We have regularly covered Dr. Aafia case at Pro-Pakistan.

We have highlighted the injustices done to her and her family by the Americans in a completely one sided trial. However, the current article is just another effort to share with our readers how this whole drama unfolded till date and how the media reported it. The reason we chose this day is because of the fact that today the American court is again holding another purported trial of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. The irony is that the current case against her rest on a crime she committed after being arrested by the Americans in Afghanistan in 2008. Or at least that is how Americans put it while the reality is that she was arrested in 2003 by FBI agents in Karachi, Pakistan. The arrest news was spread in the national and international media and here is just one instance of NBC5 quoting the story back in 2003. According to NBC5, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is in US custody: U.S. intelligence officials are reportedly interrogating a Pakistani woman alleged to have moved funds and assisted with logistics planning for al-Qaida. FBI Seeking Siddiqui According to the Press Trust of India in an article published on its Web site Thursday, the woman has been identified as 31-year-old Aafia Siddiqui, who was being sought by U.S. officials last week along with two other men, including one whose last known address was in Miramar, Fla. According to the PTI, Siddiqui was arrested in Karachi recently after returning from an overseas trip last month. The service quoted reports in the Boston Globe and Oklahama (TV) News Channels Web site. The FBI had issued a worldwide alert for Siddiqui, already said this a housewife and mother of three who holds a doctorate in neurological science and degrees from Braindeis University and M.I.T. ) Siddiqui reportedly lived in Boston with her husband for several years. NBC News reported last week that senior U.S. officials that Siddiqui may be a so-called fixer for al-Qaida and not an actual member. According to those reports, Siddiqui may have been used by the organization move money and provide other logistical support. One official said, The Intel indicates that she is tied to some very radical individuals in Pakistan. Now here is the problem, the American kept her under rigorous detention in Bagram jail (Afghan equivalent of Guantanamo Prison) and were not accepting her presence until the story was shared by ex inmates of the jail to the media. She was constantly tortured for 5 years and was sexually and physically abused each and every day for 5 consecutive years while the American put their best resources at work to find a single flaw in her past. Ironically, they failed to find a single wrong in her past and hence Americans were in a fix how to get rid of her. The real problem started after the press conference in Pakistan by British journalist Yvonne Ridley in which she shared the story of the Prisoner 650, the gray Ghost lady of Bagram prison. In the mean while, we must keep this in mind that Western media left no stone unturned to label her the big catch of Al Qaeda in the hands of the Americans while Americans themselves couldnt prove a single instance of her involvement in terrorist activities in their 5 years of non stop search for something (anything) to implicate her and save their face. After Yvonne Ridleys press conference, it became evident that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is the unfortunate soul to bear the brunt of the worst kind of treatment in the modern history of the world. A well educated lady was made to suffer 5 years of non stop physical and sexual abuse at the hands of American military and intelligence officials. The issue of Prisoner 650 became public and every media house in the world started giving it coverage and soon protesters came out on the roads in several Pakistani cities and in few Western countries for her release. The American intelligence agency, who failed to find any evidence against Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, however was quick to stage a stupid drama, that speaks volumes about their thinking patterns. Even hollywood movie writer would have done a better job then the drama script written by the American intelligence agencies. Here is how Dr. Aafia emerged again from the Bagram Prison in front of the World. This is the story some dumb ass American intelligent agent wrote (PS: US agent! please dont mind my language but trust me your script sucks! At least try to watch 24 and come out with something better next time). And i am quoting direct American biased justice department source so that you know how they report such dramas on thir website to impress their own citizens. According to website of the US Justice Department: NEW YORK- Michael J. Garcia, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Mark J. Mershon, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Raymond W. Kelly, the Police Commissioner of the City of New York, announced today the arrest of Aafia Siddiqui on charges related to her attempted murder and assault of United States officers and employees in Afghanistan. Siddiqui arrived in New York this evening and will be presented tomorrow before a United States Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. According to the Complaint filed in Manhattan federal court: On July 17, 2008, officers of the Ghazni Province Afghanistan National Police (ANP) observed Siddiqui outside the Ghazni governors compound. ANP officers questioned Siddiqui, regarded her as suspicious, and searched her

handbag. In it, they found numerous documents describing the creation of explosives, as well as excerpts from the Anarchists Arsenal. Siddiquis papers included descriptions of various landmarks in the United States, including in New York City. Siddiqui was also in possession of substances that were sealed in bottles and glass jars. On July 18, 2008, a party of United States personnel, including two FBI special agents, a United States Army Warrant Officer, a United States Army Captain, and United States military interpreters, arrived at the Afghan facility where Siddiqui was being held. The personnel entered a second floor meeting room unaware that Siddiqui was being held there, unsecured, behind a curtain. The Warrant Officer took a seat and placed his United States Army M-4 rifle on the floor next to the curtain. Shortly after the meeting began, the Captain heard a woman yell from the curtain and, when he turned, saw Siddiqui holding the Warrant Officers rifle and pointing it directly at the Captain. Siddiqui said, May the blood of [unintelligible] be directly on your [unintelligible, possibly head or hands]. The interpreter seated closest to Siddiqui lunged at her and pushed the rifle away as Siddiqui pulled the trigger. Siddiqui fired at least two shots but no one was hit. The Warrant Officer returned fire with a 9 mm service pistol and fired approximately two rounds at Siddiquis torso, hitting her at least once. Despite being shot, Siddiqui struggled with the officers when they tried to subdue her; she struck and kicked them while shouting in English that she wanted to kill Americans. After being subdued, Siddiqui temporarily lost consciousness. The agents and officers then rendered medical aid to Siddiqui. Can anyone imagine why someone Siddiqui, a 36-year-old Pakistani woman who previously resided in the United States, is charged in a criminal Complaint filed in the Southern District of New York with one count of attempting to kill United States officers and employees and one count of assaulting United States officers and employees. If convicted, Siddiqui faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each charge. Just try to see a logic behind the purported story shared with the world by the Americans! What Dr. Aafia was doing outside Governor house? Trying to gather intelligence? Trying to blow it up? Trying to get herself arrested? Or just roaming around for a morning or evening walk? In any of the above cases, can you tell me why will she take with her the method of making bombs in her handbag? Was she sitting in some park where she was trying to prepare her lecture or was she trying to memorize some new techniques in the open? Or was she just keeping them in her bag to make sure when she is arrested, she provide enough evidence against her arrest to the government to use it against her? Moreover, she was also carrying landmarks of American buildings etc etc etc! I wonder if anyone would really need landmarks in this modern era? Dont you think we have a lot more public information available even to a primary kid on the internet and hence there is no need to carry it with you. Moreover, why would she carry these things with her when she was roaming around Governor palace in Afghanistan? Was she on way to airport to land directly at JFK? Or was there not enough space in her home to keep that documents? A logical mind fail to see a relation in those two set of documents inside the bag of a lady strolling for morning walk in the peaceful and serene streets of war torn Afghanistan! Sounds interesting! Lets see what else she got? Okies! She got some SUBSTANCE (i repeat SUBSTANCE) that was sealed inside a jar and some bottles! Now this has further complicateed the already very tough case here! Can anyone of my reader guide us all here? Because i am lost here! What do you mean by SUBSTANCE? Is chocolate a substance or is cookies counted as substance? Do you also count sweets as Substance? If not then share with us what does SUBSTANCE stands for? And why would an evening or morning stroller keep these in her bag when she was actually on a picnic in the serene city of Afghanistan? May be she could use it to blow up the Governors palace? Or may be she could eat it? I dont know but it is beyond my level of intellect and I need guidance from our readers since they might have a clue! The irony is that Americans are trying to tell the world that their dumb story is based on facts while a mere search on internet will confirm our concerns about the real drama run by someone sitting in Langley or Pentagon. Here is how a famous Pakistani newspaper reported a story where an Intelligence Official admitted arresting Dr. Aafia in 2003 and handing her over to American FBI while the same FBI claims to have captured her in 2008 in Afghanistan. This is on the record of a Pakistani court and hence enjoys a legal status unlike Americans provided evidence that only exist in their own records and not to be shared with anyone in the world. She was later shifted to America where she is facing court trial for a crime she never committed in America at first place. Even the American FBI and Intelligence officials failed to provide the evidence of her finger prints on the gun she supposedly used to shoot her investigators and the interpreters. Even no bullets were recovered from the room which she allegedly fired at the Americans. Here is a link to the details of the court hearing. According to Yvonne Ridley, who first shared her story with the world, there is some senior ranking American intelligence official responsible for all the debacle since it was his authority to sign the papers authorising her

kidnapping, rendition, five years of non stop torture and then keeping her in jail without sharing the details. Even the way she was reproduced is done on the orders of the same intelligence official who is sitting on the most important position in the American intelligence network. He is still using all his available resources to cover his tracks but i think now the thing has gone out and the decision rests with the American Judiciary. The trial of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui has gained tremendous support in USA itself and people from the length and breadth of America have come to the court to witness it despite the fact that the judge changed the dates constantly to create confusion and to bring down the case profile. The case will be presented today at a US Court. According to the Dawn story. The trial of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, the Pakistani neuroscientist under US detention, will begin today in New York City after jury selection was completed last week A JA jury of seven women and five men were chosen on Thursday, with four alternate jurors. Dr Aafia had earlier objected over the composition of the jury. She is accused of trying to kill US Army officers who were interrogating her in Afghanistan in July 2008, a charge vehemently denied by her. No one was hit in the alleged shooting incident, but she was shot twice in the stomach. Dr. Aafia has repeatedly said she will boycott her own trial and has even disowned the lawyers retained for her defence by the Pakistan government. Meanwhile, the lead lawyer for Dr. Aafia said that her legal defence team will fight for her acquittal with a strong case it has built over the past four months. Lets see how long this drama goes on and to what extent the American Intelligence official, backed by other powerful American politicians, goes to hide the crimes he committed against an innocent woman and her family. The outcome of the case is very important since the eyes of the world Muslim population and those who believe in the American justice system are fixed on this case as a benchmark. Lets see if Justice prevails in the Wild Wild West! SOURCE: Pakistankakhudahafiz.wordpress.com
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March 18, 2003: the FBI issues an alert requesting information about Aafia; March 29: UPI reports that the FBI believes Aafia may be an Al Qaeda fixer, transferring money to support terrorist operations; March 30: Aafia disappears en route to the airport for a flight to Rawalpindi; April 3: CNN reports that Al Qaeda figure Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (arrested March 1) mentioned Aafia during interrogation; Pakistani authorities deny any knowledge of her whereabouts; April 4: the FBI denies that it captured and is detaining Aafia; May 26: John Ashcroft and FBI director Robert Mueller cite reports that Al Queda plans an attack on the US in the summer or fall; Aafia is named as an Al Qaeda operative and facilitator and is one of seven Al Qaeda members being sought; May 28, 2004: Pakistans Interior Ministry confirms that Aafia was turned over to US authorities in 2003 after it was unable to establish any links she may have had with Al Qaeda; A 2006 Amnesty International report includes Aafia as one of many of the disappeared in the war on terror; A 2007 Ghost Prisoner Human Rights Watch report said that Aafia may have once been held in secret CIA detention; A February 2008 Asian Human Rights Commission report said Aafia was brought to Karachi and severely tortured to secure her compliance as a government witness against Khalid Shiekh Mohammed; July 7, 2008: UK journalist Yvonne Ridley identifies Aafia as Prisoner 650? at the US Bagram, Afghanistan tortureprison; July 11: US Lt. Col. Rumi Nielson-Green denies that any women are being held at Bagram; July 31: the FBI tells Aafias brother that shes in US custody; August 4: a DOJ press release says that Afghanistan National Police arrested Aafia in Ghazni on July 17 and that she was wounded the next day while trying to shoot US Army personnel; August 6: US Magistrate Judge Ronald Ellis orders Aafia be held without bail; her court-appointed lawyer, Elizabeth Fink, says charges against her are absurd; a bail hearing was set for August 11 and another for August 18 to determine if she should be tried;

 August 12: the Washington Pakistani embassy formally requests that Aafia be repatriated to Pakistan; August 13: the US military in Afghanistan denies it ever held Aafia in detention and that an unnamed female prisoner was someone else; September 12: according to a report in MITs The Tech, court documents released today indicate that Aafia was diagnosed with chronic depressive type psychosis; September 23: Judge Richard Berman enters a not guilty plea on behalf of Aafia; she refuses to come to court because doing so requires she be strip-searched; he sets December 17 as the next hearing date to determine her fitness to stand trial; he also sets March 9, 2009 as a tentative trial date; September 29: World Net Daily reports that for the first time since 9/11, counterterrorism field agents have been authorized to spy on young Muslim men and women including American citizens who have traveled to Pakistan without any specific evidence (suggesting) wrongdoing; October 2: Aafia is moved to the Carswell Federal Medical Center, Fort Worth, TX for psychiatric evaluation; in vain, her lawyer pleaded that she not be sent because she urgently needs medical treatment; October 6: Pakistani senators Mushahid Hussain Syed, Sadia Abbasi Mehmood, and SM Zafar met with Aafia; Faqir Saeed of the Pakistani embassy as well; she tells them of her ordeal that she was abducted in 2003, given an injection, found herself in a cell, and was forced to sign papers and confess to things she didnt do; her childrens lives were threatened and she was abused grievously; November 17: Judge Richard Berman indicates that a psychiatric evaluation indicates that Aafia is not competent to proceed as a result of her mental disease, which renders her unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against her; December 17: the next scheduled date (in New York District Court) to determine if Aafia is fit to stand trial; March 9, 2009: the tentative date for Aafias trial to begin. The US Bagram, Afghanistan Torture-Prison After her abduction, Aafia disappeared into Bagram hell and was known only as Prisoner 650. Then later, by released prisoners, as the Gray Lady of Bagram because of her screams they heard for years. At one time, Bagram (north of Kabul at the US air base) held twice as many prisoners as Guantanamo and likely still holds hundreds. Theyre crammed into wire cages, routinely tortured, forced to sleep on floor mats, and have buckets for latrines, or at least did until recently. Many prisoners are held secretly, have been there for years, have no access to lawyers, or any knowledge of the allegations against them. Most, perhaps all, are innocent victims and guilty only of being Muslims at the wrong time in the wrong place. Whats known about Bagram comes from released or transfered prisoners who got access to counsel. In early 2008, The New York Times also reported that the International Committee of the Red Cross filed a confidential complaint with US authorities charging that its detainees were held incommunicado for weeks or months in isolation cells and subjected to cruel treatment (torture) in violation of international law. In February 2005, The London Guardian reported that a prisoner named Mustafa was blindfolded, handcuffed, gagged, and forced to bend down over a table by three US soldiers. They then forcibly rammed a stick up my rectum.I could not stop screaming when this happened. Another case involved Wesam Abdulrahman Ahmed Al Deemawi. For over a 40 days, he was threatened with dogs, stripped and photographed in shameful and obscene positions, placed in a cage with a hook and hanging rope, and hung on it blindfolded for two days. Both men were never charged and were later released. Other prisoners were beaten, chained, hung from the ceiling by their wrists, and subjected to numerous other tortures and indignities for months or years. In some cases so horrifically they died. Aafia and other women were (and still are) at Bagram and other US torture- prisons (including torture-ships at sea), according to British journalist Yvonne Ridley: There are many Muslim women in the captivity of American forces and if (people remain) silent, (theyll) lose their sisters forever. Some are treated even worse than Aafia. Ridley wrote about Bagrams Prisoner 650? and her ordeal of torture and repeatedly being raped for over four years. The cries of (this) helpless woman echoed (with such torment) in the jail that (it) prompted prisoners to go on hunger strike. Ridley called her a gray lady (because) she (was) almost a ghost, a spectre whose cries and screams continue to haunt those who heard her. This would never happen to a Western woman. It did to Aafia, other Muslim women as well, and their ordeal continues horrifically. US and International Law on Prisoners of War and Enforced Disappearances US and international law are clear and unequivocal on prisoner detentions and their treatment. America under George Bush defiles it, and, given the rogue team hes assembled, the Obama administration (with or without

Guantanamo) promises little or no change. These practices are grievous crimes of war and against humanity and should never be tolerated against anyone for any reason. Yet they persist. The US War Crimes Act (1996) defines these offenses as grave breaches under the Geneva Conventions (1949) and violations of its Common Article 3. It states in part: .the following acts are prohibited at any time and in any place.: violence to life and person (including) murder, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture; .humiliating and degrading treatment; sentencing or executing detainees without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court affording all the judicial guarantees.recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples; and assuring wounded and sick are (properly) cared for. The US Army Field Manual 27-10 is also explicit on the rule of law. It incorporates the Nuremberg Principles prohibiting crimes against humanity, and specifically obligates soldiers to disobey illegal orders or be subject to prosecution under international law. Paragraph 498 states that any person, military or civilian, who commits a crime under international law bears responsibility and may be punished. Paragraph 499 defines a war crime. Paragraph 509 denies the defense of superior orders in the commission of a crime, and paragraph 510 denies the defense of an act of state. Under Article VI of the Constitution (the supremacy clause), international law is part of domestic law, and US presidents take an oath under Article II, Section 1, Clause 7 to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. Further, Article II, Section 3 requires the president to take Care that the Laws be faithfully exercised. International human rights law also strictly prohibits secret detentions. Under Principle 6 of the (May 1989) UN Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions: Governments shall ensure that persons deprived of their liberty are (to be) held in officially recognised places of custody, and that accurate information on their custody and whereabouts, including transfers, is made promptly available to their relatives and lawyers or other persons of confidence. US and international laws leave no ambiguity on torture or its seriousness when practiced. The (1949) Third Geneva Conventions Article 13 (on the Treatment of Prisoners of War) states: Detainees must at all times be humanely treated. Any unlawful act or omission by the Detaining Power causing death or seriously endangering the health of a prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited.(these persons) must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation. Third Geneva also prohibits physical or mental torture, all other forms of coercion, collective punishment, corporal punishments, and any type of violence. These acts are war crimes. Various other US and international laws also prohibit them, yet theyre official US policy, so far with impunity. In December 1992, the UN General Assembly passed the Declaration on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance. It states that: any act of enforced disappearance is an offence to human dignity. It places the persons subjected thereto outside the protection of the law and inflicts severe suffering on them and their families. It constitutes a violation of the rules of international law guaranteeing, inter alia (among other things), the right to recognition as a person before the law, the right to liberty and security of the person, and the right not to be subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.No state shall practice, permit or tolerate enforced disappearances and must terminate any such acts in any territory under its jurisdiction. Such practices are crimes of war and against humanity. In 2005, the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice (CHR&GJ, New York University School of Law) published a report titled: Fate and Whereabouts Unknown: Detainees in the War on Terror. It presented factual summaries of (28) individuals who may be in secret (US) detention sites and included known information about Aafia at the time. CHR&GJ said enforced disappearances happen when individuals are deprived of their liberty by state agents and the state fails to provide information about their fate or whereabouts; through these actions, detainees are placed outside the protection of law. Disappearances include these practices: individuals (often unidentified) held in secret US-run or controlled black sites; individuals in foreign-based sites under US control or direction; individuals extraordinarily renditioned to black or other sites; and individuals held in conflict areas and not properly registered and/or identified, such as CIA ghost prisoners on US military facilities like at Bagram. United States of America v. Aafia Siddiqui

