US embassy cable - 05ABUDHABI4951

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26 ALLEGEDLY GAY MEN IN DETENTION AWAITING TRIAL

Identifier: 05ABUDHABI4951
Wikileaks: View 05ABUDHABI4951 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Abu Dhabi
Created: 2005-12-07 14:37:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Tags: PHUM KCRM AE
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
null
Diana T Fritz  08/27/2006 05:09:41 PM  From  DB/Inbox:  Search Results

Cable 
Text:                                                                      
                                                                           
      
UNCLAS        ABU DHABI 04951

SIPDIS
CXABU:
    ACTION: POL
    INFO:   RSO MEPI AMB PAO DCM P/M ECON

DISSEMINATION: POL
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: DCM:MQUINN
DRAFTED: POL:RBASSIL
CLEARED: POL:JFMAYBURY CG:JDAVIS

VZCZCADI149
RR RUEHC RUEHDE RUEHZM
DE RUEHAD #4951 3411437
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 071437Z DEC 05
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2658
INFO RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 5616
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 004951 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR DRL, NEA/ARPI AND NEA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, KCRM, AE 
SUBJECT: 26 ALLEGEDLY GAY MEN IN DETENTION AWAITING TRIAL 
 
REF: ABU DHABI 4881 
 
1.  (SBU) THE 26 ALLEGEDLY GAY MEN ARRESTED BY ABU DHABI POLICE 
DURING A PARTY ON NOVEMBER 23 REMAIN IN POLICE CUSTODY AWAITING 
TRIAL, ACCORDING TO AN ABU DHABI POLICE CAPTAIN WORKING IN THE 
INVESTIGATIONS DEPARTMENT.  THE MEN WILL BE CHARGED WITH 
"OFFENSES AGAINST RULES OF DECENCY," THE POLICE CAPTAIN SAID, 
ADDING THAT A COURT DATE HAS YET TO BE SCHEDULED. 
 
2. (U) ENGLISH DAILY "KHALEEJ TIMES" REPORTED DECEMBER 1 THAT 
THE MEN WOULD BE DETAINED FOR ANOTHER SEVEN DAYS "IN ORDER TO 
FACILITATE INVESTIGATIONS."  SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN NO 
PRESS REPORTS ABOUT THE DISPOSITION OF THE CASE. 
 
3. (SBU) ACCORDING TO THE UAE PENAL CODE, THE MINIMUM PENALTY 
FOR A PERSON CONVICTED OF COMMITTING AN "INDECENT ACT" IS SIX 
MONTHS IN PRISON, FOLLOWED BY AN EQUAL PERIOD OF PROBATION, BUT 
IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER THIS IS THE PART OF THE PENAL CODE THAT 
WILL BE APPLIED.  SPOKESPERSONS AT THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION 
AND AT THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR HAD NO FURTHER INFORMATION TO 
OFFER THE EMBASSY, WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS CASE. 
 
4. (SBU) HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH HAS BEEN INQUIRING WITH THE EMBASSY 
ABOUT THE CASE AND WILL APPARENTLY ISSUE A PRESS RELEASE IN THE 
NEAR FUTURE.  HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH BECAME INTERESTED IN THE CASE 
AFTER SEEING PRESS REPORTS THAT THE ABU DHABI POLICE WOULD 
SUBJECT THE MEN TO FORCED HORMONE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT. 
THE LATTER ASSERTION BY A UAE INTERIOR MINISTRY OFFICIAL WAS 
OFFICIALLY DISAVOWED (REFTEL). 
 
5. (SBU) ONE SENIOR MININFO OFFICIAL OBSERVED DURING A CALL BY 
DCM ON MONDAY THAT THE USG STATEMENT ON THE INCIDENT SEEMED 
UNEXPECTEDLY STRONG, BUT IN A LATER CONVERSATION EXPRESSED 
DOUBT THAT THE MEN WOULD BE PUNISHED. 
SISON 

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