Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DAMASCUS433
2009-06-22 14:02:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:
FREEDOMHOUSE SEEKING TO FUND HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHDM #0433 1731402 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 221402Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6510 INFO RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 5180 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0609 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0578 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T DAMASCUS 000433
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/PI, DRL/NESCA
LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR WALLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM SY
SUBJECT: FREEDOMHOUSE SEEKING TO FUND HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER
REF: A. DAMASCUS 00129
B. DAMASCUS 00210
C. DAMASCUS 00306
Classified By: CDA Maura Connelly for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
S E C R E T DAMASCUS 000433
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/PI, DRL/NESCA
LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR WALLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM SY
SUBJECT: FREEDOMHOUSE SEEKING TO FUND HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER
REF: A. DAMASCUS 00129
B. DAMASCUS 00210
C. DAMASCUS 00306
Classified By: CDA Maura Connelly for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) This is an action request, see para 6.
2. (S/NF) The well-known Damascus-based human rights lawyer
Muhanad al-Hasani (strictly protect) reported to us on June
17 that Marwan Malouf, who identified himself as a
representative of Freedomhouse, had visited Syria recently
and offered al-Hasani $5,000 in support of his legal work for
human rights and civil society activists. Mr. Malouf also
reportedly told al-Hasani to forward names of any families of
incarcerated civil society activists who might require
financial assistance.
3. (S/NF) According to al-Hasani, Malouf said Freedomhouse
needed a third-party to route the money to al-Hasani and
asked if he knew someone trustworthy to courier the money
into Syria. After Malouf's departure, and after al-Hasani
had determined Freedomhouse was a legitimate NGO, al-Hasani
identified an individual to Malouf who was willing to carry
the funds into the country. Al-Hasani also requested
additional funds for the family of the recently jailed
web-journalist Habib Saleh (ref B).
4. (S/NF) Al-Hasani contacted us to find out if he would be
safe in accepting these funds. Following the Habib Saleh
trial, al-Hasani had experienced intense pressure from state
security services who deemed him to be too much of an
"activist," sometimes calling him in for questioning twice a
day.
5. (S/NF) COMMENT: Post was unaware Freedomhouse had an
operation of this sort targeting human rights activists in
Syria. We informed al-Hasani that accepting money for human
rights work from any international source always carried
risks in Syria and that we would look into the matter. END
COMMENT.
6. (S/NF) Action Request: Post requests any information the
Department has on Freedomhouse's work in Syria and whether
USG funds are involved. Additionally, if so, is
Freedomhouse's operation consistent with Department's review
of Syria policy as recommended in refs A and C.
CONNELLY
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/PI, DRL/NESCA
LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR WALLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM SY
SUBJECT: FREEDOMHOUSE SEEKING TO FUND HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER
REF: A. DAMASCUS 00129
B. DAMASCUS 00210
C. DAMASCUS 00306
Classified By: CDA Maura Connelly for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) This is an action request, see para 6.
2. (S/NF) The well-known Damascus-based human rights lawyer
Muhanad al-Hasani (strictly protect) reported to us on June
17 that Marwan Malouf, who identified himself as a
representative of Freedomhouse, had visited Syria recently
and offered al-Hasani $5,000 in support of his legal work for
human rights and civil society activists. Mr. Malouf also
reportedly told al-Hasani to forward names of any families of
incarcerated civil society activists who might require
financial assistance.
3. (S/NF) According to al-Hasani, Malouf said Freedomhouse
needed a third-party to route the money to al-Hasani and
asked if he knew someone trustworthy to courier the money
into Syria. After Malouf's departure, and after al-Hasani
had determined Freedomhouse was a legitimate NGO, al-Hasani
identified an individual to Malouf who was willing to carry
the funds into the country. Al-Hasani also requested
additional funds for the family of the recently jailed
web-journalist Habib Saleh (ref B).
4. (S/NF) Al-Hasani contacted us to find out if he would be
safe in accepting these funds. Following the Habib Saleh
trial, al-Hasani had experienced intense pressure from state
security services who deemed him to be too much of an
"activist," sometimes calling him in for questioning twice a
day.
5. (S/NF) COMMENT: Post was unaware Freedomhouse had an
operation of this sort targeting human rights activists in
Syria. We informed al-Hasani that accepting money for human
rights work from any international source always carried
risks in Syria and that we would look into the matter. END
COMMENT.
6. (S/NF) Action Request: Post requests any information the
Department has on Freedomhouse's work in Syria and whether
USG funds are involved. Additionally, if so, is
Freedomhouse's operation consistent with Department's review
of Syria policy as recommended in refs A and C.
CONNELLY