On September 2, the Justice Department (DOJ) indicted Aafia for attempting to kill United States Nationals in Afghanistan and Six Additional Charges. On September 4, she was arraigned before Judge Richard Berman in US District Court for the Southern District of New York. Michael Garcia, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, stated (in a September 2 press release) that on July 18, 2008, a team of United States servicemen and law enforcement officers, and others assisting them, attempted to interview Aafia Siddiqui in Ghazni, Afghanistan, where she had been detained by local police the day before.unbeknownst to the United States interview team, unsecured, behind a curtain Siddiqui obtained one of the United States Army officers M-4 rifles and attempted to fire it, and did fire it, at another United States Army officer and other members of the United States interview team. Siddiqui then assaulted one of the United States Army interpreters, as he attempted to obtain the M-4 rifle from her. Siddiqui subsequently assaulted one of the FBI agents and one of the United States Army officers, as they attempted to subdue her. Garcia said nothing about years of torture and rape at Bargram or that this frail, weakened, 110 pound woman was confronted by three US Army officers, two FBI agents, and two Army interpreters, yet inexplicably managed to assault three of them, get one of their rifles, open fire at close range, hit no one, and only she was severely wounded. As her attorney put it: Picture this woman who is very tiny (and extremely frail and weakened from her ordeal), and ask yourself how she engaged in armed conflict.with six (armed and well-trained) military men, how did this happen? And how did she get shot? I think you can answer that, cant you (and question the absurdity of DOJs charges against her)? Garcia outlined, but didnt indict, on the above-listed allegations about specific cells, handwritten notes about a mass casualty attack, constructing dirty bombs, and using various devices and means to deliver them. It was also alleged that before 9/11 she travelled to Liberia where she was involved in illegal diamond trading to support Al Qaeda and then opened a Baltimore post office box for one of its members. None of these claims are credible or showed up in her indictment. Count One Attempted Murder of United States Nationals by obtaining a US Army Officers M-4 rifle and attempting to fire and firing it at him, two other US Interview Team members, and repeatedly stating her intent and desire to kill Americans. Count Two Attempted Murder of United States Officers and Employees in the same manner while they were engaged in and on account of the performance of their official duties. Count Three Armed Assault of United States Officers and Employees in the same manner. Count Four Discharge of A Firearm During (a) Crime of Violence as described above. Count Five Assault of United States Officers and Employees as described above. Count Six (Further charges of) Assault of United States Officers and Employees as described above. Count Seven (More charges of) Assault of United States Officers and Employees as described above. Aafias Deteriorating Health In response to British MP Lord Nazirs letter on Aafias whereabouts, US authorities confirmed that shes incarcerated at Carswell Federal Medical Center, Fort Worth, TX (pursuant to an October 1, 2008 US District Court, NY judicial directive) where shes undergoing psychiatric evaluation, but not getting desperately needed medical attention. Nazir earlier raised questions about her detention and said she (was) physically tortured and continuously raped by the officers at the (Bagram) prison for over four years. He now wants her immediately released and repatriated to Pakistan after it was learned shes held on dubious charges plus all the horrific treatment she endured yet is guilty of nothing. Aafia is in deplorable condition and, according to Judge Berman, not in a correct state of mind to stand trial. On August 7, 2008, Iqbal Haider, Co-chairperson of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed concern about her. He called it shocking and of grave concern that pictures of her show a beat-up frail and helpless woman, the effects of years of torture, abuse, and continuous rape. There are dark circles under her eyes, a badly repaired broken nose, made up teeth and crumbled lips, and overall a picture of a severely dehydrated, sick person almost

as if on the death bed. It shows the inhumane brutality of an apparently civilised nation by the administration of a country which claims to be much civilised. According to HRCP and Aafias family, her physical condition is deplorable, and she badly needs immediate medical treatment outside the Carswell prison where its not given. Her wound was oozing blood, and her clothes were soaked in it. Earlier in custody, one of her kidneys was removed, yet her abdominal pain persists. She has large stitches down her torso from the surgery, negligently done, and may be suffering from internal bleeding. Her teeth were removed. Her nose was broken and improperly reset. Her gunshot wound was incompetently dressed, and her overall condition is dire and life-threatening. This poor woman was savaged by a criminal state operating outside the law for political advantage. Her outrageous treatment continues. Her son, Ahmed (a US citizen), is being detained in Afghanistan, but the whereabouts of her other two children is unknown. A Final Comment Post-9/11, the Bush administration: declared permanent war without cause; ravaged Iraq and Afghanistan; incited and/or engaged in other direct and proxy wars; militarized the country; enacted repressive police state laws; trashed the rule of law; made human and civil rights a nonstarter; defiled every human dignity imaginable; institutionalized illegal spying and electoral theft; made torture official US policy; criminalized dissent; waged war on working Americans; engineered the largest ever wealth transfer to the rich; turned government into a crime syndicate; looted the national treasury; bankrupted the nation; criminally defrauded the public; and waged a global jihad against Islam. Aafia is one of its most aggrieved. Shes been destroyed physically and emotionally. Her former being no longer exists. Her survival is in jeopardy, yet she remains incarcerated, has been indicted, will be tried, likely convicted, and may spend the rest of her life in prison. And for what? For her faith, devoutness, ethnicity, humble charity, all at the wrong time in America. The message to everyone is clear. Were all Aafia Siddiquis. Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the Centre of Research on Globalization. He lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to The Global Research News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Monday through Friday at 10AM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on world and national topics. All programs are archived for easy listening. http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=11378 Post-9/11, the war on terror has been a jihad against Islam, the colonizers v. the colonized, or what Edward Said called the familiar (America, Europe, us) and the strange (the Orient, East, them). Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is one of its most tragic, aggrieved, and ravaged victims. Her ordeal continues horrifically. Boston Magazines Katherine Oxment asked: Whos afraid of Aafia Siddiqui? She went to MIT and Brandeis, married a (physician, lived in Boston), cared for her children.raised money for charities.did other volunteer work, hosted play groups in her apartment, (is) deeply religious.distribute(d) Korans to inmates in area prisons, and did nothing out of the ordinary. (She) was a normal woman living a normal American life. Until the FBI called her a terrorist.a high-profile Al Qaeda operative, but weve seen these charges before, and each time they were bogus. Theyre egregiously so against Aafia a woman guilty only of being Muslim at the wrong time in America or elsewhere if youre on Washingtons target list. Against her and others, no evidence exists so prosecutors invent it. Most (or key parts) is kept classified, unavailable to the defense, and trials are judicial equivalents of circuses. Witnesses are enlisted, pressured, coerced, and/or

bought off to cooperate. Proceedings are carefully orchestrated. Due process is effectively denied, and juries are intimidated to convict the innocent for political advantage. The dominant media cooperate. Using information from Washington Post writer, Douglas Farah, and other sources, writer Lindsey Worth of FMS, Inc. referred to the mysterious Aafia Siddiqui.allegedly Al Qaedas only female leader in connecting her to the Al Queda diamond operation in West Africa. The Times Online calls Aafia Al-Qaeda woman, and for ABC News shes Mata Hari in a lengthy report featuring unsubstantiated charges against her, including: possessing detailed radiological, chemical and biological information, including possessing a liter of cyanide and instructions for a dirty bomb; more documents for a mass casualty attack; a list of New York targets, including the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State Building, Wall Street, and the animal disease center on Plum Island; terrorist recruiting; possessing excerpts from The Anarchists Arsenal; documents detailing US military assets; methods of attack by reconnaissance drones, underwater bombs and gliders; and a thumb (or flash) drive packed with emails detailing specific cells and planned attacks to carry out. According to the FBI, she is, or was when captured, a potential treasure trove of information on terrorist supporters, sympathizers or sleepers in America and overseas. CIA officer John Kiriakou said shes the most significant capture in five years, and an unnamed counterterrorism official called her a very dangerous person, no doubt about it. For Kiriakou, shes a radical involved in planning a wide variety of different operations (perhaps with WMDs), including a possible attempt on the life of the President. Unnamed sources from three federal agencies accused her of an ill conceived and perhaps amateurish plot to kill all living US presidents, including Jimmy Carter by poisoning. By marriage to his nephew, shes also reputedly linked to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the principal architect of the 9/11 attacks, according to the 9/11 Commission. He reportedly gave her up after capture on March 1, 2003, and shortly thereafter she and her children disappeared. The DOJ also connects her to Adnan El Shukrijumah, another suspected Al Qaeda member involved in terrorist planning with senior Al Qaeda leaders overseas and across America, according to John Ashcroft. Aafias friends and family deny all charges. They call her an innocent victim of US persecution, and an especially egregious one for being ravaged in detention. One supporter (Abu Sabaya) said this about the woman he knew: I want you to come to know of the concern and dedication that this woman had for Islam as described by those who knew her a dedication that was manifested by way of actions that were very simple and easy, yet seldom carried out by those who are able. Those who knew Aafia recall that she was a very small, quiet, polite, and shy woman who was barely noticeable in a gathering. However.she would say what (was) needed when necessary. While at MIT, she organized drives to deliver Korans and other Islamic literature to Muslims in local prisons. She was also dedicated to Islam on campus where fellow students described her as soft-spoken, studious, religious, but not extremist or fundamentalist. She wrote three instructional guides on the faith. More as well on how to run a dawah table to provide religious information and training for daiyas (callers to Islam). She wrote: Imagine our humble, but sincere dawah effort turning into a major dawah movement in this country! Just imagine it! And us, reaping the reward of everyone who accepts Islam throught this movement (for) years to come. Think and plan big. May Allah give this strength and sincerity to us so that our humble effort continues and expands until America becomes a Muslim land. Aafia taught local Muslim children on Sundays, but her greatest passion was to help oppressed Muslims worldwide. She spoke publicly, sent emails, gave slideshow presentations, and raised donations while a student and caring for three young children at home. Because of her faith, activism, and passion for the oppressed, its little wonder she was targeted and why Assistant US Attorney Christopher LaVigne called her a high security risk despite no evidence to prove it. Her Background and What Happened Aafia is a Pakistani national with degrees from MIT and a doctorate in neurocognitive science from Brandeis. Despite false media reports, shes not a microbiologist, geneticist or neurologist. Nor did her training provide expertise for WMD terrorism. As her lawyer, Elaine Whitfeld Sharp, explains:

The prosecution claimed that Aafia was involved in biochemical warfare. She wasnt taking brain cells and testing how they reacted to gases. But theres all this news in the media about the changing face of Al Qaeda, the neurobiology scare, and now weve got this MIT graduate with a Brandeis Ph.D. whos cooking up all these viruses. Boston Magazine writer Katherine Ozment explained what Aafia was actually cooking up the simple concept that people learn by imitation. To study it, she devised a computer program and used adult volunteers, who came to her office and watched various objects move randomly across the screen, then reproduced what they recalled. The point was to see how well they retained the information having seen in on the screen. Brandeis professor of cognitive science Paul DiZio laughed about how this could apply to terrorism. I cant see how it can be applied to anything. Its not applied work. It didnt have a medical aspect to it. And, as a computer expert, she was competent. But you know, calling her a mastermind or something (is ludicrous) I never saw any evidence. She and her husband (a medical resident at the time at Brigham and Womens Hospital) used their apartment for a 1999 nonprofit organization they began called the Institute of Islamic Research and Teaching. It had nothing to do with terrorism. According to the neighborhood Mosques Imam, Abdullah Faruuq: What I know of (Aafia) is that she was living here in America, and her organization was for sharing Islamic information with the American people. Faruuq was impressed with her dedication. Aafia was an American girl and a good sister. She also wanted her husband to use his medical skills to help the less fortunate. Despite her devout faith, there was nothing radical about Siddiqui. She just seemed like a very kind person. Shes also a mother of three, and a victim of extreme viciousness in detention. According to her mother, Ismet, she left the family home in Gulshan-e-lqbal in a taxi on March 30 to catch a flight for Rawalpindi, but never reached the airport. Inside sources claim she was picked up by intelligence agents en route, and initial reports suggest then handed over to the FBI. She was missing for over a year when the agency posted her photographs on its web site. Shortly afterward, a story was leaked about her involvement in the 2001 Liberian diamond trade with her as an Al Qaeda operative. The familys attorney, Elaine Whitfield Sharp, called the allegation a blessing in disguise because it placed Aafia in Liberia at a specific time when she can prove she was in Boston that week. Aafias mother says that only days after her daughters disappearance a man on motorcycle came to her family home and warned her to say nothing about what happened if she wanted to see Aafia and her grandchildren again. She hasnt since, and according to the Pakistani Urdu press, the family was picked up by local authorities and taken into custody. A government interior ministry spokesman and two unnamed US officials confirmed the report in the press. They then retracted their statements, but local Chicago NBC news (based on a Press Trust of India account) reported that Aafia was being interrogated by US intelligence officials. At the time, the FBI website stated: Although the FBI has no information indicating this individual is connected to specific terrorist activities, the FBI would like to locate and question this individual. The agency knew full well what happened that Aafia was in secret detention, that her horrific ordeal had begun, and that they and other US authorities were involved. A Brief Timeline of Aafias Case March 18, 2003: the FBI issues an alert requesting information about Aafia; March 29: UPI reports that the FBI believes Aafia may be an Al Qaeda fixer, transferring money to support terrorist operations; March 30: Aafia disappears en route to the airport for a flight to Rawalpindi; April 3: CNN reports that Al Qaeda figure Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (arrested March 1) mentioned Aafia during interrogation; Pakistani authorities deny any knowledge of her whereabouts; April 4: the FBI denies that it captured and is detaining Aafia; May 26: John Ashcroft and FBI director Robert Mueller cite reports that Al Queda plans an attack on the US in the summer or fall; Aafia is named as an Al Qaeda operative and facilitator and is one of seven Al Qaeda members being sought; May 28, 2004: Pakistans Interior Ministry confirms that Aafia was turned over to US authorities in 2003 after it was unable to establish any links she may have had with Al Qaeda; A 2006 Amnesty International report includes Aafia as one of many of the disappeared in the war on terror; A 2007 Ghost Prisoner Human Rights Watch report said that Aafia may have once been held in secret CIA detention; A February 2008 Asian Human Rights Commission report said Aafia was brought to Karachi and severely tortured to secure her compliance as a government witness against Khalid Shiekh Mohammed;

 July 7, 2008: UK journalist Yvonne Ridley identifies Aafia as Prisoner 650? at the US Bagram, Afghanistan tortureprison; July 11: US Lt. Col. Rumi Nielson-Green denies that any women are being held at Bagram; July 31: the FBI tells Aafias brother that shes in US custody; August 4: a DOJ press release says that Afghanistan National Police arrested Aafia in Ghazni on July 17 and that she was wounded the next day while trying to shoot US Army personnel; August 6: US Magistrate Judge Ronald Ellis orders Aafia be held without bail; her court-appointed lawyer, Elizabeth Fink, says charges against her are absurd; a bail hearing was set for August 11 and another for August 18 to determine if she should be tried; August 12: the Washington Pakistani embassy formally requests that Aafia be repatriated to Pakistan; August 13: the US military in Afghanistan denies it ever held Aafia in detention and that an unnamed female prisoner was someone else; September 12: according to a report in MITs The Tech, court documents released today indicate that Aafia was diagnosed with chronic depressive type psychosis; September 23: Judge Richard Berman enters a not guilty plea on behalf of Aafia; she refuses to come to court because doing so requires she be strip-searched; he sets December 17 as the next hearing date to determine her fitness to stand trial; he also sets March 9, 2009 as a tentative trial date; September 29: World Net Daily reports that for the first time since 9/11, counterterrorism field agents have been authorized to spy on young Muslim men and women including American citizens who have traveled to Pakistan without any specific evidence (suggesting) wrongdoing; October 2: Aafia is moved to the Carswell Federal Medical Center, Fort Worth, TX for psychiatric evaluation; in vain, her lawyer pleaded that she not be sent because she urgently needs medical treatment; October 6: Pakistani senators Mushahid Hussain Syed, Sadia Abbasi Mehmood, and SM Zafar met with Aafia; Faqir Saeed of the Pakistani embassy as well; she tells them of her ordeal that she was abducted in 2003, given an injection, found herself in a cell, and was forced to sign papers and confess to things she didnt do; her childrens lives were threatened and she was abused grievously; November 17: Judge Richard Berman indicates that a psychiatric evaluation indicates that Aafia is not competent to proceed as a result of her mental disease, which renders her unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against her; December 17: the next scheduled date (in New York District Court) to determine if Aafia is fit to stand trial; March 9, 2009: the tentative date for Aafias trial to begin. The US Bagram, Afghanistan Torture-Prison After her abduction, Aafia disappeared into Bagram hell and was known only as Prisoner 650. Then later, by released prisoners, as the Gray Lady of Bagram because of her screams they heard for years. At one time, Bagram (north of Kabul at the US air base) held twice as many prisoners as Guantanamo and likely still holds hundreds. Theyre crammed into wire cages, routinely tortured, forced to sleep on floor mats, and have buckets for latrines, or at least did until recently. Many prisoners are held secretly, have been there for years, have no access to lawyers, or any knowledge of the allegations against them. Most, perhaps all, are innocent victims and guilty only of being Muslims at the wrong time in the wrong place. Whats known about Bagram comes from released or transfered prisoners who got access to counsel. In early 2008, The New York Times also reported that the International Committee of the Red Cross filed a confidential complaint with US authorities charging that its detainees were held incommunicado for weeks or months in isolation cells and subjected to cruel treatment (torture) in violation of international law. In February 2005, The London Guardian reported that a prisoner named Mustafa was blindfolded, handcuffed, gagged, and forced to bend down over a table by three US soldiers. They then forcibly rammed a stick up my rectum.I could not stop screaming when this happened. Another case involved Wesam Abdulrahman Ahmed Al Deemawi. For over a 40 days, he was threatened with dogs, stripped and photographed in shameful and obscene positions, placed in a cage with a hook and hanging rope, and hung on it blindfolded for two days. Both men were never charged and were later released. Other prisoners were beaten, chained, hung from the ceiling by their wrists, and subjected to numerous other tortures and indignities for months or years. In some cases so horrifically they died. Aafia and other women were (and still are) at Bagram and other US torture- prisons (including torture-ships at sea), according to British journalist Yvonne Ridley: There are many Muslim women in the captivity of American forces and if (people remain) silent, (theyll) lose their sisters forever. Some are treated even worse than Aafia.

