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### Viewing cable 08MANAMA742, REACTIONS TO CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS BRIEFING

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08MANAMA742 | 2008-10-29 06:31 | 2011-05-04 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Manama

Appears in these articles:
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9115
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9116
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9117
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9118
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9119
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9120
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9121
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9122
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9123
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9124
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9125
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9126
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9127
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9128
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9122
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9129
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9131
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9562
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9952
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9950
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9951
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9954
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/9953

`

    VZCZCXRO7606
    PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
    DE RUEHMK #0742/01 3030631
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 290631Z OCT 08
    FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8226
    INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0308
    RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT  PRIORITY
    RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000742

    SIPDIS

    BAGHDAD FOR AMBASSADOR ERELI

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2018
    TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM BA
    SUBJECT: REACTIONS TO CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS BRIEFING

    REF: A. MANAMA 681
    ¶B. MANAMA 592

    Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

    ¶1. (C) Summary: Sunni community leaders are angry over a
    Capitol Hill briefing presented by a leader of the Shi'a Haq
    movement. Haq's prestige on the Shi'a street has shot up.
    The mainstream Shi'a Wifaq party will try to regain lost
    ground by criticizing the government more energetically over
    sectarian discrimination. End Summary.

    ¶2. (C) The briefing by three Bahraini Shi'a activists (ref A)
    to the Congressional Human Rights Caucus (CHRC) on October 15
    has become the topic of heated discussion in Bahrain. Much
    of the Sunni community is upset at the presence before
    Congress of Abduljalil Singace of the Haq movement, which
    opposes participation in elections and inspires many of the
    Shi'a youth who regularly skirmish with police. Sunni
    leaders from government, politics, and civil society
    complained that the Caucus should have sought out activists
    from the Bahraini mainstream, or at least granted the
    Bahraini Ambassador's request to speak. Many Shi'a on the
    other hand, have praised Haq's role in the briefing.

    "Bahrain = Darfur of the Gulf"
    ------------------------------

    ¶3. (C) Immediately following the Hill briefing the activists
    participated in a demonstration in front of the Bahraini
    embassy. Photos of the demonstration are circulating widely
    by e-mail here in Bahrain; one, posted on the BCHR website,
    shows Singace holding a sign reading "Bahrain = Darfur of the
    Gulf", another shows a demonstrator holding a sign reading
    "King Hitler bin Isa Al Khalifa," which particularly outraged
    many of our Sunni contacts.

    Two Ministers Express Concern
    -----------------------------

    ¶4. (C) Minister of Commerce Hassan Fakhro, who often passes
    us messages to and from the King, called CDA on October 19 to
    tell him of the GOB's "deep concern" about the briefing.
    Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmad Al Khalifah told CDA
    October 22 that the briefings "lacked balance" and that the
    reported refusal of CHRC co-chairman Representative Frank
    Wolf or his staff to meet with Bahrain's Ambassador was
    "unfair." The FM admitted that "sectarian discrimination is
    present," in Bahrain, but claimed the briefers exaggerated
    the problem. He asserted that the GOB tries hard to
    guarantee individual rights. Like the U.S., he said, Bahrain
    will need time to overcome discrimination in its society.

    ¶5. (SBU) CDA responded to both Fakhro and Shaikh Khalid that
    members of Congress and their staff spoke for themselves,
    while the Department's view on this issue is set out in
    detail in our human rights and IRF reports. CDA undertook to
    report their concerns to Washington.

    U.S. a "snake", "enemy"
    -----------------------

    ¶6. (SBU) Both of the Sunni Islamist parties that make up the
    government's majority in the elected lower house of
    parliament publicly denounced the U.S. over the briefing.
    Abdullatif Al Shaikh, Secretary General of the Minbar Islamic
    Society, told media the three briefers "are deluded if they
    think this snake (i.e., the USG) will defend their freedoms."
    Asala MP Adel Al Ma'awda told newspapers that "it is very
    strange that some Bahrainis run towards America, the enemy of
    the Muslim and Arab World."

    ¶7. (SBU) Other Sunnis also piled on. In his published Friday
    sermon, moderate Sunni cleric Salah Al Jowder denounced
    Congress for "meddling in the internal affairs of the
    country." Faisal Fulad, Shura council member and newly
    elected president of the Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society,
    complained to poloff that other briefers should have been
    invited to present a balanced picture.

    Many Shi'a Pleased; Wifaq Not to Be Outdone by Singace
    --------------------------------------------- ---------

    ¶8. (SBU) Many Shi'a have endorsed the briefing. In his
    Friday sermon on October 17, Hameed Al Mubarak, a senior
    Shi'a Sharia court judge, said that "the nation's awareness
    is enhanced by a good sense of criticism and how the nation
    handles this criticism." Wifaq MP Sayed Jameel Kadhem on

    MANAMA 00000742 002 OF 002

    October 17 told reporters that Bahrainis sought help from
    abroad because "they have found no alternative internally,"
    despite "obvious" religious and sectarian discrimination.

    ¶9. (SBU) The briefing made Haq the heroes of the hour with
    the Shi'a street. Reflecting Wifaq's competition with Haq,
    Wifaq MP Jassim Husain told poloff that Wifaq plans to expand
    its international outreach to Europe and Asia. He said Wifaq
    will also make sure discrimination is a leading issue in the
    session of parliament that began October 19.

    ¶10. (SBU) Comment: In the past, Singace has earned a
    reputation as an exaggerator, and more measured Shi'a
    activists have worried that he would damage the credibility
    of all Shi'a campaigners here. For example, Singace and Haq
    continue to charge the GOB with faking the death in April of
    a policeman at the hands of Shi'a rioters; he also claims
    that last December the GOB killed a Shi'a rioter who,
    according to an independent autopsy report, died of natural
    causes. Nevertheless, there is undoubtedly societal and
    governmental discrimination against Shi'a in Bahrain, as we
    report each year in the Human Rights and Religious Freedom
    reports. With limited numbers of wise community leaders on
    each side of the sectarian line, it will be a challenge to
    address the problem. Wild allegations and "King Hitler"
    banners feed Sunni fear of the Shi'a majority.

    ¶11. (SBU) Comment, continued: Most Shi'a credit Haq with a
    great victory for Shi'a rights. Wifaq will now dial up the
    stridency of its own message in order not to be outdone. End
    Comment.

    ********************************************* ********
    Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
    http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
    ********************************************* ********
    HENZEL

`