AMBASSADOR PRESSES NEW JUSTICE MINISTER ON TIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000686 SIPDIS NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018 TAGS: PGOV PTER PINR GTIP KTFN KHUM KU SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES NEW JUSTICE MINISTER ON TIP LEGISLATION, STATUS OF GOK REHABILITATION CENTER REF: KUWAIT 502 Classified By: Political Counselor Pete O'Donohue for reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (C) Summary: During a cordial July 8 introductory meeting, Ambassador raised Kuwait's Tier III Trafficking in Persons (TIP) status with newly-appointed Minister of Justice Rashed Al-Hammad and outlined steps the GOK should take to address outstanding TIP concerns. Ambassador also queried the Minister on the expected completion date of Kuwait's rehabilitation facility for individuals detained for involvement in extremist activities. The Kuwaiti side in turn sought an update on the official USG response to the GOK's latest inputs on a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT). While still learning his portfolio, the Minister agreed on the need to press for the National Assembly's passage of TIP legislation. He had not yet visited the rehabilitation center. End summary. -------------- TIP -------------- ¶2. (C) During a July 8 introductory call on newly appointed Minister of Justice, Awqaf, and Islamic Affairs Rashed Abdul Mohsen Al-Hammad, the Ambassador thanked the Minister for his Ministry's ongoing cooperation with the Embassy on TIP issues and outlined steps the USG believes the GOK should take to address outstanding TIP concerns, namely: enact an anti-TIP law; step up TIP prosecutions; complete a permanent 700-bed shelter for domestic workers; and provide TIP training within Kuwait to police officers, judges, and others working with TIP issues. While initially adopting the familiar GOK refrain that slavery and human trafficking are already forbidden by Islam and therefore already covered by Kuwaiti sharia law, the Minister eventually conceded that TIP is a significant social problem of global concern. Prompted by the MOJ's Assistant Undersecretary for International Relations Dr. Mohammad Al-Ansari, who was also present at the meeting, the Minister noted that Kuwait in fact had chosen to move ahead on TIP legislation rather than awaiting the promulgation of a GCC-wide anti-TIP law, in the interest of time. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador expressed appreciation to Al-Hammad for statistics on TIP-related prosecutions provided to the Embassy in May by the Ministry of Justice, which were included in our most recent TIP report, and encouraged him to continue such cooperation in the future. When the Ambassador asked about the status of the anti-TIP draft bill, which was approved by Kuwait's Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee two weeks ago as reported in the press, the Minister's assistant said that the bill would be voted on by Kuwait's parliament when it re-convened in late October. The Ambassador strongly encouraged the Minister to push for the bill's passage. -------------- GTMO Detainees and Kuwait's Rehabilitation Center -------------- ¶4. (C) Acknowledging the Minister's previous involvement in GTMO matters (Note: He was the judge in Kuwait's Court of Cassation who released two of the previous detainees, citing lack of evidence. End note.),Ambassador sought an update on Kuwait's rehabilitation center to receive individuals detained for having engaged in extremist activities, noting she had visited the facility three weeks earlier (reftel). While the Minister was aware of the inter-ministerial committee established in connection with the rehab center, he was unfamiliar with its particulars. Al-Ansari said the Minister was to have visited the rehab center "today" but had canceled to meet instead with the Ambassador. -------------- Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty -------------- ¶5. (C) Al-Ansari then asked the status of the U.S. response to the GOK's feedback on a proposed Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) (Note: Which would be the United States' first MLAT with a GCC country. End note.). The Embassy later KUWAIT 00000686 002 OF 002 transmitted to the MFA October dates proposed by Washington for formal MLAT negotiations. The Minister expressed hope this important step could be highlighted during the Amir's upcoming visit. -------------- Bio Note -------------- ¶6. (C) The Minister acknowledged Kuwait's close relations with Washington and urged that they continue. From 2002 until his appointment to the cabinet in May 2009, Al-Hammad was Deputy Chief of Kuwait's Court of Cassation (the equivalent of the U.S. Supreme Court). While he was on the Court of Cassation in February 2008, the court overturned the convictions of two former GTMO detainees: Omar Rajab Amin (ISN 065) and Abdullah Kamel Abdullah Kamel al-Kandari (ISN 228). The Minister does not appear to speak English, nor does he shake hands with women. ********************************************* ********* For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: visit Kuwait's Classified Website at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it ********************************************* ********* JONES