VZCZCXRO5132
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #3065/01 3260822
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 220822Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5530
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003065 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/I 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2019 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KTER IZ
SUBJECT: PRT DIYALA: PROSECUTOR CLAIMS CONFESSION LED TO 
RECENT ARREST WARRANTS FOR MP 
 
REF: BAGHDAD 2937 
 
Classified By: PRT Diyala Leader Lisa Piascik, Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) 
 
¶1.  This is a PRT Diyala cable. 
 
¶2.  (C) Summary:  Multiple sources claim that the recent 
Anti-Terrorism Law-based warrants for Diyala Provincial 
Council member Hisham al-Hiyali and his wife, Council of 
Representatives (COR) member Tayseer Mashandani, originate 
with the un-coerced confession of a fellow Iraqi Islamic 
Party (IIP) member, Harb Hassan.  Despite such claims, 
Diyala's Governor and Provincial Council Chairman have both 
publicly and privately called the spate of arrest warrants 
for Sunni leaders in Diyala politically motivated (reftel). 
For the moment, the arrest warrants have not been executed ) 
a fact al-Hiyali attributes to the intervention of the Prime 
Minister ) but that has not lessened the concern among other 
Sunni leaders in Diyala that they may be next on the list. 
The spate of warrants also illustrates how the dismal state 
of rule of law in Diyala provides opportunities for 
exploitation by sectarian politics.  End summary. 
 
Diyala PC Member Al-Hiyali Credits PM for Keeping Him Out of 
Jail 
- - - - - - - - 
 
¶3.   (C)  In a November 7 phone conversation with PRToffs, 
Diyala Provincial Council member Hisham al-Hiyali noted that 
his lawyers had followed up on October 24 press announcements 
of arrest warrants for supporting terrorism against himself 
and his wife, COR member Tayseer Mashandani, and received 
confirmation that warrants exist. Al-Hiyali also disclosed 
that he and his wife met with Prime Minister Maliki to 
discuss the warrants shortly after they learned of their 
existence.  Al-Hiyali claimed that during the meeting, the 
Prime Minister said that he would stop the execution of the 
warrants, but that he could not (or would not) interfere with 
or revoke the warrants.  Al-Hiyali claimed that the timing of 
the warrants coincided with and is connected to the 
anniversary of his brother,s death by Shi'a (implied) 
insurgents (Note: Although PRT is unclear as to the nature of 
this connection, Al-Hiyala clearly believes that it exists. 
End Note).  Al-Hiyali said the warrant is a result of his 
efforts to bring his brother's killers to justice.  He also 
noted that he spoke to the Khalis Investigative Judge, Thamir 
Howdi Khalil al-Ambaki, responsible for the case, but said 
the conversation yielded little as Judge Thamir noted the 
case was based on solid evidence from the confession of Harb 
Hassan (reportedly a fellow member of the IIP) who implicated 
the couple. 
 
Khalis Prosecutor States Confession Led to Arrest Warrants 
- - - - - - - - 
 
¶4.  (C) On November 2, PRToffs met with Khalis Chief 
Prosecutor Hatim Ibrahim Yousuf and raised the issue of the 
arrest warrants.  Noting the confession of Harb Hassan, 
Prosecutor Hatim reported that the case began with a 
complaint filed with the Higher Judicial Council in Baghdad 
(CCCI), which was subsequently referred to Khalis.  Hatim 
recounted that he had Harb Hassan brought before him and that 
Harb repeated the confession of three murders he had made 
earlier to police.  The prosecutor said he spoke at length 
with Harb and was satisfied with the accuracy and 
voluntariness of the confession, and saw no signs of torture. 
 Hatim alleged that Harb said Mashandani "provided weapons 
and money," "knows everything about the operation," and "did 
not want any Shi'a to compete (for elective office) in the 
area she occupies."  As a result of these allegations that 
she "supported" terrorism, Hatim said Mashandani was charged 
under Article 4.  Initially, the prosecutor made no mention 
Qunder Article 4.  Initially, the prosecutor made no mention 
of Mashandani's husband, al-Hiyali, but when asked by PRToff 
about his case, he said, seemingly as an afterthought, "yes, 
the husband too." 
 
Sectarian Bias Suggested By History of Arrest Cases in Khalis 
- - - - - - - - - 
 
¶5. (C) After describing the case against 
Mashandani/al-Hiyali, Prosecutor Hatim waxed eloquent about 
how sectarian issues have no place in law enforcement. 
(Comment:  Substantial factual and anecdotal evidence 
suggests that Sunnis are disproportionately arrested on 
Article 4 terrorism charges in Khalis and that arrest of 
Shi'a elements are rarely if ever pursued. End comment). 
Questioned about the absence of arrests of Shi,a insurgents, 
Hatim responded that there "are many cases againt Shi'a." 
Pressed on this point, he was able to note only one case 
against "Ghassan."  (Comment:  Ghassan was a former U.S. Army 
 
BAGHDAD 00003065  002 OF 002 
 
 
interpreter; strong evidence was uncovered tying him to the 
Mahdi Army.  The U.S. facilitated his arrest and since then 
has exerted pressure on Khalis officials to keep him in jail. 
 It is telling that the only case cited as a Shi'a Terrorism 
case by Prosecutor Hatim has been driven almost exclusively 
by the U.S., not the GOI. End comment.) 
 
Diyala's Governor Calls Arrest Warrants Politically Motivated 
- - - - - - - - - 
 
¶6. (C) The wave of arrests and warrants of Sunni leaders in 
Diyala is frequently featured in the local press and 
continues to be a topic of discussion among provincial 
officials.  The heightened concerns about these arrests are 
illustrated by discussions at an October 27 meeting on 
provincial security, which included U.S. military officers, 
Provincial Director of Police (PDOP) sMG Abdul Hussein 
Damook, Iraqi Gound Forces Command (IGFC) Commander LTG Ali 
Ghedan, Diyala Operations Commander (DOC) sMG Tariq 
Abed-Alwab Jassim, and Governor Ab-al-Nasr Al Mahdawi.  The 
Governor mentioned the warrant for Tayseer Al Mashandani, and 
then pointed around the room to indicate that the people 
present were responsible for what he termed politically 
motivated charges against members of the Tawafuq coalition. 
The Provincial Council Chairman, Abd-al-Talib Muhammad Hassan 
(a Kurd) agreed.  In response, the PDOP defended the warrant, 
saying that the interrogation of Harb Hassan had given just 
cause for the detention of Mashandani, her husband, and six 
brothers.  LTG Ghedan commented that the arrests of PC 
members needed to stop and said that he would raise the issue 
in Baghdad. 
 
¶7. (C)  In a November 7 meeting between U.S. military 
officials and DOC sMG Tariq on the subject of tribal 
reconciliation, Tariq described a "Warrants Commission" 
comprising Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), tribal 
representatives and perhaps Provincial Council 
representatives to review warrants presented to him as being 
unsupported by facts.  The commission will review available 
material and make a recommendation to the judge for 
resolution.  When asked whether the warrants of Mashandani 
and al-Hiyali would be reviewed, Tariq replied that these 
warrants came from Baghdad and he could not therefore review 
them. 
 
¶8. (C)  Comment:  The layers of intrigue that surround who or 
what may be behind targeted arrest warrants continues to keep 
Sunni leaders in Diyala fearful that they will be next.  The 
spate of warrants also illustrates how the dismal state of 
rule of law in Diyala provides opportunities for exploitation 
by sectarian politics.  End Comment. 
 
HILL