Emails between DOS Officials discussing the death of an Egyptian scientist, Mohamed Abdel Moneim Al-Azmeerly, who was killed while in U.S. custody at Abu Ghraib. Joel M. Rubin wrote that there was not much discussion in Egypt on Al-Azmeerly's death and that the People's Assembly adjourned until November so a hearing on the death is unlikely.
UNCLASSIFIED
Abercrombie, Cara L (NEAP)
From: Rubin, Joel M RELEASED IN PART Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2004 10:13 AM
B5, B6
To: Abercrombie, Cara L (NEA/I) Cc: Hernandez. Carrie W (NEA/LEA); NEA-I-POL-DL; Meyer, Robin D Subject: RE: Egyptian Detainee
Cara - here's the readout we just got from Embassy Cairo (see below). I 1ln addition, please let me know ifl calls again and feel free to pass him my way. Thanks for your nelp!
Joel
(SBU) Egyptian Detainee in Iraq: We are looking into this more closely, but what we know so far does not indicate a groundswell of public opinion. Our FSNs note that there was a short mention of the issue in Al Akhbar a week or two ago, and then a major story in the "Wafd" newspaper over the weekend, but it does not seem to have been picked up by other media thus far. What we have seen thus far seems to imply that Mohamed Abdel Monaem El Ezmerly is either an Iraqi of Egyptian descent or an Egyptian who has been settled in Iraq for a long time, but we will dig a little more on that as well. The People's Assembly just adjourned until November, so a parliamentary hearing anytime soon is unlikely.
Joel M. Rubin Egypt Desk. State/NEA
(202) 647-4680
-----Original Message
From: Abercrombie, Cara L (NEA/1)
Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 5:21 PM
To: Rubin, Joel M
Cc: Hernandez, Carrie W (NEA/LEA); NEA-I-POL-DL
Subject Egyptian Detainee
Joel,
As I said in our phone conversation as asked NEA/I to look into Egyptian press reports that Mohamea Ana tiononaem ti tzmeny, an tgypuan national, died while detained in Iraq. According to the reports, a family member visited him three weeks before his death and found him in good health. The family said they received a death certificate along with the body that listed the cause of death as "pressure on the brain." The family hired a doctor to perform an autopsy - he found says the cause of death is a broken neck as a result of a sudden strike on the back of the head.
says this story is gaining publicity in Egypt and could be come a public opinion issue for the U.S. I sa 1
1;Egyptian parliament is considering holding a hearing on the case. Further, he says the deceased s name is not listed on the CPA website listing all detainees (the site is in Arabic, so I cannot confirm).
I have passed this information on to the detainee policy group at OSO asking for further information, but would
appreciate your contacting the American Embassy in Cairo for a better readout on this case.
It is worth noting that while' !was adamant that we do something he did not recommend any course of action.
-Cara
Cara Abercrombie
Office of Iraq (NEA/I)
Department of State
Tel: 202-647-0459 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AUTHORITY: FRANK E SCHMELZER DATE/CASE ID: 07 OCT 2004 200303827
UNCLASSIFIED
B5
B6
B6
DOS-000177
UNCLASSIFIED
Fax: 202-736-4464 AbercrombieCL@state. sg ov.g ov
2
UNCLASSIFIED
DOS-000178