Cablegate: Extremists Target Women

VZCZCXRO1378
RR RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHBC #0111/01 3241713
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201713Z NOV 07
FM REO BASRAH
TO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0227
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0644
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEPGAB/MNF-I C2X BAGHDAD IZ
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHBC/REO BASRAH 0678

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BASRAH 000111

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR G/IWI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN PTER IZ
SUBJECT: EXTREMISTS TARGET WOMEN

BASRAH 00000111 001.2 OF 003

Over the past few months, there have been reports that several
women have been murdered in Basrah, with some figures as high as
51 victims in a 30-day period. The Regional Embassy Office
obtained 41 police files on the murders of 45 women (2 males)
and two children between January and October 2007, about half of
which occurred in the last three months. The files, which
contain photos, depict the brutal nature in which the women were
executed - most were shot in the head or face, some were
tortured, and two were beheaded. None of the files provides a
specific motive for the crimes. Police officials believe some
were killed because of reputed sexual promiscuity; women who
leave their homes unaccompanied by a male relative are
considered prostitutes in some circles. Money was discovered on
three of the victims, and two were executed along with their
male companions. Another woman was killed along with her child,
who was alleged to be illegitimate. Another reason proffered by
police officials is the public wearing of makeup, dresses, or
skirts in a city where black robes and hijabs have become the
requisite fashion. Other motives provided by police officials
include association with the Coalition and employment outside
the home. Basrah was once considered an open and enlightened
city, and now, women are beginning to speak out against this
violent imposition of conservative customs.

Below are synopses for each file. About half of the victims
were not identifiable. The names of the remaining victims are
not provided in order to protect the privacy of the next of kin.

1. Female, DOB 1977. The victim's body was discovered in her
house in the Jameat district at 0100 on 10/22/2007. The
victim's face and hair were burned. Case number 3839.

2. Female, DOB 1962, occupation housemaid. At 0200, 10/20/2007,
three vehicles without license plates opened fire on the victim
while she was standing by the main gate of her house in Kamsah
mile area of the Ma'akel Hiteen district. Case number 3779.

3. Unidentified female, estimated age: 50-55. The victim
suffered gunshot wounds to the mouth, chest and left arm. Her
body was discovered at 2330 on 9/20/2007 on al-Qaim Route near
the Al-Hindea Company. Case number 653.

4. Unidentified female, estimated age: 37-40. The victim was
shot in the head and the right arm. Witnesses reported that
three unknown males in a pick-up truck dumped the victim's body
near the Bin Majed Company in the al-Hussien district at 0600 on
5/10/2007. Case number 1553.

5. Two unidentified females, estimated ages 35-40 and 25-30.
One female was shot in the face and the back; her left hand and
left leg were fractured. The other was shot several times,
including in the back of her head. The bodies were discovered
at 2000 on 9/02/2007 behind the Bin Majed Company in the
al-Hussien district. Case number 3148.

6. Female, DOB 1970, occupation: nurse at the Sha'at al-Arab
Clinic. Masked gunmen, driving two Toyota-make vehicles, raided
the victim's house near the al-Mash'il school in the Iskan
al-Mawan'a district and shot her to death. The crime occurred
at 1920 on 10/10/2007. Case number 3688.

7. Female, DOB unknown. The victim suffered multiple gunshot
wounds, including one on the side of her head and another in the
back of her head, at 0845 on 10/09/2007 near the al-Jubayla
market. Case number 697.

8. Female, DOB 1976. The victim was attacked when unknown
gunmen raided her residence in the Timaniyah district and opened
fire on her at 2100 on 02/13/2007. She was shot three times
with a 9mm pistol in the abdomen. Case number 528.

9. Female, DOB 1983. The victim was tortured and then shot
several times. The crime occurred in the al-Hussien district
across from Musaa Al-Kadim Street at 0100, on 10/21/2007. Case
number 731.

10. Unidentified female, estimated age (20-25). The victim was
shot multiple times by unknown gunmen at 2145 on 5/12/2007 in
the Al-Guwaz district. No case number.

11. Female, no DOB. At 0800 on 04/15/2007, the victim was shot
above her right eye by unknown gunmen in the Jameat district.
Case number 1186.

12. Unidentified female, estimated age 25-30. At 0730 on

BASRAH 00000111 002.2 OF 003

8/24/2007, unknown assailants bound her hands and strangled her
near the Nuwab al-Dibad district school. Case number 3058.

13. Female, estimated age 18 months. An unknown person cuffed
the feet of the victim with a peace of fabric and drowned her in
a plastic barrel of water (capacity 30 liters). A statement was
provided by the mother of the victim. There were no signs of
torture on the body of the victim. The crime occurred in
al-Qaim region of al-Qibla district at 1530 on 02/18/2007. Case
number 584.

14. Unidentified female, estimated age 30 years. The crime was
conducted by unknown males driving an unknown vehicle, who left
the remains of the victim, covered by a peace of nylon and
blanket, on the side road. The victim was shot several times,
including in the back of the head. Police official were
notified at 1445 in 02/04/2007. Case number 389.

15. Unidentified female, age unknown. The victim's body was
found decapitated and covered by a peace of nylon, near the
Al-Kublah market, at 1115 on 09/08/2007. Case number 622.

