US embassy cable - 05MANAMA1620

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001620 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2015 
TAGS: KAWC, PHUM, PTER, PREL, BA 
SUBJECT: BAHRAINI GTMO DETAINEE SUICIDE REPORT GETS 
PROMINENT COVERAGE 
 
REF: A. MANAMA 1594 B. MANAMA 1553 C. MANAMA 1547 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe.  Reasons: 1.4 (B)(D) 
 
1. (U) This is an action message -- see para 5. 
 
2. (U) All Bahraini newspapers gave prominent front-page 
coverage November 2 to the November 1 Washington Post story 
describing the reported October 15 suicide attempt by 
Bahraini Guantanamo detainee Juma Al-Dossary.  The reporting 
in the Bahraini press drew heavily from the Washington Post 
article, with additional quotes from a second American lawyer 
as well as a Bahraini human rights activist.  In one article, 
MFA Undersecretary Shaikh Abdel Aziz Al Khalifa was quoted as 
assuring the families that the Bahrain government was looking 
into all allegations of mistreatment of Bahraini detainees, 
adding: "We are very disturbed by these allegations and feel 
very strongly that any mistreatment of our Bahraini detainees 
will not be accepted in any way, and we will do our best to 
ensure that they are treated fairly." 
 
3. (C) In an November 2 discussion with the Ambassador, 
Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid said that the continuing 
reports about Al-Dossary's alleged mistreatment at Guantanamo 
(ref B) and now the account of his reported suicide have 
created a real stir in Bahrain.  He said he expected more 
questioning from Parliamentarians.  He reiterated the 
Ministry's request for information about the veracity of 
Al-Dossary's allegations (reported ref B) as well as this 
latest report of a suicide attempt. 
 
4. (C) Comment: The planned return of three of the six 
Bahraini detainees over the Eid holiday weekend would 
normally be expected to alleviate some of the pressure and 
concern that has built up locally about the Bahrainis at 
Guantanamo.  However, coming in the context of a steady 
stream of reports of alleged mistreatment, hunger strikes, 
and suicide attempts involving the Bahrainis, reporting is 
not likely to abate following their return -- especially when 
it is discovered that that the two who have received the most 
press -- hunger striker Al-Murbati and Al-Dossari -- are not 
in this group of three returnees.  And we can expect strong 
press interest in how the three returnees will describe their 
treatment at Guantanamo. 
 
5. (C) Action request: USG interests will continue to take a 
hit in Bahrain on the detainee issue.  The Embassy urges 
urgent consideration of steps that could be taken to improve 
our public standing on this issue here, such as: 
 
-- language to respond privately to the MFA's diplomatic note 
of October 23 requesting information on the veracity of 
reports of mistreatment of Al-Dossary and of Al-Murbati's 
hunger strike (ref B). 
 
-- press guidance or talking points that could be used to 
respond publicly to the allegations of mistreatment of Al 
Dossary (ref B). 
 
-- consideration of approval of a trip by representatives of 
the Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society to Washington to 
discuss the issue of the remaining Bahraini detainees, as 
requested by the group in a meeting with the Ambassador on 
October 16 (ref C), or possibly a DVC with DOD officials as a 
first step. 
MONROE