36 MEK DETAINEES TRANSFERRED TO MUTHANNA AIRFIELD

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002678

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y SUBJECT LINE - 1ST/2ND PARAGRAPH

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2019
TAGS: PTER PREF PREL PINR IR IZ
SUBJECT: 36 MEK DETAINEES TRANSFERRED TO MUTHANNA AIRFIELD

Classified By: Acting DCM Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The GOI tells us that the 36 Mujahideen
al-Khalq (MEK) detainees arrested at Camp Ashraf on July 28
have been moved to a detention facility at Muthanna Airfield in
Baghdad pursuant to a deportation order issued on October 1 declaring
them illegally present in the country. An earlier court had
recently issued an order dropping criminal charges and
requiring release of all thirty-six individuals, and the GOI
is currently appealing that decision before the Court of
Cassation. END SUMMARY.

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GOI Sends MEK 36 to Muthanna
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2. (C) On October 4, Pol M/C met with Ali al-Yassery, the
head of the GOI's Ashraf Committee (and a close relative of
the PM),who stated that the 36 MEK detainees arrested on
July 28 had been transferred from Freedom Base inside the
International Zone of Baghdad to a MOD detention facility at
Muthanna Airfield in Baghdad on that same day. Yassery said
that the Residency Directorate in Baghdad issued an order
October 1 declaring that the 36 detainees had no right to
stay in Iraq and should be deported as soon as a third country
could be found to accept them. Yassery also said that detention
orders for the 36 detainees had been issued and are renewable
every 15 days. Yassery confirmed that the Muthanna facility
is a military prison with a hospital.


3. (C) Prior to their transfer to Muthana, UNAMI and Ministry
of Human Rights representatives visited the 36 detainees in
Baghdad. UNAMI Human Rights Officer Scott Gracie told Poloff
that the detainees had access to food, beds, blankets, and
medical attention and were allowed to move around the
facility. One detainee had a broken arm, suffered when he
attempted to resist the GOI's decision to transfer the
detainees from Khalis prison to Baghdad. Minister of Human
Rights Wijdan Selim told Poloff on October 4 that the
detainees appeared weak as a result of their prolonged hunger
strike and expressed concern about the public diplomacy
ramifications if any were to die while in GOI custody. Selim
also stated that the detention facility in Muthanna was of a
higher standard than most detention facilities in Iraq and
that the detainees are being held separately from the general
prison population and being monitored closely.

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Proposed Press Guidance
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4. (SBU) With respect to the status of the 36 MEK detainees,
post recommends the following talking points on an if asked
basis only:

--GOI officials have confirmed that there is a valid legal
detention order in effect for these 36 individuals. We have
no reason to believe that the GOI is acting outside of its
assurances to treat these individuals humanely and in
accordance with Iraq's Constitution, laws, and international
obligations.
HILL