Ridley wrote about Bagrams Prisoner 650? and her ordeal of torture and repeatedly being raped for over four years. The cries of (this) helpless woman echoed (with such torment) in the jail that (it) prompted prisoners to go on hunger strike. Ridley called her a gray lady (because) she (was) almost a ghost, a spectre whose cries and screams continue to haunt those who heard her. This would never happen to a Western woman. It did to Aafia, other Muslim women as well, and their ordeal continues horrifically. US and International Law on Prisoners of War and Enforced Disappearances US and international law are clear and unequivocal on prisoner detentions and their treatment. America under George Bush defiles it, and, given the rogue team hes assembled, the Obama administration (with or without Guantanamo) promises little or no change. These practices are grievous crimes of war and against humanity and should never be tolerated against anyone for any reason. Yet they persist. The US War Crimes Act (1996) defines these offenses as grave breaches under the Geneva Conventions (1949) and violations of its Common Article 3. It states in part: .the following acts are prohibited at any time and in any place.: violence to life and person (including) murder, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture; .humiliating and degrading treatment; sentencing or executing detainees without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court affording all the judicial guarantees.recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples; and assuring wounded and sick are (properly) cared for. The US Army Field Manual 27-10 is also explicit on the rule of law. It incorporates the Nuremberg Principles prohibiting crimes against humanity, and specifically obligates soldiers to disobey illegal orders or be subject to prosecution under international law. Paragraph 498 states that any person, military or civilian, who commits a crime under international law bears responsibility and may be punished. Paragraph 499 defines a war crime. Paragraph 509 denies the defense of superior orders in the commission of a crime, and paragraph 510 denies the defense of an act of state. Under Article VI of the Constitution (the supremacy clause), international law is part of domestic law, and US presidents take an oath under Article II, Section 1, Clause 7 to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. Further, Article II, Section 3 requires the president to take Care that the Laws be faithfully exercised. International human rights law also strictly prohibits secret detentions. Under Principle 6 of the (May 1989) UN Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions: Governments shall ensure that persons deprived of their liberty are (to be) held in officially recognised places of custody, and that accurate information on their custody and whereabouts, including transfers, is made promptly available to their relatives and lawyers or other persons of confidence. US and international laws leave no ambiguity on torture or its seriousness when practiced. The (1949) Third Geneva Conventions Article 13 (on the Treatment of Prisoners of War) states: Detainees must at all times be humanely treated. Any unlawful act or omission by the Detaining Power causing death or seriously endangering the health of a prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited.(these persons) must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation. Third Geneva also prohibits physical or mental torture, all other forms of coercion, collective punishment, corporal punishments, and any type of violence. These acts are war crimes. Vario SOURCE:freedetainees.org

A federal court in Manhattan on Thursday sentenced Dr Aafia Siddiqui to 86 years of imprisonment for the attempted murder of US officers in Afghanistan. It is my judgment that Dr Siddiqui is sentenced to a period of incarceration of 86 years, said Judge Richard Berman. Siddiqui, 38, denounced the trial and said an appeal would be a waste of time. I appeal to God. A jury found Siddiqui guilty in February of trying to kill US agents and military officers, after she was detained in 2008 by the Afghan police.

During Siddiquis three-week trial, FBI agents and US soldiers testified that when they went to interrogate Siddiqui, she snatched an unattended assault rifle. They claimed that the neuroscientist allegedly shot at them after abusing America. Siddiqui was arrested in July 2008 by the Afghan police, who said she was carrying containers of chemicals and notes referring to mass-casualty attacks and New York landmarks. According to a news agency, during the hearings Siddiqui called on Muslims to resist using violence and said she loves American soldiers. Dont get angry, Siddiqui said in court to her supporters after the sentence was announced. Forgive Judge Berman. Berman responded, saying: I wish more defendants would feel the way that you do. Prosecutors said Siddiqui is a cold-blooded radical who deserves life in prison. Her conduct was not senseless or thoughtless, prosecutors wrote. It was deliberate and premeditated. Siddiqui should be punished accordingly. The defence had asked the judge for a sentence closer to 12 years behind bars. Her lawyers argued in court papers that their clients outburst inside a cramped Afghan outpost was a spontaneous freak out, born of mental illness not militancy. I do not want any bloodshed. I do not want any misunderstanding. I really want to make peace and end the wars, Siddiqui said. Siddiqui said she was particularly upset by overseas reports that she was being tortured in a US prison and added that she was actually being treated well. I am not sad. I am not distressed. They are not torturing me, she said. This is a myth and lie and its being spread among the Muslims. However, Siddiquis sister, Dr Fauzia said that Aafia was being forced to make incorrect statements and added that it was evident (in published photographs) that she had been tortured. Reaction During a press conference soon after the verdict was announced, Dr Fauzia vowed that Siddiqui will be brought back, and that from this day onwards Aafia Movement will begin. Mark my words, Aafia will come back. This is not her defeat, this is her victory, she said. We had no better expectations from this Judge. Anything less than a hundred (years) would be clemency on his part. Fauzia, along with her mother, slammed the government for failing to fulfil their promises to bring Siddiqui back. Keep increasing the sentence, make it a century or over. This is not a punishment for Aafia, it is a slap on the face of our rulers who were responsible for bringing her back. The previous government sold her once; this government has sold her again and again.

She went on to say that the judgment has proved to the whole world that the justice system that America prides itself on, no longer exists. Protest Earlier in Karachi on Thursday, about 400 activists of the Jamaat-e-Islami and its allied youth group, Pasban, gathered outside the Karachi Press Club carrying pictures of Siddiqui and chanting slogans against the US govt and justice system. Free Aafia, We want Aafia, not dollars! the activists chanted, a reference to US aid funds. (Additional input from news desk) Published in The Express Tri
We received the following photos on the Press Conference. There was a story on the Associated Press of Pakistan, the full text being posted below the sleeve. Main points from this story:

Elizabeth Fink (lawyer for Dr. Aafia) demanded that Dr. Aafia be transferred to a hospital for the proper, recommended care, ordered by the Court. Fink called the U.S. authorities indifference towards her client as cruel and inhuman and in violation of American laws. U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia (the prosecutor) informed her through a letter on Friday that an 11year-old boy detained along with Dr. Siddiqui appears to be the Pakistani womans son.

Child is American citizen, not Pakistani needs to be collected by State Department from the Afghan government. [US Govt's behavior is unbelievable in their treatment of this young child]

Ms. Siddiqui has recently refused to meet with her lawyers, because the prison changed its policy and now requires her to undergo a full strip search before meeting visitors. The abdominal wound and other health problems recently observed during a medical examination make it too painful for Siddiqui to undergo an invasive full-body search, Ms. Fink said, calling the procedure dehumanizing and degrading..

If we receive any further word, we will post it here

Lawyer demands Dr Aafias shifting to hospital for urgent treatment

NEW YORK, Aug 26 (APP): A lawyer for Aafia Sidiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist charged with trying to kill American interrogators in Afghanistan, has made a fervent plea to U.S. authorities to immediately shift her client to a hospital in view of her worsening state of health. Her condition has significantly deteriorated since August four when she was brought to New York, an angry Elizabeth Fink told a press conference in a Brooklyn park, a block away from a federal prison where she is being held under harsh conditions. She (Dr. Siddiqui) should be transferred to Bellevue hospital for urgent medical and psychological treatment, the lawyer added. Ms. Fink expressed her outrage that even after a court ordered medical examination, Dr. Siddiqui, despite her life-threatening condition, did not receive the recommended treatment. She described the U.S. authorities indifference towards her client as cruel and inhuman and in violation of American laws. She also said that the U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia (the prosecutor) informed her through a letter on Friday that an 11-year-old boy detained along with Dr. Siddiqui appears to be the Pakistani womans son. Unlike Dr. Siddiqui, who is being held in the Metropolitan Detention Centre, the boy is in the custody of Afghan authorities, Ms. Fink said, adding that the child, who appeared confused, has been interrogated by FBI agents several times. According to the letter, she said, the results of a DNA test showed the boys DNA was consistent with that of a potential offspring of Aafia Siddiqui. More tests are being done, the letter said, and they should be completed this week. U.S. authorities also compared a passport photo of Dr. Siddiquis son, Mohammed Ahmed, to the boy held in Afghanistan and believed they appeared to be the same person. He was born in Boston and was therefore an American citizen, it said. The child is an American citizen, he is not a Pakistani citizen, Ms. Fink said. She said the State Department should collect the child from the Afghan authorities. Both the boy and Dr. Siddiqui, a 36-year-old MIT-trained behavioural neuroscientist, were picked up by Afghan National Police earlier this month. When she was apprehended, the prosecution claimed Dr. Siddiqui had in her possession maps of New York, a list of potential targets that included the Statue of Liberty and Times Square, and detailed chemical, biological and radiological weapon information that has been seen only in a handful of terrorist cases. Ms. Finks press conference was organized by the Dr. Aafia Siddiqui Defence Committee. Ryan Hancock, a Philadelphia-based civil rights attorney and spokesman for the committee, said his group was a loose-knit collection of civil rights attorneys and Pakistani-Americans who believe the United States case against Dr. Siddiqui is purely political. Pakistani activists, carrying placards demanding justice and release of Dr. Siddiqui, arrayed behind Ms. Fink as she welcomed the proposed visit of Pakistani parliamentarians to meet their incarcerated compatriot. Pressure by the government of Pakistan would also help, she said, adding that she favoured Dr. Siddiquis repatriation to Pakistan. Salim Rizi, a Pakistani-American lawyer who is a member of the defence team, said they were doing everything possible so that Dr. Siddiquis trial is fair as also to ensure that she gets proper medical treatment.

The activists were led by Shahid Comrade, General Secretary of the Pakistan-USA Freedom Forum. Ms. Fink voiced her deep concern over the medical condition of Dr. Siddiqui, who was shot twice in the stomach when she was arrested by U.S. authorities, after she allegedly attempted to kill American personnel using a guards rifle. Ms. Siddiqui has recently refused to meet with her lawyers, Ms. Fink said, because the prison which holds her changed its policy and now requires Ms. Siddiqui to undergo a full strip search before meeting visitors. The abdominal wound and other health problems recently observed during a medical examination make it too painful for Siddiqui to undergo an invasive full-body search, Ms. Fink said, calling the procedure dehumanizing and degrading.. At a recent court appearance, Siddiqui was hunched over in a wheelchair, obviously in pain. Her bail hearing is scheduled for September 3, when she is expected to be indicted. Asked whether the U.S. government would bring more charges against her as reported in the press, Ms. Fink said the defence lawyers have not been provided any information. But she said if more charges were brought, she would deal with them. The lawyer declined to talk about the whereabouts of Dr. Siddiqui after her disappearance from Pakistan in 2003 and until her arrest in Afghanistan on July 18, saying, She has been through a living hell. She has been significantly traumatized and she needs immediate help, Ms. Fink added.

In the U.S Aafiya Siddiqi was charged with attempts on the FBI and the U.S. military. Protection to justify the actions of suspected mental disorder, but the prosecutor to the arguments of counsel was not heeded.n 2008, Siddiqui in Afghanistan, shouting "Death to America!" opened fire on American soldiers who were going to interrogate her. Gunfire in which a woman was injured. None of the Americans did not hurt .Aafia also suspected of having links with the terrorist organization al-Qaeda. When arrested, she had found documents with plans to prepare terrorist attacks in the United States in the region of the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and skyscrapers, "Empire State Building", as well as guidance for the manufacture of explosives US court decision of DR. AAFIA SIDDIQUI'S case sentenced punishment of 86 years,her lawyer requested for minimize but appeal turn-down by Us court

Feroz Mohammed Siddiqui Advocate condemned Aafia siddiquis verdict.

Karchi : Pakistan | Oct 02, 2010 BY ShaheerMsiddiqui

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VIEMr.siddiqui warned that verdict will create more distance between both the countries and the judgement against Siddiqui is based on anti-Muslim policy of the US,

Famous lawyer and member managing committee Karachi bar association Mr. Feroz Mohammed Siddiqui advocate condemned the verdict about Aafia siddiqui during his speech at shuhda-e-panjab hall at city court Karachi. He also said that the said decision is a judicial bias because before the taking said decision all fundamental principal of justice are ignored and we could not expect to this immature conclusion from the Americans court. Numbers of lawyers were present to attend the session which is held by the Karachi bar association, after that lawyers and civil society came out and raise the slogan "Free Aafia Siddiqui" and "Down with the US system of justice". Moreover Mr.siddiqui warned that verdict will create more distance between both the countries and the judgement against Siddiqui is based on anti-Muslim policy of the US,

Doctor Dr Aafia Afia Siddiqui Sentenced to 86 years in Jail by US court

Ashford : WA : USA | Sep 28, 2010 BY JinnahSeQuaid

10 VIEWS: 78

One of the sadest news in my life.Now Pakistani citizens will be punished in other countries.Pakistan has no dignity. Dr Afia Siddqui sentenced to Jail for 86 years... To Read full article click here.

Detailed judgment on Aafias sentence released

Walla Walla : WA : USA | Sep 25, 2010 BY Sajid

Wahid

10 VIEWS: 12

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Aafia-Siddiqui-1

WASHINGTON: A detailed verdict, comprising 111 pages, on Dr. Aafia Siddiquis sentencing by a US court has been released on Sunday. Experts said the detailed judgment has reviewed, from all aspects, the courts proceedings, leading to incarcerating Siddiqui to 86 years in prison. Dr Aafia Siddiqui (38) a Pakistani neuroscientist, was convicted of allegedly trying to kill American soldiers and FBI agents in Afghanistan in 2008. She was issued incarceration to 86 years in imprisonment on seven different counts including attempted murder. During the hearing, Siddiqui denounced the trial and said an appeal would be "a waste of time. I appeal to God."

I want no bloodshed over my conviction and sentence, Dr. Afia who was present in court said after judge pronounced of the sentence.

BREAKING NEWS :DR.AAFIA SIDDIQUI SENTENCE TO 86 YEARS PUNISHMENT FROM US COURT

New York City : NY : USA | Sep 23, 2010 BY zeeshan

ali

22 VIEWS: 2,110

In the court of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,there was a decision of DR. AAFIA SIDDIQUI'S case.SO the JUDGE of US COURT sentenced punishment of 86 years.DR.AAFIA SIDDIUI'S lawyer pleaded the US COURT to minimize her punishment but inspite of it,judge of US COURT announced 86 years punishment. The people in the court who were listening the decision was saying "shame shame" on the decision of the COURT.There were also the slogans of "ALLAH O AKBAR" in the court.The punishment given on the base of 7 accusations on her.

Does decision of United States Court comes in justification regarding Dr Affia siddiqui case:
New York City : NY : USA | Sep 25, 2010 BY hasnain

malik

20 VIEWS: 91

An American-born Pakistani Muslim Phd having 144 honors and certificates in Neurology from different institutes of the world.The only Neurologist in the world have an honorary Ph.d from Harvard.Hafiz Quran Aalima not even a single American matches her qualification ! Name : Dr. Aafia siddiqui.Now she's almost lost her memory because of physical,psychological and sexiul torture that she has been subjected too for a long time. She is improsined

with Men! Where the United states has hidden the voice of humanitarian ,in this specail case.Now U.S has announced 86 years of imprisionary to Aafia ,the elegation was that she had close link with Al-quaida and she worked with them ,and involved in terrorist activities.Nothing could be proved even then she has been sentenced for 86 year prison's life.Shame Shame Shame .On the day of judgement ,God will definitely take the answers from authorities whom has given this punishment to Dr.Aafia Siddiqui.

SHA

Dr. Aafias sentence

Islamabad : Pakistan | Sep 25, 2010 BY tanveerwoman

30 VIEWS: 36

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Pakistani protesters march during an anti-US protest rally in Karachi against the detention of Aafia Siddiqui

ISLAMABAD: Thousands of protestors came out on the streets to show their annoyance and protest against the judgment of Doctor Aafia Siddiqui on FridayMany political parties and other civil society organization staged expression in the different parts of federal capital.

A public meeting prepared by Islami Jamiyat Talaba to protest against confidence of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, started from Aabpara chock marched toward U.S. embassy. Earlier, they staged a huge expression at Abpara Chowk against US jury's decision in Aafia case. Tight security planning was made to turn away any untoward situation.

Pakistan regrets sentencing of Dr.Afia by U.S. court

Islamabad : Pakistan | Sep 24, 2010

BY FaisalHanif

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Islamabad wants Aafia Siddiqui to serve at least part of her sentence in Pakistan

Pakistan on Friday regretted the sentencing of Dr. Afia Siddiqui by a U.S. court and said the prolonged detention of Dr.Afia and her sentencing is a source

of deep concern to the Government and people of Pakistan. In a statement issued in Islamabad, the Foreign Office Spokesman said, the top leadership and the Government of Pakistan had repeatedly requested the U.S. Administration to release and repatriate Dr. Afia Siddiqui. The circumstances surrounding her arrest and trial were never fully explained nor her indictment on charges substantiated, he said. He said, Dr. Afia Siddiqui and her family have suffered immensely, adding, she is a victim of circumstances and it is imperative that Dr. Afia Siddiqui be released and repatriated. The Government of Pakistan will continue to endeavour to seek justice for Dr. Afia Siddiqui, he said.

