BAGHDAD 00001599 002 OF 003 routinely denied access to prisoners at this facility, in spite of a court order mandating them. End note.) The Iraqis ignored Emboffs' follow up question about a point of contact for family visits. -------------- The Detainee -------------- ¶7. (C) Our 15-minute discussion with Mutlab was closely monitored by the five Iraqis. When Mutlab was brought into the room, he initially looked terrified by the sight of the Iraqis. Recognizing his Embassy contacts across the room, he burst into tears, but quickly regained his composure. ¶8. (C) Mutlab appeared in reasonable health, but had lost weight and was haggard. There were no outward physical signs of abuse, but he was quite emotional at the beginning of the meeting. He said he was being well kept (in air conditioning) and well fed, and that he was being given medicine for kidney stones. His clothes were uncharacteristically dirty and, while not filthy, he was not especially clean. (We doubt that his prison room is air conditioned.) At the conclusion of the brief visit, Emboffs saw Mutlab blindfolded, handcuffed, and locked in a steel container with no windows or apparent ventilation, and mounted on the back of a truck for transport back to the prison. -------------- A Severely Overcrowded Facility -------------- ¶9. (C) We did not see the actual detention facilities; the meeting took place in the 56th Brigade office. When we asked the officers how many prisoners were held at the facility, they claimed ignorance. When asked if there were "50, 100, 500, or 1000?" prisoners in the facility, the Iraqis said they had no idea. U.S. military officers who have seen the 56th Brigade facility report that the conditions raise serious humanitarian concerns - the facility, holding 162 prisoners in a recent count, is "severely overpopulated," with 4-5 men held in cells measuring 30 square feet and 15 men held in cells measuring 75 square feet. The facility is co-located with a detention center controlled by the Counterterrorism Bureau, which also reports directly to the Prime Minister's office and has been accused of engaging in sectarian and politically motivated activities on behalf of the PM (ref C). -------------- Family Frustrated -------------- ¶10. (C) Poloffs met on June 15 with two of Mutlab's adult sons, one an Iraqi Army lieutenant the other an officer in the National Police. They underlined their frustration at their inability to visit their father at the 56th Brigade facility, and the family lawyer's inability to obtain any information related to the case against him, and their inability to talk to any officials involved in the procedures. Poloffs underlined that while the Embassy and U.S. Military remain very concerned about Mutlab's case, and would remain engaged on the matter, our leverage was limited. Poloffs urged that the family exploit all possible Iraqi channels in his defense. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶11. (C) Our Iraqi hosts from the 56th Brigade were discomforted by our presence and eager to see us go. We understand our request to see Mutlab required the Prime Minister's personal approval, and that it sat on his desk for eight days before he agreed. Mutlab's case underscores the grave problems posed by Ministry of Defense detention operations. The Ministry of Defense is equipped neither to carry out criminal investigations, which are the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior, nor to house detainees, a responsibility entrusted by law to the Ministry of Justice. That Camp Honor exists within the International Qof Justice. That Camp Honor exists within the International Zone is particularly worrisome. Those detained by the Ministry of Defense are likely to experience severe overcrowding, denial of visits with family and legal counsel, and slow judicial process. ¶12. (C) The U.S. Mission is actively addressing these human rights issues with the GOI, pressing for improvements in both legal procedures and detention conditions, and providing resources to these ends. Specifically, taking advantage of growing domestic complaints about detainees caught in limbo (ref A),the Embassy is stepping up pressure on the GOI to BAGHDAD 00001599 003 OF 003 transfer all prisoners from MOD custody to MOJ custody, and to either charge or release those held. End comment. FORD