US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD3552

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003552 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2015 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, PTER, IZ, Sunni Arab, Terrorism 
SUBJECT: SECTARIAN VIOLENCE HAMPERS SUNNI PARTICIPATION IN 
POLITICAL PROCESS 
 
Classified By: POLCOUNS ROBERT S. FORD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY.  The August 25 discovery of the bodies of 36 
Iraqis, apparently all Sunni Arabs allegedly taken from their 
Baghdad homes early on August 24 by men in Iraqi Security 
Forces (ISF) uniforms, has shaken the Sunni Arab community. 
Sunni Waqf head Ahmed Abdul Gafur al Samarai told PolCouns on 
August 27 that he was less interested in discussing 
constitutional issues than talking about what he called the 
regular killings occuring in and around Baghdad by men in ISF 
uniforms.  Waqf officials claim that sectarian targeting, 
allegedly by ISF, continues unabated.  It is possible the 
killers were not ISF.  However, in the absence of a credible 
government response, few among our Sunni Arab contacts think 
the Interior Ministry is not responsible.  Achieving greater 
Sunni engagement in the political process will likely be an 
uphill battle; this type of violence can only make the effort 
harder.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (C) The August 25 discovery of 36 bodies in Wasit Province 
near the Iraq-Iran border, alleged to be those of Sunnis 
taken from Baghdad's Al-Huriya neighborhood in the early 
morning hours of August 24, has shaken the Sunni community. 
Sunni Waqf head Ahmed Abdul Gafur al Samarai told PolCouns on 
August 27 that he would not discuss constitutional issues 
when Sunnis are being killed by what appears to be Iraqi 
Security Forces (ISF).  On August 29 he told PolCouns that 
the Waqf had assisted families in burying their dead.  Adnan 
Dulaimi, the former head of the Waqf, told Ambassador August 
30 that he had attended the funerals and said the incident 
had shaken the Baghdad Sunni community.  Dulaimi wondered how 
convoys could of police vehicles and men in uniform move 
through the curfew-restricted streets at night if they are 
not police. 
 
3. (C) According to Waqf Administrator Naji Ithawi, witnesses 
claim that men in Commando uniforms driving Iraqi Police (IP) 
vehicles took the 36 men from their homes.  (NOTE: Other 
reports indicate that the abductors wore army uniforms.  END 
NOTE.)  The bodies were found partially clothed, handcuffed, 
with bullet wounds to the head.  Ithawi said police 
discovered the ration card of Hussein Ahmed al-Mashdani in 
his underwear and notified the family of his location. 
Al-Mashdani's brother, a guard at the Waqf, went to Kut, 
where the bodies were being stored, and identified his 
brother's body.  According to Ithawi, the other victims were 
also members of the al-Mashdani tribe.  The families, fearing 
for their own lives, were afraid to travel to Kut to retrieve 
the bodies.  Deputy Assistant Minister of Interior Ali Mali, 
working with Samarai,  coordinated the return of the bodies 
to Baghdad.   Minister of Interior Baqr Jabr, a Shi'a SCIRI 
party member, told the Ambassador August 29 that the Ministry 
would conduct an investigation into the killings. 
 
4. (C) Both Samarai and Ithawi claim that similar incidents 
of violence are commonplace.  Ithawi said that there have 
been multiple incidents of Sunni taken into custody by what 
appear to be ISF, only to be found dead within days of their 
detention.  He noted the case of Amir Zaen al-Ani, an 
engineer with the Waqf, who was taken into custody the week 
of August 22 -- allegedly by ISF.  Al-Ani's family said they 
were asked to pay USD 30,000 but were able to only come up 
with USD 20,000.  Al-Ani's body was discovered several days 
after the money was delivered to his captors. 
 
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COMMENT 
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5. (C)  This type of violence, and the perception of impunity 
by ISF, will make it only harder to increase constructive 
Sunni engagement in the political process.  Especially 
problematic is the conviction among many Sunni political 
figures -- men bred on conspiracy -- that the Iranian-backed 
Badr Corps is manipulating the Interior Ministry either by 
conducting rogue operations or accessing Interior Ministry 
materials.  We are not sure who is responsible for this 
incident; it is possible these were not ISF.  However, in the 
absence of any credible government response, few Sunni Arabs 
with whom we speak believe the Ministry of Interior is not 
responsible.  END COMMENT. 
Khalilzad