Pakistanis angry after US jails scientist for 86 years

Islamabad : Pakistan | Sep 24, 2010 BY satyakam

20 VIEWS: 74

Protests are continuing in Pakistan, after a U.S. court jailed a Pakistani scientist for attempted murder. Aafia Siddiqui was sentenced to 86 years for trying to kill agents of the U.S. government in Afghanistan in 2009. Several hundred people took to the streets in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi on Friday following protests overnight, after news of the sentence.

DR AAFIA'S CASE HAD ATTRACTED OF HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS:

Karchi : Pakistan | Sep 23, 2010 BY zeeshan

ali

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AFIA PIC

A US Federal Court has sentenced Dr.Aafia Siddiqui, a US educated Pakistani Neuro Scientist to eighty-six years imprisonment. She was awarded sentence on seven cases including attempted murder, which vehemently denied by Dr.Aafia's lawyers. The case of Dr.Aafia Siddiqui had attracted the attention of human rights groups, some of which conducted campaigns in favour of a lenient sentence. Pakistani-Americans also raised their voice against her detention.
New York City : NY : USA | Sep 23, 2010

BY rsa76

10 VIEWS: 751

USA federal court jailed to Afia Siddiqui who is Pakistani neuroscientist for 86 years. Dr Aafia Siddiqui denounced the trial and said an appeal would be a waste of time. I appeal to God. When her lawyer Dawn Cardi said in the court that they would appeal the sentence, Dr Siddiqui shouted they are not my lawyers.

USA FEDERAL COURT SENTECED TO 86 YEARS OF JAIL TO MUSLIM DAUGHTER - Dr AFIA SIDDIQUI
Manorville : NY : USA | Sep 23, 2010 BY rsa76

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Aafia Siddiqui with Judge Richard Berman in New York

Pakistani Daughter Dr. Aafia Siddiqui was sentenced to 86 years of imprisonment by a US federal court in Manhattan on Thursday, after she was convicted of firing at US troops in Afghanistan while in their custody and other six charges brought against her. Her lawyers had requested a sentence f 12 years, while prosecutors had pressed for a life sentence. It is my judgment that Dr Siddiqui is sentenced to a period of captivity of 86 years, said Judge Richard Berman who was in charge of this case.

Pakistan: Protest rallies ahead of verdict against Aafia Siddiqui

Islamabad : Pakistan | Sep 23, 2010 BY asmatniazi

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Pakistan's Interior Minister talks with Afghan Foreign Minister at prime minister's residence in Islamabad

Islamabad: Protest ralies were organized against the conviction of Aafia Siddiqui who is unbder trial in United states and a judge is scheduled to sentence Siddiqui on Thursday in federal court in Manhattan. Aafia was arrested in Afghanistan on the charges of terrorism and attacks on western soldiers. A jury found her guilty in February of trying to kill U.S. agents and military officers after Afghan police detained her in 2008 a conviction that sparked off protests in

Pakistan.some protesters wanted to went to US embassy in Islamabad, but due to heavy security and mission being in red zone they failed to reach the area. Government of Pakistan has made appeal to pardon her as her two kids are waiting for her in Pakistan. Her lawyers argued in court papers that their client's outburst inside a cramped Afghan outpost was a spontaneous "freak out," born of mental illness instead of militancy. She was nabbed in Afghanistan two years ago and shifted to United states.

Govt played no part in recovery of Dr Aafias children: Soori

April 13th, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in News

KARACHI: The role of present government in recovery of Dr Aafia Siddiquis son and daughter, Ahmed and Maryam , remained nothing except just holding photo sessions, said Human Rights Network (HRC) Karachi President Intikhab Alam Soori. In a statement here on Monday, he stated that soon after the recovery of both children, Interior Minister took them in his custody and summoned Dr Fauzia Siddiqui in Islamabad and claimed that the recovery of the children was made possible due to government efforts. He charged that the government did not play its due role for recovering of the children and it did not give a chance to journalists to ask questions of them. However, the fact is that the children have been recovered due to efforts of Dr Fauzia and Human Rights Network, he claimed.Agency SOURCE : Regionaltimes.com

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Come clean, there is still time

April 13th, 2010 | 2 Comments | Posted in News

Its official: according to none other than this journal of record, the 12-year old child left outside a house in Karachi [on Sunday, April 4, 2008] is the missing daughter of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, the neuroscientist who was convicted in a US court for shooting at her US interrogators in Afghanistan. The child was left at Dr Aafia Siddiquis house by an American the child referred to as Uncle John and who has since disappeared into thin air. I have long held that Dr Siddiquis case was/is a very curious one indeed. Let us recap from the time that she disappeared from Karachi in the company of her three children in March 2003 until the time (July 17, 2008) that she was found loitering outside the Ghazni governors compound in Afghanistan in the company of a young lad said to be her son and both were taken into custody by the Afghan police. She was alleged to be carrying inflammable materials and maps of potential targets in the United States in jars in her handbag. How big these jars were, and how many kilogrammes of explosives were being transported in them was not mentioned to astounded readers. We were not told either what in the world Dr Siddiqui was doing in Ghazni, Afghanistan, right outside the governors compound and under the very noses of American and Afghan forces and police. I wrote at the time that mayhap she had gone to Ghazni to catch the United Airlines early evening flight to JFK. We were also informed that the next day, Dr Siddiqui had been shot in the abdomen at least once by an American soldier in self-defence after coming under fire from Dr Siddiqui who had come rushing out from behind a curtain where she was being held unrestrained for questioning, and picking up an M4 service rifle that had been left at his feet by an American warrant officer, had fired at him. And that but for the timely deflection of her shot by an Afghan interpreter she should have killed the American. Whilst her son was arrested with her in Ghazni we were also told in a letter penned to the press by the US ambassador to Pakistan H.E. Anne Patterson that the American authorities had absolutely no idea about what had

happened to her three children who had disappeared with her in March 2003. And now this young child turns up at her grandparents home in Karachi in the company of Uncle John. Curiouser and curiouser. This story was beyond belief then, it is beyond belief now. It defied credibility then, it defies credibility now. There are holes the size of the Titanic in this official version of events and at the time that this seeming poppycock was being rolled out, I had written a riposte to the US ambassadors letter on several aspects. For example as someone who has handled small arms as a soldier in the infantry; has taught them, and therefore has fired thousands of rounds from all types of small arms, I couldnt for the life of me imagine even a first-class shooter pick up a rifle he/she did not know, cock it, find the safety catch and flip it, and fire it in under the three seconds that it probably took the alleged Afghan translator to allegedly lunge at Siddiqui and allegedly deflect her alleged shot. I also asked why Siddiqui had been shot at after she had been overpowered by the Afghan translator and had probably been well and truly subdued, for she is no Samson. To prove the point that it was highly unlikely for this frail woman to do what she was alleged to have done, I suggested to the ambassador who seems to have the same dimensions as Dr Siddiqui to get one of her Marines at the embassy to place a loaded M4 service rifle (on safe as is the standard operating procedure) on the ground near her. She should then pick it up, cock it, flip the safety catch and fire it. I had suggested that she may well fail to even cock the seven-pound heavy rifle in 10 seconds, let alone fire it in three. I had reminded the ambassador of the embarrassment, nay disgrace, his handlers brought her former boss, the good Gen Colin Powell, when they made him tell white lies on live TV about Iraqs so-called weapons of mass destruction. I had said that whilst America had its Sarah Barracuda Palins also, who can shoot and skin (and eat?) a moose in under 17 minutes, what we Pakistanis must do is to pray with all our might that Barack Obama and Joe Biden beat the living daylights out of McCain and the Barracuda. And that we are rid of the neocon madmen and women who not only hold America the Beautiful by the jugular, but the rest of the world by the throat too. Well, friends, we are rid of the mindless Dubya and his keepers; the intelligent and compassionate Barack Obama is now the president of the mightiest country on the face of the planet. Now then Excellency, who is this Maryam girl; and who is her Uncle John? And where is Dr Siddiquis third child please? As I have said earlier, if some foolish official has messed up on the Afia Siddiqui case please do not exacerbate the matter by covering up for him/her and bringing America the Beautiful into more disrepute. Tell the whole truth even now; put the matter right even now. Dr Afia Siddiqui is accused of crimes ranging from buying blood diamonds to planning terrorist attacks to being the vilest person on earth. Yet, she was charged in court with what can only be called an impossible crime. Please act now, if only for the reason that America is home to some of the kindest hearted and generous and warm and disarmingly simple people anywhere on this planet.

DNA proves girl as Aafias daughter: Malik

April 11th, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in News

ISLAMABAD: The baby girl found from outside the house of Dr Fauzia, turned out to be the daughter of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, detained in US on alleged terror charges, Geo News reported Saturday. Talking to media, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik revealed that the DNA test proved that the child is the daughter of Dr Aafia. Rehman Malik said Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani will hold negotiations over issue relating the repatriation of Dr Aafia. On this occasion, Dr Aafias daughter Fatima was accompanied with her cousin Aalia and Dr Fauzia. SOURCE : Thenews.com.pk ISLAMABAD: A DNA test has proved that Maryam Khan is the biological daughter of Dr Amjad Khan, Dr Aafia Siddiquis former husband, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Saturday. Talking to reporters after meeting Dr Aafias sister Dr Fauzia, Malik said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani already on a US visit will hold negotiations for Dr Aafias repatriation. The DNA profile obtained from blood samples of Maryam Khan alias Fatima, Ahmad Muhammad her brother share the STR Genetic Markers with the DNA profile obtained from blood sample of Dr Amjad Khan. Based on the DNA analysis, Dr Amjad cannot be excluded as the biological father of Maryam alias Fatima, concludes the National Forensic Science Agencys report, an exclusive copy of which is available with Daily Times. The laboratory is run by the Interior Ministry.

Ahmed, Dr Aafias 12-year-old son, was recovered in 2008 and now lives with his aunt, Dr Fauzia in Karachi. Recovery: Meanwhile, Senate Standing Committee on Interior Chairman Talha Mehmood told a press conference that Maryam left by unidentified men on the doorstep of her aunts house a few days back was recovered from the Bagram airbase in Afghanistan. Talha said Maryam was found with an American named John, adding the Pakistan government was not making enough efforts to secure Dr Aafias release. He said if the US convicted the innocent Dr Aafia, it would distort its image among the community of nations. He said the standing committee would continue to struggle for her release, the same way it did for the recovery of her missing children. The release of Dr Aafia is a one-point agenda of the entire nation, but the apologetic attitude of the rulers has encouraged foreign forces to bring disgrace to the Pakistani people, the senator added. He said Prime Minister Gilani should take up Dr Aafias issue when he meets the US president to secure her release and bring back to Pakistan. SOURCE : Dailytimes.com.pk ISLAMABAD: The government on Saturday formally declared 12-year-old Maryam the daughter of Dr Aafia Siddiqui after a DNA test and handed the girl over to Aafias family. Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, the sister of Aafia, visited the Interior Ministry with Maryam on Saturday and held a meeting with Interior Minister Rehman Malik. Talking to the media after the meeting, the interior minister said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani wanted to make the announcement himself, but he asked him to announce that. Malik said the DNA report had proved that Maryam was the daughter of Aafia. Responding to a question, he said the government was taking all possible measures for the return of Aafia. He said the prime minister would raise the issue of her release with the US leaders during his stay in the US. Talking to the media, Dr Fauzia Siddiqui said the DNA test had proved that the girl was the daughter of Aafia. She praised the efforts made by the government regarding the repatriation of Aafia and her children and specially mentioned the efforts of the interior minister. SOURCE : Thenews.com.pk ISLAMABAD,(SANA): Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that the DNA test of the baby girl found from outside the house of Dr Fauzia proved that the girl was the daughter of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, detained in US. Talking to media, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani would hold negotiations over issue relating the repatriation of Dr Aafia. Dr Aafias daughter Fatima was present at the occasion accompanied with her cousin Aalia and Dr Fauzia. Senator Talha Mehmood said the girl was found from Bagram air base.

Dr. Aafias 12 year old daughter liberated from US Bagram Airbase

April 10th, 2010 | 1 Comment | Posted in News

US citizen, and MIT graduate, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui mysteriously disappeared on a trip to Pakistan. Six years later Dr. Aafia was discovered at the American Air Force base at Bagram in Afghanistan. She had been brutally raped and tortured for years. The woman was then transferred to the US and charged with wrestling a gun from a marine in a room full of US armed force personnel. Despite the fact that Dr Aafias finger prints was not found on the weapon that she had supposedly used, and the inconvenient truth that the walls of the room did not have any bullets, Dr. Aafia was convicted for firing at the marineshe was given a sentence of 40 years. Dr. Aafia had three children. One son is stil missing. The middle daughter Mariam was found from the Bagram Air Force base. The firl is 11 years old and could only speak English. Mr. Karzai had told the family that if no questions were asked, he would return the child to the family. The young daughter Mariam was left at the gate of the Siddiqui familys home. Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui adopted her even before the DNA results were in. The daughter is in a frail and precarious condition, and doesnt recognize anyone. The American born child was kept in incarceration for seven years in what she described as a cold and dark room at the American Airbase in Bagram Afghanistan.

ISLAMABAD: Senate Committee for Interior Chairman Senator Talha Mehmood told media today that the daughter of Dr Afia Siddique was recovered from Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan. She was with an American there named John. He was briefing media beside Dr Afias daughter. He threatened to block Nato logistics if Dr Afia was not brought back to Pakistan. Some days back some unidentified people left an 11-year-old girl outside Dr Fauzias house. The girl told the Siddiqui family that her name was Fatima and could speak English and Persian only while Dr Fauzia to confirm her as Aafiaa daughter Mariam got her DNA test done which came as positive today. Earlier today, the government formally declared 12 years old Maryam as daughter of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui after proved by DNA Test and the girl handed over to the family of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui, sister of Dr Aafia Siddiqui visited the Interior Ministry with 12 years old Maryam on Saturday and held a meeting with Interior Minister Rehman Malik Saturday. Talking to media after holding the meeting, the Interior Minister said that Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani wanted to make the announcement himself but he asked him to announce this. Rehman Malik said that the DNA Report has proved that 12 years old Maryam is daughter of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, adding the girl only speak English. According to reports, the girls DNA matched that of Ahmed, Dr Aafias son. The report has been handed over to the investigation police. Dr Afias daughter recovered from Bagram Airbase: Senator Talha, Updated at: 1642 PST, Saturday, April 10, 2010,

British Parliamentarians for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui

April 9th, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in News

LONDON (UK): Four British Muslim Parliamentarians have demanded release of Dr.Aafia Siddiqui from the US custody and her return to Pakistan along with her two missing children. In a letter addressed to US President Barack Obama and released to the media, Lord Nazir Ahmed along with Lord Altaf Sheikh, Lord Patel and MP Muhammad Sarwar have stressed that Dr.Siddiquis cause has become a rallying point for the people of Pakistan . We must stress that anti-American feeling her treatment is causing in an area key to success against extremist insurgency, the Parliamentarians said. The lawmakers hoped that President Obama, who values the admirable founding principles of his nation, will use his good offices to resolve the matter which is very dear to the people of Pakistan. The British legislators also questioned fairness of her recent trial conducted under the supervision of Judge Richard Berman. We are informed that in this case there was an utter lack of concrete evidence tying Dr Siddiqui to the weapon she allegedly fired at a US officer. Furthermore, there was no evidence of bullets or residue from a fired gun at the scene of the crime. All scientific and forensic evidence such as DNA testing and finger printing have exonerated Dr.Siddiqui and on the basis of this we find very difficult to identify how a guilty verdict was reached. They also strongly believed that a grave miscarriage of justice has occurred in Dr.Siddiquis case which contravenes both the US obligations as a UN member state and the familys rights under the Sixth Amendment of the US constitution. We therefore as that her missing children be located post haste and that the family be returned to Pakistan as innocent victims of the war on terror.

Has the govt abandoned Dr Aafia?

April 2nd, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in News

ISLAMABAD The government has quietly taken a U-turn on Aafia Siddiquis case letting the Americans decide her fate, top-level credible sources told TheNation on Thursday. To the shock and disbelief of common Pakistanis, government authorities have quietly conveyed to the Americans that Pakistan is no more interested to pursue this case, said the sources. According to New York based credible sources, Pakistani officials stationed in New York and Washington believed Aafia might emerge like a political heroine after securing release from the US detention, causing trouble for the incumbent government.

However, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi strongly rejected these allegations and said the government was still in touch with the American authorities to secure Aafias release. We have provided Aafia with every possible support she needed and still we are pursuing the case to get her back home, Shah Mahmood Qureshi told this correspondent on Thursday during a brief chat held in his office. Under growing domestic pressure, President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari directed the authorities last month to evolve a new strategy to pursue the case of Dr Aafia Siddique, a Pakistani scientist detained in US over terror charges. Foreign Office said last month (in first week of march) the authorities have decided to hire another law firm to defend Dr Aafia while following President Zardaris assurance to provide financial support to meet legal expenses. It is pertinent to note that President Asif Ali Zardari had held a meeting with the mother and sister of the detained woman in the first week of March assuring them of all possible support. However, another month has passed but the Foreign Office has yet to take any step in this regard. Present circumstances are testimony to the fact that the incumbent government might have eased off from pursuing Aafias case since there has been no progress in this aspect of the case, said observers. Especially noticeable was the silence of the Foreign Minister-led delegation to Washington in March which did not raise the issue of Dr Aafia at all in the Strategic Dialogue. Dr Aafia may have to spend the whole of her remaining life in an American jail following the controversial decision of a US court that found her guilty. Opposition parties in Pakistan are criticising the government for failing to bring back the ailing woman.

