Excerpt from document
(C) Summary. Outspoken critic of Kurdish security forces,
Yezidi Progress Party (YPP) Head Wa'ad Hammad Matto was
arrested by Iraqi military intelligence at his Ninewa home
and continues to be held in communicado. The warrant for his
arrest was issued four days after his detainment. According
to YPP members, Matto has been transferred to Baghdad and
denied access to legal representation and all visitation
rights.

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FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
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Content
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002821

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2024
TAGS: KDEM, PHUM, PGOV, PREL, IZ, SY
SUBJECT: INCONSISTENCIES IN ARREST OF YEZIDI POLITICIAN

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Gary A. Grappo for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).

1. (C) Summary. Outspoken critic of Kurdish security forces,
Yezidi Progress Party (YPP) Head Wa'ad Hammad Matto was
arrested by Iraqi military intelligence at his Ninewa home
and continues to be held in communicado. The warrant for his
arrest was issued four days after his detainment. According
to YPP members, Matto has been transferred to Baghdad and
denied access to legal representation and all visitation
rights. YPP members have traveled to Baghdad to raise
Matto's arrest case with GOI officials in an effort to free
Matto. It is unclear if the reason for his arrest is
legitimate. YPP members allege that the KDP has orchestrated
Matto's arrest to punish YPP for not joining with KDP in the
upcoming national elections. Our intelligence sources
suggest, however, his recent meetings with Baathist
politicians in Syria may be the reason for his arrest. The
Embassy will continue to gather additional information,
monitor Matto's detention and raise his case with relevant
GOI officials. End Summary.

BACKGROUND
----------

2. (C) According to UNAMI Advisor Stephanie Koury based in
Kirkuk, an officer of the 10th battalion of the 3rd Iraq Army
arrested Yezidi Progress Party Head Wa'ad Hammad Matto in
Ninewa on September 5. PRT Ninewa noted that one Iraqi
Police officer was present at the time of arrest. The arrest
warrant issued by Baghdad's Central Criminal Court is dated
September 9, four days after his arrest. The warrant
specifies that he is a suspect under Article IV of the
Counter Terrorism Law No. 13 of 2005. Matto was transferred
from Tal Afar to Baghdad. YPP members claimed that Matto was
supposed to be arraigned on September 25 but this did not
occur.

3. (C) Wa'ad Hammad Matto is a vocal opponent of heavy-handed
Kurdish influence in Ninewa province. YPP member Saadi Batosh
Qaro stated that this was Matto's first arrest though he has
been subject to numerous threats by Military Intelligence
agents in the past. Qaro reported that Matto has received
assassination threats and warnings to disengage from UNAMI.
Matto was arrested shortly after his second meeting with
UNAMI. Qaro reported that Matto is being held at the
Khadimiyah jail "5th Department" (Intelligence Unit) in
Baghdad. Both Qaro and YPP member Bieb Khadida Khooji
traveled to Baghdad to check on Matto but all attempts to
gain access Matto have been unsuccessful.

APPEAL FALLS ON DEAF EARS
-------------------------

4. (S) Khooji indicated that YPP has published pleas in
Ninewa's local press to draw attention to Matto's case. Qaro
met with Judge Amir al-Shammari and Yezidi leader Baba Sheikh
to ask for their intervention. Qaro claimed that appeals to
Ninewa Governor Atheel Alnujaifi and al-Hadba's Shaikh
Abdullah did not produce results. (Note: According to
military intelligence sources, Shaikh Abdullah paid YPP USD
20,000 for Matto's defense. End Note) Qaro said after
presenting Matto's case to the Lawyers Union and UNAMI, they
raised Matto's case with the following COR members who have
yet acted to help: Amin Farhad Jeju al-Marwani of the Yezidi
Movement for Progress and Reform- Osama al-Nujaifi of the
Tawafuq coalition- Izz ad-Din Abdullah Husayn al-Dawla, a
Tawafuq independent- Nur ad-Din Sa'id Musa al-Hayali of the
Iraqi Islamist Party- Hamid Majid Moussa of the Iraqi
Communist PartyYPP members stated that they did not raise
Matto's case with Yezidi Prince Tahsin Beg because he is
QMatto's case with Yezidi Prince Tahsin Beg because he is
aligned with KDP. Qaro lamented that they cannot hire expert
legal counsel due to lack of funds. Khooji pressed EmbOffs
to pursue this case with GOI officials and find a way to get
Matto visitation rights. .

REASON FOR ARREST?
------------------

5. (C) Khooji explained that Matto's computer was
confiscated during the arrest. The computer contained all
the personal information on all YPP members. In addition, the
IA confiscated YPP's IHEC registration papers, without which,
they claim, they are unable to participate in national
elections. Khooji recounted that IHEC Mosul Office Head
Mohammed Hani refused to provide duplicates of registration
papers and told them to talk with IHEC at the national level.
Khooji said that Hani is aligned with KDP and allegedthat
this is KDP's retaliation for YPP's refusal to join with the
Kurdish Ninewa Fraternity List. Matto was a former KDP

BAGHDAD 00002821 002 OF 002

member. YPP is not affiliated with any other party or
coalition. They know of other Yezidi leaders like Murad
Kishto but do not collaborate with them. They have never
publicly or privately made an alliance with KDP's political
adversary, the al-Hadba party.

6. (S) According to our intelligence sources, this is not a
Kurdish politically motivated arrest. Matto is being held
for meeting with prominent former regime Baath Party official
Muhammad Younis Jabour al-Ahmed and female Baath party member
Su'ad Qasim Hasan in Syria. The Ministry of Defense
generated the warrant and based on directions from higher ISF
HQs, the 11th Brigade executed the arrest and the 10th
Brigade has detained Matto.

COMMENT
-------

7. (C) Without additional verifiable information, it is
difficult to determine whether Matto's arrest was indeed
politically motivated. Whatever the motive for Matto's
arrest, the deficiencies in the process appear clear. Matto
has been denied visitation rights and access to legal
counsel. The Embassy will continue to monitor Matto's
detention, put YRR members in touch directly with MoHR
contacts and raise his case with relevant GOI officials.
FORD