VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHMK #0740 3630902
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 290902Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9131
INFO RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
UNCLAS MANAMA 000740
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR S/CT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM 2009
REF: STATE 109980
1. (SBU) Post's submission for this year's Country Report on
Terrorism follows below.
2.(SBU) In 2009, the Government of Bahrain monitored suspected international terrorist facilitators in Bahrain. GOB law
enforcement succeeded in jailing a man suspected of providing financial support of terrorism. The GOB also foiled an
alleged attack plot that was in the early stages of planning. In addition, Bahraini security services have worked
closely and cooperatively with international partners.
3.(SBU) Finance: Adel Saleh, a Bahraini citizen arrested in June 2008 was convicted February 4, 2009 on charges of
maintaining links to al-Qa'ida and financing terrorism. According to testimony offered during his trial, Saleh traveled
to Iran three times to deliver 50,500 euros to al-Qa'ida operatives. He received a one-year sentence with credit for
time served since his arrest. Prosecutors appealed, seeking a longer sentence, but the appeal process ended when Saleh,
along with 177 other prisoners and detainees, was pardoned by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on April 11. Two other
defendants in the same case who were tried in absentia were convicted on similar charges and sentenced to five years'
imprisonment. They were not pardoned.
4.(SBU) Foiled Attack: Security forces monitored the activities of two Bahraini citizens and arrested them on April 26.
During the arrest, the authorities discovered automatic weapons, ammunition, a pistol, hunting knives, and a sword,
along with evidence indicating the accused were in the early stages of planning an attack against U.S. Navy interests.
Prosecutors charged the men, one of whom was an employee of the Ministry of Interior Customs Directorate, with joining
an international terrorist organization, plotting attacks in Bahrain and elsewhere in the Gulf, and various weapons
charges. Their trial began on June 30 and continued at year's end.
5.(SBU) On December 16, Bahrain deployed a company of Special Security Forces to southern Afghanistan in support of
Coalition operations in Helmand province.
6.(SBU) Bahrain continued its cooperation with U.S. authorities on counterterrorist finance. Its Financial Information
Unit (FIU) resides in the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB). The CBB, FIU, and local banks worked cooperatively on
counterterrorist finance and anti-money laundering issues. The government is working with the U.S. Department of the
Treasury to host a conference on the regulation of Islamic charities in early 2010. Bahrain also hosts the Middle East
and North Africa Financial Action Task Force secretariat, and has cooperated actively with the Global Initiative to
Combat Nuclear Terrorism since formally endorsing the initiative in March 2008. ERELI