Long March for Aafias release from 10th

March 6th, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in News

ISLAMABAD Exhibiting grave concerns over the alleged sluggishness of the PPP-led regime to get Dr Aafia Siddique released from illegal imprisonment of USA, civil society activists on Wednesday announced to launch Long March from 10th of March. A series of events are in pipeline as a part of a Long March that would be launched from Faisalabad Bar Association. The announcement was made in a peaceful demonstration at Abpara Chowk organised by the Pakistan Professionals Forum and student community of the twin cities to condemn and convey shock and abhorrence against the unjust verdict in Dr Aafia Siddiques case and to show solidarity with her and her family. Dr Fauzia Siddqui, Dr Afia s sister was also present at the occasion along with the representatives of the Pakistan Professionals Forum, Defence of Human Rights (DHR) and the civil society activists. Peoples belonging to all walks of life including doctors, engineers, lawyers, academicians, students, and other professionals also massively participated in the demonstration and rejected, in unequivocal terms, the illegal detention and conviction of Dr Aafia Siddiqui by NY court. The demo was held during rain. Participants on the occasion vehemently condemned her detention and appealed for efforts to secure her immediate release. They opined that Dr Afia Siddiqui is a citizen of Pakistan and she was illegally abducted by Pakistani intelligence agencies and handed over to US authorities. Pakistan has the legal authority and jurisdiction to hear her trial and decide her fate, if she has ever committed a crime. Handing her over to US authorities is a gross violation of the constitution of Pakistan and an insult to the judicial system in Pakistan and the nation as a whole. They also said that the horrifying case of Aafia Siddiqui and her three children is a glaring example of the criminal and inhuman practices of US imperialism and its ally, the Pakistani government. While addressing the gathering, Dr Fauzia Siddqui said that the aggrieved families of the missing persons under the leadership of Amna Janjua have been waiting for the recovery of their relatives and consider that the current situation is contrary to what the government and other people from ruling parties are announcing. She said that the Kangaroo court of New York has held Dr Aafia Siddiqui guilty for a crime that she never committed despite the fact that no fingerprints of Dr Aafia were found on the gun; neither witnesses could testify their statements. Abduction, illegal imprisonment, torture and rape of Dr Aafia by US forces is insult of national integrity, dignity and sovereignty of 170 million Pakistani people, she noted. She maintained that government of Pakistan has not made sincere efforts to get Dr Aafia released from illegal imprisonment of USA during last two years. She urged the leading political parties of Pakistan and their leaders, particularly, Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif to put their act together and make sincere efforts beyond making press statements for immediate repatriation of Dr Aafia to her family in Karachi, otherwise nation would not forgive them forever.

In her address Amna Masood Janjua, Chairperson Defence of Human Rights (DHR) and wife of one of the missing persons Masood Janjua said that they demand that government of Pakistan should immediately withdraw its cooperation with US in so-called war on terror and ban all transit supplies of US and NATO armed forces to Afghanistan from Pakistan. Dr Aafia is daughter of Pakistan and her return to Pakistan is very vital issue, and government must take immediate steps for safe recovery of all the missing persons including Dr Aafia, she noted. SOURCE : Nation.com.pk ISLAMABAD (SANA): The Defense of Human Rights along with other human rights organizations working for missing persons announced to organize a long march for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and other missing persons from Faisalabad to Islamabad on March 10. This announcement was made during the protest rally taken out in connection with missing persons and Aafias tale under the auspices of Pakistan Professional Forum. Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui, the sister of Dr. Aafia, Amna Masood Janjoah, the chairperson of Defense of Human Rights, Asif Luqman Qazi, the Chairman of Pakistan Professionals Forum and Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Islamabad Syed Muhammad Bilal spoke on the occasion. The participants included students, engineers, teachers, representatives of human rights organizations, members of civil society and people from different walks of life. The organizations appealed the people to boycott the political parties which are not playing their role for the release of Dr. Aafia and all other missing persons. They appealed the people to fully participate in the long march. SOURCE : Sananews.com.pk KHAIRPUR: Dr Fauzia Siddiqui has announced to launch a long march from Karachi to Islamabad to gather support for repatriation of her sister Dr Aafia Siddiqui. Addressing the Sukkur District Bar members here on Friday, she said Prime Minister Gilani was making all-out efforts for release of her sister from the illegal captivity in America. Dr Fauzia said her sister was innocent and not involved in any terrorist plot and accused the US of violation of the human rights and torturing Dr Aafia. She said the political parties were supporting her sister and had launched rallies to develop pressure upon the government for efforts to repatriate her sister. She said that Pakistan embassy in the US should take up the matter seriously and asked the political forces and human rights activists to develop collective pressure upon the Government of Pakistan to address the Dr Aafia case. SOURCE : Thenews.com.pk

Message from Dr Aafias family on the ocassion of her birthday

March 3rd, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in News

Dr Aafias birthday March 2nd to be celebrated, not mourned. 2nd March 2010 marks Aafias 7th birthday and approximately 2,540 days in captivity. Many supporters decided to mark the occasion by celebrating the day. True, it is odd that we will celebrate without Aafia being amongst us. In fact, Aafia was not much for celebrating birthdays. But we will celebrate to remind us that Aafia is not forgotten and remains very much among us, in spirit, even if she is physically locked up in a coffin sized US prison cell. This day marks the first birthday when the US claims to have taken the rest of Aafias life (even though 7 years have already been taken away from her and her children). But we will use this to mark the first birthday of Aafia, the daughter of the Pakistani Nation. We have come to realize that Aafia is no longer just our sister and daughter or just another political prisoner from the War of Terror; she is the living symbol of all that has become of her nation and its honor. So, on March 2nd, we remember on behalf of the entire nation. We use this as the beginning of a calendar and a commitment to seek not only Aafias restoration to her family, but also the safe return of all missing persons and, most importantly, the restoration of peace and security in the nation that stood up for its daughter when others hid in fear. While we celebrate, we will ask all supporters to let this truly be a celebration, not a venue for anger or excuse to harm any person or property. Let it be a message to those who would like to propagate the lies that Aafia is violent or her supporters are radicals, that while we are determined to defend and fight for our honor and expose the lies, we will do so in a dignified and restrained manner. We will not let the perpetrators of the War of Terror be our teachers. We will show, InshaAllah, that Aafia can be brought back and the Pakistani nation can unite and act with resolve

and do so in a manner that shows the best of our Islamic and Pakistani heritage. We want to show that emotions can be channeled into action and slogans into results instead of rants. This is also the month of Rabi-ul-Awal, the month in which our blessed prophet Muhammad (SAAW) both entered and also departed from this world. And so, it is an opportunity to not only celebrate life but also reflect on what one makes of it. In the end we enter and exit alone. We enter with nothing and leave with nothing except the account of how we lived. The day to day trials and triumphs, the joys and sorrow, the wealth and poverty, the arrogance of power and the burden of oppression these are all transient conditions that never stay the same. In the end it is only how a person reacts to these that matters and is remembered. Our lives are testimony to this. What we learn from this is to maintain perspective. Not easy nor always successful, but essential to maintaining sanity. When this is attempted, it is surprising how the blessings of God become evident even in the worst of circumstances and humility becomes essential in each success. This is how we come to find reason to celebrate at a time when the world would have us mourn. Yes, an American court, out of fear, condemned Aafia, but through that trial it also exposed the total lack of any evidence against Aafia and the naked cover up of all that was done to her. Yet, this very act of condemnation also raised her status in the entire Muslim world from a victim to a heroine. She went from being a name to a symbol, from a mothers daughter to the daughter of a nation. Yet, we know labels are also transient. We remember when she was a pariah, the most dangerous woman in the world and to some she still is. But, then, as now, to us she remains a simple human being a sister, a daughter, a mother. So, whether people celebrate a national symbol, the rise of a heroine, the face of all missing persons or the memory of a terror victim, we hope they will also remember that underneath all that is a tortured human being named Aafia Siddiqui and it is for her living memory that we celebrate in joy and not in sorrow.

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Rally for release of Dr Aafia today

March 3rd, 2010 | 1 Comment | Posted in News

Islamabad : The Pakistan Professional Forum (PPF) will stage a rally at Aabpara Chowk here today (Wednesday) to press the government for securing release of detained Pakistani neuroscientist Dr. Aafia Siddiqui from the US. Dr. Aafias sister, Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui, will address the rally to be attended people from different walks of life, especially civil society activists and students. An American court convicted Dr. Aafia over charges that she tried to kill Americans during her detention in Afghanistan in 2008. A family lawyer immediately announced an appeal, citing prejudice and bias.

Meanwhile, the Journal Club of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Pathology Department celebrated Dr. Aafias 38th birthday. Postgraduate doctors and faculty members attended the cake-cutting ceremony. They prayed for early release of Dr. Aafia and urged the government to do its best for the purpose.. SOURCE : Thenews.com.pk

Senate passes resolution in support of Aafia

February 23rd, 2010 | No Comments | Posted in News

ISLAMABAD: A unanimous resolution was passed in the upper house on Monday in support of Dr Aafia Siddiqi. The resolution demanded the government of taking concrete measures and diplomatic efforts to secure early release of Pakistani neuroscientist from the US custody. Federal Law Minister Dr Babar Awan told the house that at least three links were missing from the incidental evidence submitted against Dr. Siddiqi. He said the benefit of the doubt always goes to the accused. Therefore, she should be released. SOURCE : Thenews.com.pk ISLAMABAD: The Senate passed a resolution on Monday expressing its grave concern over the sentence awarded to Pakistani national Dr Aafia Siddiqui by an American jury, DawnNews reported. The resolution moved by Talha Mehmood demanded of the government to take effective steps including diplomatic measures to secure Aafias immediate release. Meanwhile, Chairman Senate Farooq H. Naek referred two bills moved by Senator Raza Rabbani to the concerned standing committees for their feedback and reports. They were the State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) bill and the SBP Banking Services Corporation Ordinance (Repeal) bill. SOURCE : Dawn.com ISLAMABAD: Senate has unanimously adopted condemnation resolution on US jury verdict against Dr Aafia Siddiqui besides calling upon the government to ensure early unconditional release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui from US prison. The members of senate urged the government to review its relations with US if Dr Aafia Siddiqui is not released. Presenting the resolution, senator Talha Mehmood said Dr Aafia Siddiqui was shot injured during her detention. According to Dr Aafia Siddiqui her children are being used to black mail her, he added. The government has got recovered only one child of her while two children were still missing, he told. Bullet was fired on Dr Aafia Siddqui and she was convicted too, he alleged. Even she was not allowed counselor access, he remarked. The lack of interest on the part of government in this case was very regrettable, he charged. Pakistan ambassador in US did not contest the case in proper way nor did he take any interest therein, he added. If we have to live with dignity in the world then we will have to reject US 1.5 Billion dollars aid, he stressed. Law minister Babar Awan told the house government was taking measures to secure release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui with abiding by all the laws prevailing between the two countries. This case pertained to clash of two states and benefit of doubt goes to the accused always, he added. US jury has given verdict and not awarded punishment, he told. SOURCE : Onlinenews.com.pk IslamabadThe Senate passed a resolution expressing its grave concern over the sentence awarded to Pakistani national Dr. Aafia Siddiqui by an American jury. The resolution moved by Talha Mehmood demanded the government to take effective steps including diplomatic measures to get her released immediately. Speaking on the occasion, Senator Talha Mehmood termed that entire judicial proceedings accomplished by the US court as flawed and violation of International Law because she was shifted to America from Afghanistan without any extradition between both countries as well as she was denied of her basic right to Counsellor access prior to shifting her to America. He also declared that registration of case under the charge of attempt on life was also ridiculous as none of the American troop was injured due to her attempt but she herself was badly injured as a result of indiscriminate firing by the US marine. Moreover he added saying, her case is sheer violation of fundamental human rights, but role of American judiciary as well as international human rights organizations is also a question mark in this connection. Later, the House resumed debate on prevailing price hike and overall economic situation in the country after two days interval. The Senators urged government and opposition to focus on measures to grant relief to the people instead of indulging in political issues.

SOURCE : Pakobserver.net ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Monday unanimously passed a resolution expressing concern over the sentence given to Dr Aafia Siddiqui in the United States, and demanded the government take all political and diplomatic measures to secure the Pakistani scientists release. Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood moved the resolution in the House. With the consent of the House, the Chair amended the wording of the resolution, which was announced by Senator Nayyer Bukhari, Leader of the House, as the House expresses great concern over Dr Aafias case and demands the government take all political and diplomatic measures for her release. Law Minister Senator Babar Awan declared Dr Aafias case conflict of law. It is violation of international law as three points are not clear like the origin of arrest, abduction from Pakistan and circumstances which always go in the favour of Dr Aafia, he said. He said the government took several measures for the immediate release of Dr Aafia and President Asif Ali Zardari had also spoken to the US authorities regarding her release. Senator Prof Khursheed Ahmed suggested that a joint resolution should be framed by both houses of parliament to build pressure for Dr Aafias release. ANP walkout: Meanwhile, the Awami National Party (ANP) staged a walkout during the proceedings of the points of order session. The government did not give us due representation in the Core Committee, comprising the PPP and the MQM, constituted to maintain law and order in Sindh, Senator Ilyas Bilour said as he announced that his party would walk out of the session in protest. Senator Seemi Sadique expressed dissatisfaction over the governments agreements with the International Monetary Fund. We should not be dependent on the IMF, she said during the discussion on inflation. She hinted at possible water terrorism in the region, and that Pakistan should move the International Court of Justice to resolve the water crisis with India under the Indus Basin Treaty. The Chair also referred two bills, The State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2010 (Omission of section 8A) and The SBP Banking Service Corporation Ordinance (Repeal) Bill, 2010 to committee concerned for further discussion. Senator Raza Rabbani introduced both bills in the Upper House. The chairman adjourned the session until today (Tuesday) 10:30am. SOURCE : Dailytimes.com.pk Islamabad, Feb. 23 (ANI): The Pakistani Senate has passed a resolution expressing its grave concern over the sentence awarded to Pakistani national Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in America over terror charges. Last week, Siddiqui was indicted by a Manhattan court on terrorism charges. She has been charged for firing at American investigators in Afghanistan in July 2008, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 6. A New York court found her guilty on charges related to the attempted murder and assault of US nationals and US officers and employees in Afghanistan. (ANI) SOURCE : News.oneindia.in

Dr. Aafia Siddiquis denies shooting US officials

Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist under U.S. detention, appeared on July 6, 2009, in the New York court of U.S. District Judge Richard Berman who had ordered prosecution to bring her in court against her wishes. Dr Aafia, 37, is in US custody facing charges of an alleged attempt to shoot American personnel in Afghanistan. She was brought to New York in August last year by US agents from Afghanistan after her sudden appearance at the US military prison at Bagram, Afghanistan. She was apparently abducted, along with her three children, by Pakistani intelligence agencies in March 2003 and till July 2008 there was no news about her whereabouts. Dr. Aafia has appeared in court twice after she was brought to the US but has refused to attend proceedings since then because she does not want to be strip searched. She has repeatedly stated she was dead after one strip search and that she was convinced video of the search was distributed on the Internet. According to her lawyer, Dawn Cardi, Judge Richard Berman had given permission to the prosecutors to bring her to court against her will.

July 6, five-hour hearing was held after a court-ordered evaluation found her unfit for trial as a result of mental illness and the Judge ordered further evaluations. A previous court-ordered mental health examination declared Dr. Aafia mentally unfit for trial, and she was then sent to a federal medical center in Carswell, Texas to be further evaluated. According to the ABC News, during a confidential forensic exam there, mental health professionals concluded, "Dr. Aafia is not currently competent to proceed as a result of her mental disease, which renders her unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against her or to assist properly in her defense." The Associated Press quoted her as saying: "I did not shoot anybody. I didn't fire any bullets." She was refuting a government charge that she picked up a US soldiers gun, took off the safety, surprised everyone in a room, and pointed the rifle at three U.S. personnel while she was detained by Afghan police in Ghazni. The U.S. government claims that Dr. Aafia did all this while no U.S. soldier was watching until the time she was allegedly pointing the rifle. No U.S. personnel were injured. However, Dr. Aafia, herself, was shot in the abdomen by a warrant officer. She survived surgery in Bagram by U.S. personnel. The affidavit filed in the U.S. district court was that of a person who heard comments of the alleged events surrounding Dr. Aafia. No one who was physically present at this alleged shooting by Dr. Aafia has filed any sworn statement against her as to what actually happened in Ghazni. According to the AP, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui repeatedly spoke Monday (7/6) to spectators. "I want to make peace with the United States of America," Dr. Afia said to the backs of those at the prosecution table. "I'm not an enemy. I never was." Dr. Aafia told spectators: "The American president wants to make peace. I want to help him. Am I making sense? I'm sincere." The agency also reported that throughout Monday's hearing, Dr. Afia rubbed her wrists, reddened by what she said was rough treatment by jailhouse guards who forced her to court in observance of the judge's order that she appear. The ABC News pointed out that: There have been allegations that Dr. Aafia has been mistreated while in custody. Some human rights groups have alleged that she was detained for years overseas in various secret sites for high-value detainees. There has not been any official response from any entity regarding Dr. Aafias detention or possible mistreatment while in custody. The AP said two mental health experts for the government, Gregory B. Saathoff and Sally C. Johnson, testified she's fit for trial because her behavior reflects malingering or grossly exaggerated psychological symptoms aimed at getting a result, such as avoiding trial. When Johnson testified that Dr. Aafia had said the judge is a pawn of a Zionist conspiracy and only wants to kill her, Dr. Aafia turned toward spectators and nodded her head enthusiastically in apparent agreement. According to Reuters Dr. Aafia begged to activists to hear her message. "Please take me seriously, I am not psychotic," she said, interrupting a doctor's testimony. "God willing I can fix the mess in Afghanistan and Pakistan," she said, before talking about various topics including being silenced, bruises from strip searches, being tortured "as part of their game" and helping U.S. President Barack Obama make peace. Kucharski, the AP reported, testified that her prospects might be worse if she were found incompetent because it could trigger a court order of forced medication to treat symptoms so that she could become competent for trial. And, if her symptoms are not treatable, she could remain institutionalized for life, he said.

