PRT DIYALA: PROSECUTOR CLAIMS CONFESSION LED TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003065 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/I E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV KTER IZ SUBJECT: PRT DIYALA: PROSECUTOR CLAIMS CONFESSION LED TO RECENT ARREST WARRANTS FOR MP REF: BAGHDAD 2937 Classified By: PRT Diyala Leader Lisa Piascik, Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. This is a PRT Diyala cable. ¶2. (C) Summary: Multiple sources claim that the recent Anti-Terrorism Law-based warrants for Diyala Provincial Council member Hisham al-Hiyali and his wife, Council of Representatives (COR) member Tayseer Mashandani, originate with the un-coerced confession of a fellow Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP) member, Harb Hassan. Despite such claims, Diyala's Governor and Provincial Council Chairman have both publicly and privately called the spate of arrest warrants for Sunni leaders in Diyala politically motivated (reftel). For the moment, the arrest warrants have not been executed ) a fact al-Hiyali attributes to the intervention of the Prime Minister ) but that has not lessened the concern among other Sunni leaders in Diyala that they may be next on the list. The spate of warrants also illustrates how the dismal state of rule of law in Diyala provides opportunities for exploitation by sectarian politics. End summary. Diyala PC Member Al-Hiyali Credits PM for Keeping Him Out of Jail - - - - - - - - ¶3. (C) In a November 7 phone conversation with PRToffs, Diyala Provincial Council member Hisham al-Hiyali noted that his lawyers had followed up on October 24 press announcements of arrest warrants for supporting terrorism against himself and his wife, COR member Tayseer Mashandani, and received confirmation that warrants exist. Al-Hiyali also disclosed that he and his wife met with Prime Minister Maliki to discuss the warrants shortly after they learned of their existence. Al-Hiyali claimed that during the meeting, the Prime Minister said that he would stop the execution of the warrants, but that he could not (or would not) interfere with or revoke the warrants. Al-Hiyali claimed that the timing of the warrants coincided with and is connected to the anniversary of his brother,s death by Shi'a (implied) insurgents (Note: Although PRT is unclear as to the nature of this connection, Al-Hiyala clearly believes that it exists. End Note). Al-Hiyali said the warrant is a result of his efforts to bring his brother's killers to justice. He also noted that he spoke to the Khalis Investigative Judge, Thamir Howdi Khalil al-Ambaki, responsible for the case, but said the conversation yielded little as Judge Thamir noted the case was based on solid evidence from the confession of Harb Hassan (reportedly a fellow member of the IIP) who implicated the couple. Khalis Prosecutor States Confession Led to Arrest Warrants - - - - - - - - ¶4. (C) On November 2, PRToffs met with Khalis Chief Prosecutor Hatim Ibrahim Yousuf and raised the issue of the arrest warrants. Noting the confession of Harb Hassan, Prosecutor Hatim reported that the case began with a complaint filed with the Higher Judicial Council in Baghdad (CCCI),which was subsequently referred to Khalis. Hatim recounted that he had Harb Hassan brought before him and that Harb repeated the confession of three murders he had made earlier to police. The prosecutor said he spoke at length with Harb and was satisfied with the accuracy and voluntariness of the confession, and saw no signs of torture. Hatim alleged that Harb said Mashandani "provided weapons and money," "knows everything about the operation," and "did not want any Shi'a to compete (for elective office) in the area she occupies." As a result of these allegations that she "supported" terrorism, Hatim said Mashandani was charged under Article 4. Initially, the prosecutor made no mention Qunder Article 4. Initially, the prosecutor made no mention of Mashandani's husband, al-Hiyali, but when asked by PRToff about his case, he said, seemingly as an afterthought, "yes, the husband too." Sectarian Bias Suggested By History of Arrest Cases in Khalis - - - - - - - - - ¶5. (C) After describing the case against Mashandani/al-Hiyali, Prosecutor Hatim waxed eloquent about how sectarian issues have no place in law enforcement. (Comment: Substantial factual and anecdotal evidence suggests that Sunnis are disproportionately arrested on Article 4 terrorism charges in Khalis and that arrest of Shi'a elements are rarely if ever pursued. End comment). Questioned about the absence of arrests of Shi,a insurgents, Hatim responded that there "are many cases againt Shi'a." Pressed on this point, he was able to note only one case against "Ghassan." (Comment: Ghassan was a former U.S. Army BAGHDAD 00003065 002 OF 002 interpreter; strong evidence was uncovered tying him to the Mahdi Army. The U.S. facilitated his arrest and since then has exerted pressure on Khalis officials to keep him in jail. It is telling that the only case cited as a Shi'a Terrorism case by Prosecutor Hatim has been driven almost exclusively by the U.S., not the GOI. End comment.) Diyala's Governor Calls Arrest Warrants Politically Motivated - - - - - - - - - ¶6. (C) The wave of arrests and warrants of Sunni leaders in Diyala is frequently featured in the local press and continues to be a topic of discussion among provincial officials. The heightened concerns about these arrests are illustrated by discussions at an October 27 meeting on provincial security, which included U.S. military officers, Provincial Director of Police (PDOP) sMG Abdul Hussein Damook, Iraqi Gound Forces Command (IGFC) Commander LTG Ali Ghedan, Diyala Operations Commander (DOC) sMG Tariq Abed-Alwab Jassim, and Governor Ab-al-Nasr Al Mahdawi. The Governor mentioned the warrant for Tayseer Al Mashandani, and then pointed around the room to indicate that the people present were responsible for what he termed politically motivated charges against members of the Tawafuq coalition. The Provincial Council Chairman, Abd-al-Talib Muhammad Hassan (a Kurd) agreed. In response, the PDOP defended the warrant, saying that the interrogation of Harb Hassan had given just cause for the detention of Mashandani, her husband, and six brothers. LTG Ghedan commented that the arrests of PC members needed to stop and said that he would raise the issue in Baghdad. ¶7. (C) In a November 7 meeting between U.S. military officials and DOC sMG Tariq on the subject of tribal reconciliation, Tariq described a "Warrants Commission" comprising Iraqi Security Forces (ISF),tribal representatives and perhaps Provincial Council representatives to review warrants presented to him as being unsupported by facts. The commission will review available material and make a recommendation to the judge for resolution. When asked whether the warrants of Mashandani and al-Hiyali would be reviewed, Tariq replied that these warrants came from Baghdad and he could not therefore review them. ¶8. (C) Comment: The layers of intrigue that surround who or what may be behind targeted arrest warrants continues to keep Sunni leaders in Diyala fearful that they will be next. The spate of warrants also illustrates how the dismal state of rule of law in Diyala provides opportunities for exploitation by sectarian politics. End Comment. HILL