THREE SHIA LEADERS ARRESTED

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000050 SIPDIS BAGHDAD FOR AMBASSADOR ERELI E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2019 TAGS: PGOV PHUM KISL ASEC BA SUBJECT: THREE SHIA LEADERS ARRESTED REF: A. 08 MANAMA 845 ¶B. 08 MANAMA 593 Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: The government arrested three leaders of the radical Shia Al Haq Movement when they failed to appear for questioning in connection with an alleged bomb plot. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Police arrested Haq Movement leaders Hassan Musheima, Abduljalil Singace, and Mohammed Habib Maqdad in the early hours of January 26 after the three ignored a summons to appear for questioning related to the so-called national day plot (ref A). Several of those accused in the plot stated in controversial televised confessions that Musheima, Singace, and Maqdad were the inspiration for their plan. Chief Prosecutor Nawaf Al Mouada told POLOFF that the GOB intends to question the three about their alleged involvement in the national day plot, evaluate their statements, and decide whether to press charges. In a conversation with RSO, Chief of Public Security Major General Abdul Latif Al Zayani claimed that the GOB had been patient with Musheima and his associates and argued that they had disrespected the legal system by refusing to appear for questioning. ¶3. (SBU) As news of the arrests spread, there were spontaneous demonstrations in a number of Shia areas, including Jid Hafs, Sitra, and Sanabis. Shia youths burned tires and trash dumpsters in Sitra, and several dozen clashed with security forces near Musheima's home in Jid Hafs. ¶4. (C) Leaders of the mainstream Shia Wifaq party met during the afternoon of January 26 but were unable to reach consensus on how to react to the arrests. Our contacts explain that on the one hand, Wifaq will not want to be caught behind the curve if the Shia community rallies behind Musheima, but neither will Wifaq want to inadvertently bolster his standing in the Shia community by appearing too supportive. (Ref B details the rivalry between Haq and Wifaq.) ¶5. (C) Comment: Haq boycotts Bahrain's elections and condemns its constitution as illegitimate. Haq activists claim the three are being persecuted for these militant positions. The GOB maintains that they were arrested for failing to cooperate with an ongoing investigation into a plan to set off IEDs in the capital. ¶6. (C) Comment continued: Most Bahraini Shia are highly skeptical of the GOB's claim that the pipe-bomb plot reported ref A was a large terrorist conspiracy. Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid has assured us that Bahrain's legal system will produce a convincing case that will eventually come out at trial. What we have seen so far of the GOB's case has not been conclusive. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** HENZEL