16. Female, DOB 1975. The victim was shot several times in the
head and face, at 1400 on 7/16/2007 near the al-Fayh'a hospital
in the Dur al-Dibaat district. One gold ring, an identity card,
and 109,000 dinar ($90) were found on the victim's body. No
case number.

17. Female, estimated age 40-45. Two unknown males shot the
victim in the face and neck, at 1600 on 3/16/2007 in the
al-Ashar district. Case number 862.

18. Unidentified female, estimated age 20-25. The victim was
shot four times in the face and head by unknown assailants at
15:30 on 07/03/2007 in al-Qibla district. Case number 2308.

19. Unidentified female, age unknown. The body was discovered
near the Naval Academy at 1900 on 1/9/2007. The victim was shot
in the back of the head and neck. 55,000 dinar ($50) was found
on her body. Case number 7.

20. Female and male. Both of the victims were shot multiple
times in the face and head. The bodies were discovered behind
Shaat al-Arab Hotel, at 1310 on 05/08/2007. Case number 239.

21. Two unindentified females estimated ages 40-50 and 30-35.
The bodies were recovered in al-Muhandseen at 1300 on 8/14/2007.
The victims were handcuffed and strangled with a wire cable.
Case number 2929.

22. Unidentified female, estimated age 40-45. The victim was
shot several times, including three times in the head, by
unknown men at 1800 on 2/6/2007 near the Bin Majed Company in
the Al-Hussien district. Case number 429.

23. Female, DOB 1955. The body was discovered at 0715 on
6/10/2007 behind the former Ministry of Sport in the al Hussein
district. The victim was shot in several times, including in
the back of the head. No case number.

24. Female, DOB unknown. The body was discovered with gunshot
wounds to the face and head at 0510 on 7/31/2007 at the
al-Karbtlea complex in the al-Ashar district. No case number.

25. Unidentified female (25-30) and unknown male (25-30). At
1300 on 6/24/2007, the victims, who were bound and blindfolded,
were dropped out of a Toyota-make vehicle in the al-Qaim
district and shot in the head and face. They had both been
tortured. Case number 2167.

26. Unidentified female, age unknown. The victim's was
discovered decapitated behind the al-Markzi medical clinic, at
12:45 on 07/08/2007. Case number 446.

27. Unidentified female, estimated age 25-30. The victim was
shot twice in the head; her body was discovered at 0800 on
9/28/2007 near the university in the Gharmet Ali district. Case
number 675.

28. Three unidentified females, estimated ages 40-45, 25-30, and
50-55. The victims were both shot in the head; their bodies
were discovered behind the Bin Majed Company, and the third near
the al-Hindea Company at 2315 on 9/20/2007. Case number 3397.

29. Unidentified female, estimated age 30-40. Gunmen, driving a
police vehicle, shot the victim twice in the head at 1500 on

BASRAH 00000111 003.2 OF 003

8/24/2007, in near the Department of Electricity in the
Al-Hussien district. Case number 3060.

30. Unidentified female, age unknown. The body was discovered
in the trash area of a hall, buried 50 centimeters underground,
at 1955 on 10/07/2007, near al-Qaim street in the al-Rubat
district. It is estimated that the body was there for at least
six months. Case number 3640.

31. Unidentified female, estimated age 40-45. The victim was
shot several times, including in the head. The body was
discovered in the al-Kublah industrial area at 0730 on
2/14/2007. Case number 78.

32. Female, DOB 1962. The victim was kidnapped on 6/18/2007. At
1100 on 6/26/2007, her unclothed, decomposed body was discovered
in the al-Kafa'at district. The cause of death is unknown;
115,000 dinar ($95) and food were found with the body. Case
number 2202.

33. Female, DOB 1965. The victim was shot by unknown gunmen
twice in the right side of the head, near the Naval Academy at
1345 on 9/2/2007. Case number 3149.

34. Unidentified female, estimated age (30-35). The victim was
shot three times in the face by unknown gunmen in the
al-Muhandseen region of the al-Qibla district, at 0200 on
01/29/2007. Case number 316.

35. Two unidentified females and one unidentified child, ages
unknown. The victims were all shot in the head and chest. They
were discovered at 0100 on 8/15/2007 in the Hiyaniyah district.
Case number 560.

36. Female, DOB 1968. Two unknown males on a motorcycle pulled
next to her while she was driving her vehicle and shot her in
the head and chest at 1940 on 3/21/2007 in the Jameat district.
Case number 907.

37. Female, DOB 1969. The victim was stabbed 14 times with a
large knife. Her body was discovered in her house at 0730 on
1/21/2007. Case number 29.

38. Female, DOB 1961. According to her husband, the victim was
shot twice in the head and face by an unknown male at the
al-Makal train station, while she was on her way to work. The
incident occurred at 0630 on 4/16/2007. Case number 1196.

39. Female, age 27. The victim was shot in the chest, face and
arm inside her house in the al-Kandaq district. The crime
occurred around 0700 on 2/9/2007. Case number 459.

40. Unidentified female, estimated age 25-30. The victim was
shot three times in the neck and face by unknown gunmen, near
Al-Basrah High School for Males in al-Nadran district, at 0300
on 2/6/2007. Case number 213.

41. Unidentified female, estimated age 35-40. The victim was
shot three times in the face and neck by unknown gunmen, in the
Jameat district, around 0930 on 5/30/2007. Case number 307.
BONO

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