CONGRESSIONAL INTEREST: DETENTION IN IRAQ OF TUNISIAN NATIONAL (BENNOUR, NEJI MOHAMED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01370R000801120098-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 30, 2010
• Sequence Number: 98
• Publication Date: March 17, 1984
• Content Type: CABLE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/02 :CIA-RDP90B01370R000801120098-3
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2NY CCCCC 20C STATE ZZH
RR RUEHC RUEHAD RUDKKR RUFHFR
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R 1607022 MAR 84
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TO RUEHAD/USINT BAGHDAD 4890
RUDKKR/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 9150
INFO RUFHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 8009
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CONF I D ENT I A LSTATE077609
E.O. 12356DECL: OADR
TAGS: SHUM, IZ, TS
SUBJECT: CONGRESSIONAL INTEREST: DETENTION IN IRAQ OF
- TUNISIAN NATIONAL (BENNOUR, NEJI MOHAMED)
1. (U) ON BAi'iI5 OF AN AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL APPEAL,
SENATOR WARNER'S OFFICE HAS INQUIRED ABOUT CASE OF NEJI
MOHAMED BENNOUR, A TUNISIAN ARRESTED IN JUNE 1983 WHILE
WORKING AS MANAGER OF BAGHDAD'S AL-SADEER NOVOTEL HOTEL.
DURING INTERROGATION, BENNOUR WAS ALLEGEDLY TORTURED BY
ELECTRIC SHOCK AND BEATING. ALTHOUGH TWO OTHER NOVOTEL
EMPLOYEES ARRESTED AT THE SAME TIME (INCLUDING AMCIT --
ROGER SPERLING) HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN RELEASED, BENNOUR'S
EXACT WHEREABOUTS AND STATUS REMAIN UNCERTAIN. BENNOUR
CASE HAS REPORTEDLY BEEN PUBLICIZED IN FRANCE, IN PART DUE
TO FRENCH ROLE IN OPERATING AL-SADEER NOVOTEL.
2. (C) SPERLING HAS WRITTEN TO REQUEST "ANY IDEAS" DE-
PARTMENT MAY HAVE TO ASSIST NEJI BENNOUR. SPERLING EN-
CLOSED A REPORT FROM BENNOUR'S BROTHER ALI (STRICTLY PRO-
TECT), WHO VISITED NEJI ON FEB. 14 IN THE COMPANY OF
TUNISIAN CONSUL CHADLI ELBLICH. ALTHOUGH ACCOMPANIED BV
TWO SECURITY OFFICIALS AND AN MFA OFFICER, NEJI BENNOUR
NONETHELESS WAS ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THAT HE WAS FORCED TO
CONFESS, DESPITE HIS INNOCENCE, TO CHARGES OF ESPIONAGE
AND RAPE. THE ESPIONAGE INCLUDED "ECONOMIC" REPORTING ON
THE PRICE AND AVAILABILITY OF TOMATOES IN THE MARKET PLACE
AND TRANSLATING IRAQI NEWSPAPERS FOR HIS FRENCH EMPLOYERS.
3. (C) FOR BAGHDAD: IN VIEW OF CONGRESSIONAL INTEREST,
DEPARTMENT WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR VIEWS ON WHETHER AN AP-
PROACH TO THE GOI COULD BE JUSTIFIED ON BASIS OF THE LINK
TO SPERLING. OR 15 IT LIKELY A DIRECT APPROACH TO THE GOI
MIGHT WORSEN BENNOUR'S PRESENT TREATMENT OR PREJUDICE
OUTCOME OF HIS CASE? POST MAY WISH TO CONTACT TUNISIAN
OR FRENCH EMBASSIES TO EXPRESS OUR HUMANITARIAN CONCERN
ANU INQUIRE HOW WE MIGHT ASSIST. ANY FURTHER INFORMATION
YOU MAY DEVELOP WOULD ALSO BE APPRECIATED FOR OUR RESPONSE
TO SENATOR WARNER.
4. (U) FOR TUNIS: DEPARTMENT WOULD AL50 APPR-cCTATE
YOUR COMMENTS ON THE BENNOUR CASE.
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