The AP said before she left court, Dr. Aafia insisted she's not paranoid or psychotic and described her fears that her statements Monday might be her last. "It's probably the last opportunity I'm going to get," she said, noting the possibility she will be subjected to forced medication. "I've seen people on the drugs. They can't talk." The AP also reported that at least twice during the hearing she indicated she will not cooperate with her court-appointed lawyer, Dawn M. Cardi who said outside court that her client's behavior supported her argument that she's unfit for trial. "She's not making any sense," Cardi said. The lawyer noted that Siddiqui had shouted to spectators that she could bring peace to Pakistan and Afghanistan if she were permitted to speak with President Barack Obama. It was an example of grandiose behavior that supports conclusions that she is delusional, Cardi said. According to ABC, before the hearing ended, Dr. Aafia addressed the prosecutors directly, telling them, "Your President wants to make peace, but you guys are not acting on it." Dr. Aafia also addressed onlookers in the courtroom, declaring that she was "never against America." The judge will decide on July 20 if Dr. Aafia was fit to stand trial. A trial is set for Oct 19. If convicted of the charges, she would face a minimum of 30 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. Attorney Charlie Swift According to Attorney Charlie Swift, defense attorney of Salim Hamadan, driver of Osama Bin Laden, there are many things common between Hamadan, and Aafias case. It may be recalled that Attorney Charlie Swift and Attorney Neil Katyal filed a petition for habeas corpus in the US Supreme Court to challenge Hamadans confinement in the Guantnamo Bay military prison. In June 2006, the Court issued a 5-3 decision holding that that the federal government did not have the authority to establish special military commissions. The court verdict forced the Bush administration to ask the congress in October 2008 to hastily pass the Military Commissions Act. In August 2008, Salim, once the Bush administrations poster boy for the war on terror, was sentenced to five-and-a-half years of imprisonment by a military jury, being counted as having already served five years of the sentence at the time. In November 2008 US government transferred Hamadan to Yemen to serve out the remainder of his sentence by the military judge. He was released January 8, 2009 to live with his family in Sana. Attorney Swift related the intensive legal efforts to convince the Supreme Court in Hamadans case and said that similarly exhaustive legal efforts are required in Dr. Aafias case. There should be forensic enquiry of the crime scene, he said adding: There should be an in depth probe in central Afghanistan where she was said to be captured. According to the charge sheet Dr Siddiqui was loitering outside the compound of Ghazni Governor in Afghanistan on July 17, 2008 when she was taken into custody and had in her possession numerous documents on making explosives, chemical weapons and other weapons involving biological material and neurological agents. The attorney said that there should be a dedicated effort to uncover the truth, including interviews with Moazzam Beg who saw Afia in Bargam prison and Ammar Ali Balochi to whom Aafia allegedly married as claimed by the US officials. Afia has denied marrying Balochi who is presently under detention at Guantanamo. Attorny Swift said that the government story about the circumstances of her capture were unbelievable. How a fragile woman can take a gun from the American officials and try to shoot them, he asked?
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According to the charge sheet, while under detention at the Bagram airbase cell she shot at American officials after getting hold of a rifle of one of them. Dr. Afias family has now officially partnered with MLFA to secure funding and prepare for an effective legal defense. The MLFA raises funds for the legal defense of Muslim individuals and organizations. It has processed over 400 cases ranging from profiling to charity indictments. Since Muslim charitable organizations are under scrutiny since 9/11, Attorny Swift, issued a written statement saying that donations made to support Dr. Aafias legal defense pose no risk to the donor.
Briefly, here are some of the basic circumstances of Aafias case from the Muslim Legal Fund of America which is raising funds for her legal defense:

In March 2003, Aafia and her three children, Ahmad (boy), six years old and an American citizen, Mariam (girl), four years old and also an American citizen, and Suleman (boy), six months old, kidnapped by unknown authorities in Karachi, Pakistan, while on their way to visit an uncle in Islamabad, Pakistan. Around that same time, now-former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft stated that Aafia and her husband, Amjad Khan, at that time were wanted as persons of interest (all the FBI wanted was to ask some questions). There was no statement or allegation about terrorist involvement; nor was there any reward money offered for information. Aafias ex-husband went into hiding with his family and it has been known that he went to the U.S. authorities and spoke with U.S. representatives. Shortly thereafter, his name was taken off the person-ofinterest list. On March 31, 2003 it was reported by the Pakistani media that Aafia had been arrested and turned over to representatives of the United States. In early April, this was confirmed on NBC Nightly News, among other media outlets. There was communication to the mother of Aafia from purported representatives of the Pakistani intelligence services that the family members should be quiet if they want to see Aafia returned alive. That is why the family did not formally report Aafia or the three children as missing to the Pakistani authorities. We are not sure why her husband did not report Aafia or his children missing. Prior to Aafias disappearance, it is believed that her husband filed papers of divorce in Karachi, Pakistan. However, even though Aafia had been given custody of the children, her husband and in-laws were still harassing her. This was the reason Aafia wanted to visit relatives in another city. By the year 2008, we believed that after five years of being disappeared Aafia and her three children were most likely dead. Then, in July of 2008, the same month Aafia was found in Ghazni, two events occurred: (1) British humanrights reporter, Yvonne Ridley and former Bagram detainee and British citizen, Moazem Begg, publicly spoke about a woman in Bagram screaming, a woman whom they named the Grey Lady of Bagram; and (2) the Pakistani-based, human-rights lawyer, Syed Jafree, filed a petition for habeas corpus with the Pakistan High Court in Islamabad requesting that the court order the Pakistani government under thenPresident Pervez Musharraf to free Aafia or to even admit that they where then detaining her. Two of Aafias children, Mariam, a girl who would now be about nine years of age, and Suleman, a boy who would now be about six years old, remain missing; this nightmare situation continues to haunt Aafia. It should be noted that Mariam is a citizen of the United States of America. This is what the family and many other supporters in the US and in Pakistan believe:

That Aafia was (and is) an innocent person who was abducted for money or based on false allegations or false conclusions derived from an unknown source and/or possibly her in-laws and ex-husband. That once it was determined that Aafia did not have any information of value, she was used by those who were incarcerating her for other unknown purposes; That once is was determined that Aafia did not have any information of value, those who were incarcerating her were unwilling to release her for fear of high-profile embarrassment, or that they just neglected the fact that she did not have anything of value and failed to communicate this fact to authorities who continued to hold Aafia.

That, unfortunately, all evidence required for her defense and establishing legal proof of her detention would require full cooperation by the U.S. and Pakistani governments, and intelligence agencies, a cooperation that seems impossible. That documents showing that Aafia was married to Khalid Sheikh Mohammads nephew, witnesses by his wife are false documents That documents (allegedly in another case) showing she opened a P.O. Box for some people who were targets of a govt. authorities. These are based on an eyewitness of a U.S. postal clerk and a questionable fingerprint on the application card. That reports that she was in Monrovia to buy diamonds for terror financing are false. Attorneys for Aafia have shown she was in Boston at the time of the eyewitness sighting by a taxi driver. That Aafia and her son were made to look like suicide bombers (without their knowledge) in Ghazni, Afghanistan; they were given bags to carry and were told they were being watched and were given instruction to stay at a particular place. That the Afghan police were looking for Aafia and her son based on a description given by an anonymous tip on the day she was detained in Ghazni. That had Aafia and her son been shot on sight in the act of being suicide bombers, this would have led to a convenient closure of the case of Aafia Siddiqui at a time when a petition for habeas corpus was pending in the High Court of Pakistan in Islamabad. Please note that this court had been asked to order then-President Musharraf and the Pakistani government (which would include anyone working with them) to release her or to reveal her whereabouts. That Aafia unknowingly foiled the shoot-on-sight, public-execution plan when she attempted to enter a mosque for prayers where men only usually attend, instead of following the instructions given to her to stand at a certain designated location. That Aafia, who spoke no local language in Ghazni, was dressed so conspicuously in a manner to be easily identified and shot on sight as a (falsely-accused) suicide bomber as a part of someone elses plan.

Muslim Legal Fund of America story on internet pointed out:

The U.S. government wants us to believe that Aafia, a respectable Pakistani woman in all ways, is now the first and only female terrorist from Pakistan, was voluntarily hiding under cover with three children acting as a terror field operative while at the same time leaving her family to believe for five years that she and her three children were dead.

We are asked to believe that Aafia arranged this just after her father died, after finding out her marriage was disintegrating, and after leaving her widowed mother alone in Pakistan. It is absolutely not plausible and does not even fit the traditional profile by law enforcement of female or male terrorists from that part of the world.

We ask people to look into this case themselves, and to do so with an open mind. There is a lot of information out there on the Internet, and in the media. Many of the stories demonize Aafia, while some raise her to sainthood. Aafia is neither demon nor saint. Aafia is simply an ordinary mother, daughter and sister trapped in an extraordinary nightmare.

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Photo: Joe Gratz Dr. Aafia has won the affections of conservative groups who would normally disapprove of her past.

This article was original published for Dawn.com. The aftermath of Dr. Aafia Siddiquis conviction nearly two weeks ago in a New York courtroom has seen several protests. On Feb. 13, students from universities all over Islamabad congregated at Aapbara Chowk and demanded her release, while pointing out the silence of human rights groups. A day earlier, Lahores Liberty Chowk saw students and faculty members of several educational institutions come together to protest against Dr. Aafias continued detention. Many other protests have been witnessed since the verdict was announced. While the facts of Dr. Aafias case remain shrouded in secrecy, the transformation of her case from one of suspected terrorism to Pakistans cause clbre is undeniable. No other female figure facing serious criminal charges has ever garnered so much public outpouring of support in Pakistans recent history. More notable is the wide spectrum of groups supporting her cause. The recent protests have illustrated the breadth of her allure, driving groups as diverse as the Tanzeem-i-Jihad and students from elite schools to the streets of major urban areas. From women in burka on the streets of Karachi chanting down with the U.S. to jeans-clad members of student action committees at Liberty Chowk, Aafia Siddiqui seems to have captured the collective heart of the Pakistani nation.

This ability to unite such a diverse group of Pakistanis behind her makes her appeal worthy of analysis. It is rare indeed for those frequenting elite private universities to have a platform in common with the burka-clad members of organizations such as the Tanzeem-i-Jihad. While the human rights violations in her case are the obvious explanation for such unity among the Pakistani public it is not the only factor. Human rights violations are rampant in Pakistan but are routinely ignored and do not provoke much public outcry. Indeed, the alleged torturer of 12-year-old Shazia Masih who is believed to have died of violence inflicted on her was released on bail without generating much of an outcry. Thousands continue to languish in the countrys jails without being afforded hearings. How then does Aafia Siddiquis case appeal to the public? If anything, she has flouted conventions dear to Pakistani culture. She is divorced from her first husband with whom she has children. She then went on to remarry. Ordinarily, this alone would be considered enough to render a woman morally suspect in the eyes of Islamist groups whose teachings and literature uphold dutiful wives and mothers. Indeed, groups like the Jamaat-i-Islami and Tanzeem-i-Jihad would normally have problems with the idea of a young woman like Dr. Aafia Siddiqui traveling all over the world, as she did, without being accompanied by a male relation or mahram. Also problematic would have been the fact that she attended a Jewish-funded educational institution and did not live with her family while completing her education. As the emblem of Pakistani womanhood, one that is being venerated and defended around the country, Aafia Siddiquis unfettered popularity represents perhaps the emergence of a new kind of female rebel. While she may have lived the life of a liberated western woman, attending American universities, working routinely with men, the visible image she presents is quite useful in allowing her to evade criticism. Wearing the niqab she refuses to remove, shouting anti-imperialist slogans and taunting the institutional justice of her American captors, Aafia Siddiqui is able to channel the voice of every downtrodden person who has been misjudged and mistreated by the U.S. In accepting the visible garb of an obedient Muslim woman she seems to have won the hearts and minds of those very men who may have been her most avid critics. Ironically the most magnetic aspect of Dr. Aafias appeal lies in the most harmful allegations leveled against her. Simply put, while it is entirely likely that the stories alleging that Dr. Aafia grabbed an unattended assault rifle and shot at her American interrogator are untrue, the possibility of their being correct titillates every Pakistani wanting to defy the U.S. Pakistans beleaguered sense of sovereignty assaulted by repeated drone attacks and an unending series of conspiracy theories regarding the presence or absence of U.S. troops on Pakistani soil is instantly assuaged at the idea of a frail, helpless woman attacking a trained American law-enforcement official. Cumulatively, the explosive mix of appearing to be the obedient

Muslim woman clad in niqab and a would-be assassin defying the U.S. make Dr. Aafia Siddiqui irresistible as a heroine and an icon. Undoubtedly, Aafia Siddiqui is a rebel. Born to a middle-class family she chose a male-dominated career and earned a Ph.D. degree in a field where women are severely unrepresented. She abandoned a conventional life as a mother taking her children to and from school and looking after her husband and home to marry someone who was known to be an Al Qaeda member. She was arrested, disappeared in extremely suspicious circumstances and resurfaced in Afghanistan, leading to several questions. Even more questions remain about her guilt or innocence but her elevation to the status of an icon bears deeper consideration by all diverse groups supporting her cause. The most pressing of these questions is whether similar attention and unquestioning sympathy would have been afforded to a Pakistani woman who had similarly thwarted convention but was persecuted by Pakistani authorities rather than the American ones. There is much valor even in the dream of defying the U.S. but should such defiance be the only mark of heroism in our society? Concern for human rights, due process and justice are venerated principles that apply universally and indeed unequivocally to Aafia Siddiquis case but they also do so to all other cases of justice denied which may not vindicate a countrys suffering pride but whose victims are equally tortured and helpless.

Homestretch: Part Two in the Dr. Aafia Siddiqui story

By Rahla Khan

The 86-year imprisonment sentence pronounced against Dr. Aafia Siddiqui by Judge Richard Berman in a Manhattan federal court on September 23, is by no means the end of her heartrending saga. International human rights activists, supporters across the world and her family hope that in time, it will be recorded as just another blip on the road to achieving justice, and ultimately, freedom from the clutches of an establishment that has systematically tortured, abused, falsely implicated, vilified and dehumanized the beleaguered neuroscientist and mother of three. Hundreds of protesters spontaneously marching towards the US Embassy in Karachi and other places in Pakistan are not the only people outraged by the sentence. Statements decrying the ?miscarriage of justice' poured in from international human rights organizations, politicians, journalists, lawyers and ordinary people around the world, within hours of the sentencing. British human rights activist-commentator, author of "Enemy Combatant" and director of Cageprisoners, a Londonbased human rights NGO, Moazzam Begg commented in a press statement: "I just returned from Pakistan where Cageprisoners were trying to make final diplomatic efforts to intervene on behalf of Aafia Siddiqui. The sentiment of the general public makes it clear that the entirety of Pakistan want her back in the country. This case had the opportunity for the Obama administration to show that it had some semblance of humanity in its foreign policy, and yet they once again shown that they have no compassion and have no understanding of the repercussions of their actions in Pakistan." "The dignity with which she faced the court only serves to highlight the gross injustice that has been carried out

against her. Cageprisoners will continue to fight for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui." In a written statement titled "Aafia does not need your sympathy or your tears, she needs your support", British journalist and broadcaster Yvonne Ridley wrote: "The US Justice Department, US intelligence and even the US President are mistaken if they believe that out of sight is out of mind ? we heard Dr. Aafia Siddiqui screaming in the hell hole of Bagram in Afghanistan where she was held in secret for years and we came running. "We will rally to her plight again and will not rest until she is free. This is certainly not the end of the campaign for the family of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, nor for her many friends and supporters around the world. The fight back for justice starts here and now and will take many shapes and forms over the coming months.Ridley was the first to discover and highlight the plight of the "Grey Lady of Bagram" or Prisoner 650 as Dr. Aafia Siddiqui was known, in July 2008, when she was held incognito at the Bagram American base in Afghanistan, where her chilling screams haunted other prisoners at the base. "America should do the right thing now and repatriate Dr. Aafia Siddiqui with immediate effect. And the Pakistan leadership should also exert real pressure to bring back the Daughter of Pakistan," she added. This is a sentiment echoed by several human rights agencies and political outfits within Pakistan like the Jamaat-eIslami, Pasban, Defense of Human Rights, who rallied in her support and demanded that she be released 'as a goodwill gesture.Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister, Sharmila Farooqui also pressed for her release "on humanitarian (grounds)" as a goodwill gesture to Pakistan. "Now is the time for the US to show goodness and pardon a Pakistani woman who is innocent," she said. She added that Dr. Aafia was wrongly abducted and handed over to US authorities, and called her an innocent woman, outrageously treated, convicted and sentenced. Indeed, according to Ridley, the very premise of her trial and subsequent sentencing is flawed. In an article preceding the sentencing, Ridley wrote: - How can a Pakistani citizen who allegedly committed a crime in Afghanistan be tried in his [Judge Berman's] court without an official extradition procedure at the very least' Why did he not demand that the paperwork was at least in order' He has presided over a mistrial from the outset. He deemed the defendant mentally fit to stand trial but not mentally capable of determining her own legal team. Whenever Dr. Aafia Siddiqui " a brilliant neuroscientist bordering on genius by the way" attempted to sack her lawyers, he refused her request, saying she wasn"it mentally fit to make the decision. You can't have it both ways, Your Honor.In a statement, the Justice for Aafia Coalition (JFAC), an umbrella body campaigning for her release and return and for the opening of a full investigation into the circumstances of her detention, expressed shock at the "blatantly prejudiced and unfair trial" in which little conclusive evidence of her guilt was presented, yet she was found guilty. ?We hoped that Judge Berman would have opened his eyes to the manifest injustice that has been committed against Dr. Siddiqui and repatriated her to her country. But it seems that Judge Berman was adamant in his position despite the enormous level of public support for Aafia.Notwithstanding the enormous public outpouring of support, and overwhelming evidence pointing to the loopholes in the prosecution case, there are still people - I would call them "victims" to the concerted smear campaign launched against Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and the organized attempt to vilify her in an attempt to subvert justice " who continue to regard her story with suspicion and skepticism. One can only urge such people to educate themselves and get acquainted with the facts. We no longer live in an area where information is rationed or the domain of an exclusive set. A simple Google search will unveil the facts of the case, not just from the perspective of Dr. Aafia's supporters and family, but from the point of view of unbiased activists around the globe who have been working hard to fight through the haze of malicious misinformation that obscures one of the "most aggrieved victims" of modern times. As veteran British journalist and long-time friend of the family, Andrew Purcell puts it: "When Aafia is sentenced it will not mean her case is over and lost. It will instead be the confirmation of a victory that freed her from torture in a secret prison and returned two of her children home. "The sentencing will also mark the beginning of the next steps in the campaign. Suliman, the child who may never have had a chance to live, must be accounted for. If he is still alive, return him to his family, if he is not, an explanation must be provided. Aafia must be cleared of the slanders and libels that have been thrown at her. And of course, return Aafia home. "This may seem to be a lot of effort for one woman and a child who may not even be alive. If it were just the two of them you might be inclined to count your blessings and quit. Aafia and Suliman were just born with bad luck. "But it isn' t just about them. Or Ahmad and Maryam. Or Aafia's mother, sister, and brother. Or even her ex-husband or her crazy uncle. Hundreds of Pakistanis disappeared in very much the same fashion during the rule of the military dictator. Bring Aafia home and account for Suliman and it will be proof that others can also be returned. It just takes the will to shine a little bit of light on evil, and evil gets very frightened. ?In the Bible story, Moses brought God's message to the Pharaoh, "Let my people go!" Pharaohs come and go using different names, but the message remains. "Look at how Dr. Fowzia responded to her sister's plight armed with only faith in God, a pure soul, and courage. Despite death threats, she and a small group of supporters stood up to a dictator and within a few days Aafia reappeared. A few weeks later the dictator was gone. "This can be repeated to help others. Human rights groups will be studying this case for years as proof that the evil can be overcome." - SG

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Trial Begins But Where Are the Children?

