US embassy cable - 05ABUDHABI2179

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002179 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR S/WCI AND NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2015 
TAGS: PTER, KAWC, PINR, PREL, KISK, TC 
SUBJECT: GUANTANAMO ISSUES - ARB AND KORAN DESECRATION 
ALLEGATION 
 
REF: A. (A) STATE 88745 
 
     B. (B) STATE 88240 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison, reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d). 
 
1. (C) Ambassador met with MFA Under Secretary Abdullah 
Rashid Al Noaimi on May 14 and discussed ref A information 
regarding the Administrative Review Board's (ARB) assessment 
of UAE detainee Abdullah Al Hamiri, and the allegation that 
the Koran had been desecrated at the U.S. Naval Station at 
Guantanamo Bay.  The Under Secretary accepted a diplomatic 
note about the ARB assessment without comment. 
 
2. (C) On the issue of the alleged abuse of the Koran, 
Ambassador quoted the Secretary's May 12 remarks before the 
Senate Appropriations Committee in which the Secretary stated 
that disrespect for the Holy Koran is not tolerated by the 
United States.  Al Noaimi responded that the USG should 
continue to highlight such statements condemning disrespect 
for the Koran.  While there had been little if any reaction 
in the UAE to the "Newsweek" article, unlike Pakistan and 
Afghanistan, the UAEG closely monitored Friday mosque sermons 
in both the Sunni and Shi'a communities, Al Noaimi noted. 
Ambassador emphasized that the allegation that the Koran had 
been desecrated at Guantanamo was contrary to the USG's 
fundamental respect for religious freedom. 
SISON