VZCZCXRO1872
RR RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHNE #0839/01 0511153
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201153Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3197
INFO RUEHYY/GENEVA CD COLLECTIVE
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0043
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0267
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 8153
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 8995
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 8695
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0158

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000839 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/A LIZ HARRIS; EMBASSY CAIRO FOR REGIONAL 
REFCOORD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREL IN IZ
SUBJECT: REFUGEE ADMISSIONS REFERRAL: DHIA NOOR MOWAFAK 
 
 
NEW DELHI 00000839  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Embassy New Delhi refers the following former 
translator for the U.S. military to the U.S. refugee 
admissions program (USRAP).  Below is biographic information 
of the principal applicant and dependents, a description of 
the persecution claim, his current economic means and health 
conditions, and justification for recommending him for the 
USRAP. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) 
 
Principal applicant (PA): 
 
NAME: Dhia Noor Mowafak 
DOB:  2 December 1964 
POB:  Baghdad 
GENDER: Male 
MARITAL STATUS: Married 
 
Dependents: 
 
NAME:  Tahrir Magada Marof 
DOB:   10 October 1973 
GENDER: Female 
MARITAL STATUS: Married 
RELATION TO PA: Wife 
 
NAME:  Ranya Dhia Noor 
DOB:   1993 
GENDER: Female 
MARITAL STATUS:  Unmarried 
RELATION TO PA:  Daughter 
 
NAME:  Dhia Noor 
DOB:   1995 
GENDER: Male 
MARITAL STATUS:  Unmarried 
RELATION TO PA:  Son 
 
NAME:  Abdul Rahan 
DOB:   2000 
GENDER: Male 
MARITAL STATUS:  Unmarried 
RELATION TO PA:  Son 
 
¶3.  Description of persecution claim, as presented by PA via 
telcon and emails:  Dhia Noor Mowafak served as an 
interpreter with the U.S. army in Baghdad for three years. 
He claims that, starting in early 2006, a group of men 
wearing black clothes who carried machine guns visited his 
home approximately five or six times and threatened to kill 
him.  He could not identify the group.  The first time, the 
black-clad group came to his house and said something to the 
effect of, "We know you.  You are working for the U.S. Army. 
You are Palestinian.  We are going to kill you." 
Approximately one month later, they returned to his house and 
threatened him again.  Following the second visit, Dhia Noor 
Mowafak's youngest son (six years old) was kidnapped from 
school.  Mowafak spent about 40 days looking for his son 
before the kidnappers demanded a ransom of about 
75,000-80,000 USD.  Mr. Mowafak said that he used all of his 
savings and borrowed the rest of the money from 
friends/family.  He was instructed to meet the kidnappers at 
a particular place and hand over the money, which he did. 
His son was returned alive.  Again, he could not identify the 
kidnappers.  At this point, Dhia Noor Mowafak started looking 
for ways to escape from Iraq.  He said that he could not 
return to Palestine because he was born in Baghdad. 
Eventually, the harassment escalated and "they took my money, 
took my home, and my family was forced to leave with only the 
clothes on their backs."  He paid someone a fee to secure 
transportation out of Iraq - and arrived in India in December 
¶2006. 
 
¶4.  PolOff has spoken with Dhia Noor Mowafak and sent scanned 
copies of his documentation (including U.S. military 
identification badge indicating that he was a translator and 
letters of recommendation by U.S. military officials, etc) to 
the RefCoord in Baghdad.  In addition, CONS checked CLASS and 
he has no hits. 
 
¶5.  Mowafak explained to Poloff that he is desperate for 
 
NEW DELHI 00000839  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
assistance.  He claims that he is suffering from a heart 
problem in which "my arteries are weak and my father died of 
the same condition."  His wife also has high blood pressure. 
In addition, the family has no access to financial means and 
Mowafak has asked for assistance in order to support his 
family.  PolOff has been in touch with UNHCR, which is 
currently experiencing considerable backlogs, and making 
appointments through September 2007. 
 
¶6.  Justification for Resettlement:  Mowafak is under threat 
because of his employment with the U.S. government. His 
service to the USG merits special handling and, because of 
health concerns and no access to financial support, he is 
particularly vulnerable.  UNHCR is experiencing considerable 
delays and will not be able to refer Mowafak for processing 
in a timely manner.  We welcome Embassy Baghdad's assessment 
as well. 
MULFORD