Posted on 17 January 2010 by Pramilla Srivastava

As the War on Terror enters a new decade with a new administration, ghosts from the Bush era are beginning to emerge from the dark corridors of hidden detention centers, secret renditions, and elusive intrigues. One of those ghosts whose story has been haunting the imagination of the Pakistani public for several years and recently even in Europe, is now beginning to capture the attention of Americans bold enough to enter the wars most ghastly graveyard. It is the ghost of Dr. Aaffia Siddiqui, a Pakistani MIT graduate and mother of three, who disappeared from the streets of Karachi in March 2003 along with her 3 children, at the time age under 6 mos, 3, and 7. For years her family searched for her desperately, at times believing the worst; that she was dead. Then suddenly, 5 years later the ghost appeared live in the flesh, 12,000 miles from where she had disappeared. In September 2008 the MIT Mom was brought to a Manhattan Court Room to be indicted on charges of trying to kill American soldiers and being a member of Al Qaeda. She was frail, delusional, incoherent, and wounded with a bullet wound to her abdomen dressed so badly that the judge had to order immediate medical attention. Her mugshot picture portrayed unspeakable horrors. During the pre-trial hearing Dr. Siddiqui appeared in a complete veil, unusal for her according to family members. Her court room outbursts and body language signified a completely broken human being. Although there has been no independent assessment of her mental condition, she was clearly paranoid and incoherent. Moreover, her family has been unable to see her or communicate with her. Few Americans are familiar with the facts surrounding her case; even less are familiar with the shocking claims being made by her family and indeed, by a majority of Pakistanis. Pakistan was so concerned with her plight that there have been resolutions passed in the parliament demanding her release. Meanwhile the western media has portrayed her as the Mata-Hari of Al-Qaeda, the female version of Chemical Ali, the mother of all terrorist. And much of this continues even as the prosecution made a stunning reversal when they announced to the court on January 11 that they would not be charging her with any connection to any terrorist group; This includes any connection to Al Qaeda, the Taliban, or Osama bin Laden.
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However to the family, to the majority of Pakistanis, and to her growing number of supporters throughout the world, she is in fact prisoner 650, known as the Gray Lady of Bagram, whose shreaks and cries were so disturbing that the prisoners went on a hunger strike to demand that the torture against her stop. Several released detainees have since identified Dr. Siddiqui as the same prisoner 650 and several human rights groups also maintain that she is indeed prisoner 650. In fact, the weeks before her sudden and mysterious appearance at a police station in Afghanistan, human rights groups had been intensifying their demands to have prisoner 650 identified and produced. Even more disturbing than what may have happened to her is what has come of her two still missing children. Though the older child who is now 13, was returned to the family in Pakistan shortly after her arrest, there is no information on the whereabouts of her two younger children who should now be age 6 and 9. Whether or not the prosecution is able to prove its limited attempted murder case to an American jury, surely no one can deny the innocence of the two missing young children. The case of Aafia Siddiqui raises a number of mysterious questions are still to be explored. Now that the prosecution has decided not to charge her with terrorism why was she placed on the FBIs terrorist list to begin with? What happened to her during those 5 missing years. What was the level of cooperation between Pakistani and American intelligence in her pursuit and possible abduction? What does her case mean for the future of Pakistan, U.S. relations. How does her case redefine the war on terror and the meaning of law, liberty, and human rights in 21 century America? And, the most troubling and pressing question of all; where are the children? The trial of Aafia Siddiqui will begin on January 19th at the S.D.N.Y. courthouse at 500 Pearl St. Manhattan, New York. We are expecting her case to wrap-up in two weeks. Cell-phones and laptops are not allowed. So we will cover as real-time as possible. Stay tuned!
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Aafia Siddiqui
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aafia Siddiqui

Facial composite, created by FBI for a wanted poster[1]

Born

March 2, 1972 (age 38) Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

Citizenship

Pakistani[2][3][4]

Alma mater

M.I.T., B.S. (1995) Brandeis, Ph.D. (2001)

Occupation

former Neuroscientist[5]

Height

5' 4"[6]

Weight

90 pounds (at time of arraignment)[6]

Board member of

Institute of Islamic Research and Teaching (President)[7][8]

Criminal charge

Assault and attempted murder of U.S. nationals, officers, and employees; Assault with a deadly weapon; Carrying and using a firearm[9]

Criminal penalty

Convicted; sentenced to 86 years in prison.[10][11]

Criminal status

being held at a federal prison in Carswell, Texas.[10]

Spouse

Amjad Mohammed Khan(1995 October 21, 2002)(divorced)

Ammar al-Baluchi, also known as Ali Abdul Aziz

Ali (February 2003-present) Children Mohammad Ahmed (b. 1996); Mariam Bint Muhammad (b. 1998); and Suleman (b. September 2002)

Aafia Siddiqui (Urdu: ; born March 2, 1972) is an American-educated Pakistani cognitive neuroscientist[6][12][13] who was convicted after a jury trial in a U.S. federal court of assault with intent to murder her U.S. interrogators in Afghanistan. The charges carried a maximum sentence of life in prison.[14][15][16] In September 2010, she was sentenced by the U.S. judge to 86 years in prison.[10][17] A Muslim who had engaged in Islamic charity work in the U.S.,[6] Siddiqui moved back to Pakistan in 2002. She disappeared with her three young children in March 2003, shortly after the arrest of her second husband's uncle, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged chief planner of the September 11 attacks.[1][5][9] It was reported that Khalid Mohammed mentioned Siddiqui's name while he was being interrogated.[12]Siddiqui was added to the FBI Seeking Information War on Terrorism list in 2003.[1][18] In May 2004, the FBI named Siddiqui as one of its seven Most Wanted Terrorists.[1] Her whereabouts remained unknown for more than five years, until she was arrested in July 2008 inAfghanistan.[5] The Afghan police said she was carrying in her purse handwritten notes and a computer thumb drive containing recipes for conventional bombs and weapons of mass destruction, instructions on how to make machines to shoot down U.S. drones, descriptions of New York City landmarks with references to a mass casualty attack, and two pounds of sodium cyanide in a glass jar.[17][19][20] Siddiqui was shot and severely wounded at the police compound the following day when she grabbed the unattended rifle of one of her American interrogators and began shooting at them.[21] She got medical attention for her wounds at Bagram Air Base and was flown to the U.S.[22] to be charged in a New York City federal court with attempted murder, and armed assault on U.S. officers and employees.[9][23] She denied the charges and said the interrogators had fired on her when she had attempted to flee.[24] After receiving psychological evaluations and therapy, the judge declared her mentally fit to stand trial.[25][26] Amnesty International monitored the trial for fairness.[27] Siddiqui interrupted the trial proceedings with vocal outbursts and was ejected from the courtroom several times.[17] The jury convicted her of all the charges in February 2010.[9][14][15][21] The prosecution argued for "terrorism enhancement" of the charges that would require a life term;[10]Siddiqui's lawyers requested a 12-year sentence, arguing that she was mentally ill. [16][28] The charges against her stemmed solely from the shooting, and Siddiqui was not charged with, or prosecuted for, any terrorism-related offenses.[29][30] Many of Siddiqui's supporters, including international human rights organizations, have claimed that Siddiqui was not an extremist and that she and her young children were illegally detained, interrogated and tortured by

Pakistani intelligence or U.S. authorities or both during her five-year disappearance.[5] The U.S. and Pakistan governments have denied all such claims.[19][31]

Contents
[hide]

1 Biography

o o o o o

1.1 Family and early life 1.2 Undergraduate education 1.3 Marriage, graduate school, and work 1.4 Divorce, al-Qaeda allegations, and re-marriage 1.5 Disappearance

1.5.1 Alternative scenarios 1.5.2 Ahmed Siddiqui's account

2 Arrest in Afghanistan

o
3 Trial

2.1 Shooting

o o o o o o o

3.1 Charges 3.2 Medical treatment and psychological assessments 3.3 Objection to jurors with Zionist or Israeli background 3.4 Trial proceedings 3.5 Conviction 3.6 Sentencing 3.7 Reaction

4 Taliban reaction 5 Reaction in Pakistan 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External links

o o

9.1 Primary sources 9.2 Other sources

[edit]Biography [edit]Family

and early life

Siddiqui was born in Karachi, Pakistan to Muhammad Salay Siddiqui, a British-trained neurosurgeon, who is now deceased, and Ismet (ne Faroochi), an Islamic teacher, social worker, and charity volunteer, who is now

retired.[1][32] Her mother was prominent in political and religious circles and at one time a member of Pakistan's parliament.[33] Siddiqui is the youngest of three siblings.[1] Her brother is an architect who lives in Sugarland, Texas. Her sister, Fowzia, is a Harvard-trained neurologist, who worked at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore[34] and taught at Johns Hopkins University before she returned to Pakistan.[35] Siddiqui attended school in Zambia until the age of eight, and finished her primary and secondary schooling in Karachi.[32]

[edit]Undergraduate

education

Siddiqui moved to Houston, Texas, on a student visa in 1990 joining her brother.[19][32][36] She attended the University of Houston for three semesters, then transferred to theMassachusetts Institute of Technology after being awarded a full scholarship.[1][34] In 1992, as a sophomore, Siddiqui received a Carroll L. Wilson Award for her research proposal "Islamization in Pakistan and its Effects on Women".[1][32][37] As a junior, she received a $1,200 City Days fellowship through MIT's program to help clean up Cambridge elementary school playgrounds.[1] While she initially had a triple major in biology, anthropology, and archeology at MIT, she graduated in 1995 with a B.S. in biology.[38][39] She was regarded as religious by her fellow MIT students, but not unusually so: a student who lived in the dorm at the time said, "She was just nice and soft-spoken, [and not] terribly assertive."[34] She joined the Muslim Students' Association (MSA),[1][40] and a fellow Pakistani recalls her recruiting for association meetings and distributing pamphlets.[29] Journalist Deborah Scroggins suggested that through the MSA's contacts Siddiqui may have been drawn into the world of terrorism: At MIT, several of the MSA's most active members had fallen under the spell of Abdullah Azzam, a Muslim Brother who was Osama bin Laden's mentor.... [Azzam] had established the Al Kifah Refugee Center to function as its worldwide recruiting post, propaganda office, and fund-raising center for the mujahideen fighting in Afghanistan... It would become the nucleus of the al-Qaeda organization.[1] Siddiqui solicited money for the Al Kifah Refugee Center. In addition to being an al-Qaeda charitable front and al-Qaedas U.S operational headquarters, tied to bin Laden, it advocated armed violence, one of its members had just killed Rabbi Meir Kahane in 1990, and it was tied to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.[1][38][19] Through the MSA she met several committed Islamists, including Suheil Laher, its imam, who publicly advocated Islamization and jihad before 9/11. For a short time, Laher was also the head of the Islamic charity Care International, which reportedly collected funds for jihadist fighters.[6] When Pakistan asked the U.S. for help in 1995 in combating religious extremism, Siddiqui circulated the announcement with a scornful note deriding Pakistan for "officially" joining "the typical gang of our contemporary Muslim governments", closing her email with a quote from the Quran warning Muslims not to take Jews and Christians as friends.[1] She wrote three guides for teaching Islam, expressing the hope in one:

"that our humble effort continues ... and more and more people come to the [religion] of Allah until America becomes a Muslim land."[1] She also took a 12-hour pistol training course at the Braintree Rifle and Pistol Club.[41]

[edit]Marriage,

graduate school, and work

Amjad Mohammed Khan, Siddiqui's first husband

In 1995 she had an arranged marriage to anesthesiologist Amjad Mohammed Khan from Karachi, just out of medical school, whom she had never seen.[6][19] The marriage ceremony was conducted over the telephone.[22] Khan then came to the U.S., and the couple lived first in Lexington, Massachusetts, and then in the Mission Hill neighborhood of Roxbury (in Boston), where he worked as an anesthesiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital.[1][19] She gave birth to a son, Mohammad Ahmed/Ali Hassan in 1996, and to a daughter, Mariam Bint e Muhammad, in 1998; both are American citizens.[6][42] Siddiqui studied cognitive neuroscience at Brandeis University.[12] In early 1999 while she was a graduate student, she taught General Biology Lab, a course required for undergraduate biology majors, pre-med, and pre-dental students.[43][19] She received her Ph.D. in 2001 after completing her dissertation on learning through imitation;[6] "Separating the Components of Imitation".[32][44] Siddiqui's dissertation adviser was a Brandeis psychology professor who recalled that she wore a head scarf and thanked Allah when an experiment was successful.[12] He said her research concerned how people learn, and did not believe it could be connected to anything that would be useful to Al-Qaeda.[12] Siddiqui also co-authored a journal article on selective learning that was published in 2003.[45] In 1999, while living in Boston, Siddiqui founded the Institute of Islamic Research and Teaching as a nonprofit organization. She served as the organization's president, her husband was the treasurer, and her sister was the resident agent.[7][8][32][nb 1] She attended a mosque outside the city where she stored copies of the Quran and other Islamic literature for distribution.[46] She also helped establish the Dawa Resource Center, a program that distributed Qurans and offered Islam-based advice to prison inmates.[42]

[edit]Divorce,

al-Qaeda allegations, and re-marriage

According to a dossier prepared by UN investigators for the 9/11 Commission in 2004, Siddiqui, using the alias Fahrem or Feriel Shahin, was one of six alleged al-Qaeda members who bought $19 million worth of blood diamonds in Monrovia, Liberia, immediately prior to the September 11, 2001, attacks.[47] The diamonds were purchased because they were untraceable assets to be used for funding al-Qaeda operations.[1][6][34][48] The identification of Siddiqui was made three years after the incident by one of the go-betweens in the Liberian deal. Alan White, former chief investigator of the U.N.-backed war crimes tribunal in Liberia, said she was the woman.[1][6][34][49] Siddiqui's lawyer maintained credit card receipts and other records showed that she was in Boston at the time.[1] FBI agent Dennis Lormel, who investigated terrorism financing, said the agency ruled out a specific claim that she had evaluated diamond operations in Liberia, though she remained suspected of money laundering.[26] In the summer of 2001, the couple moved to Malden, Massachusetts.[1] According to Khan, after the September 11 attacks, Siddiqui insisted on leaving the U.S., saying that it was unsafe for them and their children to remain.[50] He also said that she wanted him to move to Afghanistan, and work as a medic for the mujahideen.[19][26] In May 2002, the FBI questioned Siddiqui and her husband regarding their purchase over the internet of $10,000 worth of night vision equipment, body armor, and military manuals including The Anarchist's Arsenal, Fugitive, Advanced Fugitive, and How to Make C-4.[22][26][34] Khan claimed that these were for hunting and camping expeditions. On June 26, 2002, the couple and their children returned to Pakistan.[1][6][9][22] In August 2002, Khan said Siddiqui was abusive and manipulative throughout their seven years of marriage; her violent personality and extremist views led him to suspect her of involvement in jihadi activities.[50] Khan went to Siddiqui's parents' home, and announced his intention to divorce her and argued with her father. The latter died of a heart attack on August 15, 2002.[1][34] In September 2002, Siddiqui gave birth to the last of their three children, Suleman.[1] The couple's divorce was finalized on October 21, 2002.[1][26] Siddiqui left for the U.S. on December 25, 2002, informing her ex-husband that she was looking for a job;[1] she returned on January 2, 2003.[1][9] Amjad later said he was suspicious of her explanation, as universities were on winter break.[50] The FBI linked her to an alleged al-Qaeda operative, Majid Khan, who they suspected of having planned attacks on gas stations and underground fuel-storage tanks in the Baltimore/Washington area. They said that the real purpose of her trip was to open a post office box, to make it appear that Majid was still in the U.S.[6][33][34][51][52] Siddiqui listed Majid Khan as a co-owner of the P.O. box.[5][26] The P.O. box key was later found in the possession of Uzair Paracha, who was convicted ofproviding material support to al-Qaeda, and sentenced to 30 years in federal prison in 2006.[1][53] In February 2003, she married accused al-Qaeda member Ammar al-Baluchi, also known as Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, in Karachi.[19][22][32][51] Al Baluchi is a nephew of al-Qaeda leader Khalid Sheikh Mohammed,[5][19][51] and a cousin

of Ramzi Yousef, convicted of the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.[5][51][54] Siddiqui's marriage to alBaluchi was denied by her family, but confirmed by Pakistani and U.S. intelligence, [55] a defense psychologist,[56] and by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's family.[29] She had worked with al-Baluchi in opening a P.O. box for Majid Khan, and says she married him in March or April 2003.[33][57][58] Al-Baluchi was arrested on April 29, 2003, and taken to the Guantanamo Bay military prison;[51] he faces thedeath penalty in his upcoming trial in the U.S., for aiding the 9/11 hijackers.[19]

[edit]Disappearance
In early 2003, while Siddiqui was working at Aga Khan University in Karachi, she emailed a former professor at Brandeis and expressed interest in working in the U.S., citing lack of options in Karachi for women of her academic background.[6][22]

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Siddiqui's second husband's uncle, who reportedly revealed her name during his interrogation.

According to the media, Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, alleged al-Qaeda chief planner of the September 11 attacks, was interrogated by the CIA after his arrest on March 1, 2003.[59] Mohammed was allegedly tortured by waterboarding 183 times,[26][60] and his confessions triggered a series of related arrests shortly thereafter.[1] The press reported Mohammed naming Siddiqui as an al-Qaeda operative;[59] On March 25, 2003, the FBI issued a global "wanted for questioning" alert for Siddiqui and her ex-husband, Amjad Khan.[1] Siddiqui was accused of being a "courier of blood diamonds and a financial fixer for al-Qaida".[61] Khan was questioned by the FBI, and released.[22] Afraid the FBI would find her in Karachi, a few days later she left her parents' house along with her three children[62] on March 30.[29] She took a taxi to the airport, ostensibly to catch a morning flight to Islamabad to visit her uncle, but disappeared.[6][22] Siddiqui's and her children's whereabouts and activities from March 2003 to July 2008 are a matter of dispute.

On April 1, 2003, local newspapers reported, and Pakistan interior ministry confirmed, that a woman had been taken into custody on terrorism charges.[29] The Boston Globe described "sketchy" Pakistani news reports saying Pakistani authorities had detained Siddiqui, and had questioned her with FBI agents. [42][59] However, a couple of days later, both the Pakistan government and the FBI publicly denied having anything to do with her disappearance.[29] On April 22, 2003, two U.S. federal law enforcement officials anonymously said Siddiqui had been taken into custody by Pakistani authorities. Pakistani officials never confirmed the arrest, however, and later that day the U.S. officials amended their earlier statements, saying new information made it "doubtful" she was in custody.[63] Her sister Fauzia claimed Interior Minister Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat said that her sister had been released and would be returning home "shortly".[29] In 200304, the FBI and the Pakistani government said they did not know where Siddiqui was.[22][64][65] U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft called her the most wanted woman in the world, an al-Qaeda "facilitator" who posed a "clear and present danger to the U.S." On May 26, 2004, the U.S. listed her among the seven "most wanted" al-Qaeda fugitives.[59][66] One day before the announcement, The New York Times cited the Department of Homeland Security saying there were no current risks; American Democrats accused the Bush administration of attempting to divert attention from plummeting poll numbers and to push the failings of the Invasion of Iraq off the front pages.[67]
"Lady Al-Qaeda"[68] Headline reference to Siddiqui in New York Daily News "Prisoner 650"[69] Headline reference to Siddiqui in Tehran Times

According to her ex-husband, after the global alert for her was issued Siddiqui went into hiding, and worked for al-Qaeda.[22][50][70] During her disappearance Khan said he saw her at Islamabad airport in April 2003, as she disembarked from a flight with their son, and said he helped Inter-Services Intelligence identify her. He said he again saw her two years later, in a Karachi traffic jam.[22][26] Media reports Siddiqui having told the FBI that she worked at the Karachi Institute of Technology in 2005, was in Afghanistan in the winter of 2007; she stayed for a time during her disappearance in Quetta, Pakistan, and was sheltered by various people.[5][19][71] According to an intelligence official in the Afghan Ministry of the Interior, her son Ahmad, who was with her when she was arrested, said he and Siddiqui had worked in an office in Pakistan, collecting money for poor people.[19] He told Afghan investigators that on August 14, 2008, they had traveled by road from Quetta, Pakistan, to Afghanistan.[35] Amjad Khan, who unsuccessfully sought custody of his eldest son, Ahmad, said most of the claims of the family in the Pakistani media relating to her and their children were to garner public support and sympathy for her; he said they were one-sided and in mostly false.[35][50] An Afghan intelligence official said he believes that Siddiqui was working with Jaish-e-

Mohammed (the "Army of Muhammad"), a Pakistani Islamic mujahedeen military group that fights in Kashmir and Afghanistan.[19] Siddiqui's maternal uncle, Shams ul-Hassan Faruqi, said that on January 22, 2008, she visited him in Islamabad.[22][26] He said that she told him she had been held by Pakistani agencies, and asked for his help in order to cross into Afghanistan, where she thought she would be safe in the hands of the Taliban.[22][26] He had worked in Afghanistan, and made contact with the Taliban in 1999, but told her he was no longer in touch with them. He notified his sister, Siddiqui's mother, who came the next day to see her daughter. He said that Siddiqui stayed with them for two days.[72] Her uncle has signed an affidavit swearing to these facts.[35] Ahmad and Siddiqui reappeared in 2008.[19] Afghan authorities handed the boy over to Pakistan in September 2008, and he now lives with his aunt in Karachi, who has prohibited him from talking to the press.[19][19][22] In April 2010, Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that a 12-year-old girl who was found outside a house in Karachi was identified by a DNA test as Siddiqui's daughter Mariyam, and that she had been returned to her family.[73]

[edit]Alternative scenarios
Siddiqui's sister and mother denied that she had any connections to al-Qaeda, and that the U.S. detained her secretly in Afghanistan after she disappeared in Pakistan in March 2003 with her three children. They point to comments by former Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, detainees who say they believe a woman held at the prison while they were there was Siddiqui.[59] Her sister said that Siddiqui had been raped, and tortured for five years.[74][75] According to Islamic convert and former Taliban captive Yvonne Ridley, Siddiqui spent those years in solitary confinement at Bagram as Prisoner 650. Six human rights groups, including Amnesty International, listed her as possibly being a "ghost prisoner" held by the U.S.[5][42]Siddiqui claimed that she had been kidnapped by U.S. intelligence and Pakistani intelligence.[5] Siddiqui has not explained clearly what happened to her two missing children.[5] She alternated between saying that the two youngest children were dead, and that they were with her sister Fowzia, according to a psychiatric exam.[32] She told one FBI agent that sometimes one has to take up a cause that is more important than one's children.[71] Khan said he believed that the missing children were in Karachi, either with or in contact with Siddiqui's family, and not in U.S. detention.[35][50][76] He said that they were seen in her sister's house in Karachi and in Islamabad on several occasions since their alleged disappearance in 2003.[35][50][77] In April 2010, Mariam was found outside the family house wearing a collar with the address of the family home.[78] She was said to be speaking English. A Pakistani ministry official said the girl was believed to have been held captive in Afghanistan from 2003 to 2010.[79][80] The U.S. government said it did not hold Siddiqui during that time period, and had no knowledge of her whereabouts from March 2003 until July 2008. [81] The U.S. ambassador to Islamabad, Anne Patterson, categorically stated that Siddiqui had not been in U.S. custody "at any time" prior to July 2008.[22] A U.S. Justice Department spokesman called the allegations "absolutely

baseless and false", a CIA spokesman also denied that she had been detained by the U.S., and Gregory Sullivan, a State Department spokesman, said: "For several years, we have had no information regarding her whereabouts whatsoever. It is our belief that she ... has all this time been concealed from the public view by her own choosing."[42] Assistant U.S. Attorney David Raskin said in 2008 that U.S. agencies had searched for evidence to support allegations that Siddiqui was detained in 2003, and held for years, but found "zero evidence" that she was abducted, kidnapped, raped or tortured. He added: "A more plausible inference is that she went into hiding because people around her started to get arrested, and at least two of those people ended up at Guantanamo Bay.[82] According to some U.S. officials, she went underground after the FBI alert for her was issued, and was at large working on behalf of al-Qaeda.[22][70] The Guardian cited an anonymous senior Pakistani official suggesting an "invaluable asset" like Siddiqui may have been "flipped" turned against militant sympathisers by Pakistani or American intelligence.[22]

[edit]Ahmed Siddiqui's account

Ahmed Siddiqu, son of Aafia Siddiqui, in 2008.

In August 2010 Yvonne Ridley reported that she had acquired a three-paragraph statement taken from Ahmed by a U.S. officer before he was released from U.S. custody.[83][nb 2] Ahmed described Aafia driving a vehicle taking the family from Karachi to Islamabad, when it was overtaken by several vehicles, and he and his mother were taken into custody. He described the bloody body of his baby brother being left on the side of the road. He said that he had been too afraid to ask his interrogators who they were, but that they included both Pakistanis and Americans. He described beatings when he was in U.S. custody. Eventually, he said, he was sent to a conventional childrens' prison in Pakistan. His statement does not describe how he and his mother came to be in Ghazni in 2008. [83]

[edit]Arrest

in Afghanistan

Siddiqui was approached by Ghazni Province police officers outside the Ghazni governor's compound on the evening of July 17, 2008 in the city of Ghazni. With two small bags at her side, crouching on the ground, she aroused the suspicion of a man who feared she might be concealing a bomb under the burquathat she was wearing.[6] A shopkeeper noticed a woman in a burqa drawing a map, which is suspicious in Afghanistan where women are generally illiterate.[19][23] She was accompanied by a teenage boy about 12, whom she reportedly claimed was an orphan she had adopted.[32] She said her name was Saliha, that she was from Multan in Pakistan, and that the boy's name was Ali Hassan.[6] Discovering that she did not speak either of Afghanistan's main dialects, Pashtu or Dari, the officers regarded her as suspicious.[23]

The Plum Island Animal Disease Center, one of the locations listed in Siddiqui's notes with regard to a "mass casualty" attack

In a bag she was carrying, the police found that she had a number of documents written in Urdu and English describing the creation of explosives, chemical weapons, Ebola, dirty bombs, and radiological agents (which discussed mortality rates of certain of the weapons), and handwritten notes referring to a "mass casualty attack" that listed various U.S. locations and landmarks (including the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the New York City subway system), according to her indictment.[6][9][23][84] The Globe also mentioned one document about a 'theoretical' biological weapon that did not harm children.[19] She also reportedly had documents detailing U.S. "military assets", excerpts from The Anarchist's Arsenal, a one-gigabyte digital media storage device that contained over 500 electronic documents (including correspondence referring to attacks by "cells", describing the U.S. as

an enemy, and discussing recruitment of jihadists and training), maps of Ghazni and the provincial governor's compounds and the mosques he prayed in, and photos of Pakistani military people. [5][6][9][22][23][85][86] Other notes described various ways to attack enemies, including by destroying reconnaissance drones, using underwater bombs, and using gliders.[5][9] She also had "numerous chemical substances in gel and liquid form that were sealed in bottles and glass jars", according to the later complaint against her,[6][9][22][23][85][87] and about two pounds of sodium cyanide, a highly toxic poison.[5][20] The U.S. prosecutors later said that sodium cyanide is lethal even when ingested in small doses (even less than five milligrams), and various of the other chemicals she had can be used in explosives.[88] Abdul Ghani, Ghazni's deputy police chief, said she later confessed that she intended to carry out a suicide attack against the provincial governor.[86] The officers arrested her, as she cursed them, and took her to a police station. She said that the boy found with her was her stepson, Ali Hasan; Siddiqui subsequently admitted he was her biological son, when DNA testing proved the boy to be Ahmed.[6][32] There are conflicting accounts of the events following her arrest which led to her being sent to the United States for trial. American authorities say that two FBI agents, a U.S. Army warrant officer, a U.S. Army captain, and their U.S. military interpreters arrived in Ghazni the following day, on July 18, to interview Siddiqui at the Afghan National Police facility where she was being held.[9][23][85][89]

[edit]Shooting
"It was pure chaos."[90] Captain Robert Snyder

American authorities say that the following day, on July 18, two FBI agents, a U.S. Army warrant officer, a U.S. Army captain, and their U.S. military interpreters arrived in Ghazni to interview Siddiqui at the Afghan National Police facility where she was being held.[9][23][85][89] They reported they congregated in a meeting room that was partitioned by a curtain, but did not realize that Siddiqui was standing unsecured behind the curtain.[9][23][89]The warrant officer sat down adjacent to the curtain, and put his loaded M4 carbine assault rifle on the floor by his feet, next to the curtain.[23][89]Siddiqui drew back the curtain, picked up the rifle, and pointed it at the captain.[85][89] I could see the barrel of the rifle, the inner portion of the barrel of the weapon; that indicated to me that it was pointed straight at my head, he said.[85][91]

Then, she was said to have threatened them loudly in English, and yelled "Get the fuck out of here" and "May the blood of [unintelligible] be on your [head or hands]".[23][89] The captain dove for cover to his left, as she yelled "Allah Akbar" and fired at least two shots at them, missing them.[5][85][89]

An Afghan interpreter who was seated closest to her lunged, grabbed and pushed the rifle, and tried to wrest it from her.[89][9][23][85][92] At that point the warrant officer returned fire with a 9-millimeter pistol, hitting her in the torso, and one of the interpreters managed to wrestle the rifle away from her.[5][23][61][89] During the ensuing struggle she initially struck and kicked the officers, while shouting in English that she wanted to kill Americans, and then lost consciousness.[9][23][89]

Siddiqui related a different version of events, according to Pakistani senators who later visited her in jail. She denied touching a gun, shouting, or threatening anyone. She said she stood up to see who was on the other side of the curtain, and that after one of the startled soldiers shouted "She is loose", she was shot. On regaining consciousness, she said someone said "We could lose our jobs."[26]

Some of the Afghan police offered a third version of the events, telling Reuters that U.S. troops had demanded that she be handed over, disarmed the Afghans when they refused, and then shot Siddiqui mistakenly thinking she was a suicide bomber.[93]

Siddiqui was taken to Bagram Air Base by helicopter in critical condition. When she arrived at the hospital she was rated at 3 on the Glasgow Coma Scale, but she underwent emergency surgery without complication. She was hospitalized at the Craig Theater Joint Hospital, and recovered over the next two weeks.[26][32] Once she was in a stable condition, the Pakistani government allowed the Americans to transport her to the United States for trial. The day after landing, Siddiqui was arraigned in a Manhattan courtroom on charges of attempted murder. Her three-person defense team was hired by the Pakistani embassy to supplement her two existing public defenders, but Siddiqui refused to cooperate with them.[26]

[edit]Trial [edit]Charges
Siddiqui was charged on July 31, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, with assault with a deadly weapon, and with attempting to kill U.S. personnel.[22][23] She was flown to New York on August 6, and indicted on September 3, 2008, on two counts of attempted murder of U.S. nationals, officers, and employees, assault with a deadly weapon, carrying and using a firearm, and three counts of assault on U.S. officers and employees.[9][94][95] Explaining why the U.S. may have chosen to charge her as they did, rather than for her alleged terrorism, Bruce Hoffman, professor of security studies at Georgetown University, said the decision turned what might have been a potentially complex terrorism matter into a more straightforward case: "Theres no intelligence data that needs to be introduced, no sources and methods that need to be risked. Its a good old-fashioned crime; its the equivalent of a 1920s gangster with a tommy gun."[96]

[edit]Medical

treatment and psychological assessments

According to FBI reports prepared shortly after July 18, 2008, Siddiqui repeatedly denied shooting anyone, and later told a U.S. special agent at the Craig Hospital on or about August 1 that "'spewing bullets at soldiers is bad', but to her surprise 'you' have still taken care of me and treated me well."
[97]

On August 11, after her

counsel maintained that Siddiqui had not seen a doctor since arriving in the U.S. the previous week, U.S. magistrate judge Henry B. Pitman ordered that she be examined by a medical doctor within 24 hours.[98] Prosecutors maintained that Siddiqui had been provided with adequate medical care since her detention in Afghanistan, though at the hearing they were unable to confirm whether she had been seen in New York by a doctor or by a paramedic.[99] The judge postponed her bail hearing until September 3.[100] An examination by a doctor the following day found no visible signs of infection; she also received a CAT scan.[101] Siddiqui was provided care for her wound while incarcerated in the U.S.[32] In September 2008, a prosecutor reported to the court that Siddiqui had refused to be examined by a female doctor, despite the doctor's extensive efforts.[97] On September 9, 2008, she underwent a forced medical exam.[32] In November 2008, forensic psychologist Dr. Leslie Powers reported that Siddiqui had been "reluctant to allow medical staff to treat her". Her last medical exam had indicated her external wounds no longer required medical dressing, and were healing well.[102] A psychiatrist employed by the prosecutor to examine Siddiqui's competence to stand trial, Gregory B. Saathoff M.D., noted in a March 2009 report that Siddiqui frequently verbally and physically refused to allow the medical staff to check her vital signs and weight, attempted to refuse medical care once it was apparent that her wound had largely healed, and refused to take antibiotics. [32] At the same time, Siddiqui claimed to her brother that when she needed medical treatment she did not get it, which Saathoff said he found no support for in his review of documents and interviews with medical and security personnel, nor in his interviews with Siddiqui.[32] Siddiqui's trial was subject to delays, the longest being six months in order to perform psychiatric evaluations.[22] She had been given routine mental health check-ups ten times in August and six times in September. She underwent three sets of psychological assessments before trial. Her first psychiatric evaluation diagnosed her with depressive psychosis, and her second evaluation, ordered by the court, revealed chronic depression.[103] Leslie Powers initially determined Siddiqui mentally unfit to stand trial. After reviewing portions of FBI reports, however, she told the pre-trial judge she believed Siddiqui was faking mental illness.[19] In a third set of psychological assessments, more detailed than the previous two, three of four psychiatrists concluded that she was"malingering" (faking her symptoms of mental illness). One suggested that this was to prevent criminal prosecution, and to improve her chances of being returned to Pakistan.[22][97] In April 2009, Manhattan federal judge Richard Berman held that she "may have some mental health issues" but was competent to stand trial.[22][97][102]

[edit]Objection

to jurors with Zionist or Israeli background

Siddiqui said she did not want jurors with Zionist or Israeli background on the jury. She demanded that all prospective jurors be DNA-tested, and excluded from the jury at her trial: if they have a Zionist or Israeli background ... they are all mad at me ... I have a feeling everyone here is themsubject to genetic testing. They should be excluded, if you want to be fair.[104] Siddiqui's legal team said, in regard to her comments, that her incarceration had damaged her mind. [5][105] Prior to her trial, Siddiqui said she was innocent of all charges. She maintained she could prove she was innocent, but refused to do so in court.[106] On January 11, 2010, Siddiqui told the Judge that she would not cooperate with her attorneys, and wanted to fire them.[107] She also said she did not trust the Judge, and added, Im boycotting the trial, just to let all of you know. Theres too many injustices." She then put her head down on the defense table as the prosecution proceeded.[108]

[edit]Trial

proceedings

Siddiqui's trial began in New York City on January 19, 2010.[109][110][111][112] Prior to the jury entering the courtroom, Siddiqui told onlookers that she would not work with her lawyers because the court was not fair.[113] She also said: "I have information about attacks, more than 9/11! ... I want to help the President to end this group, to finish them ... They are a domestic, U.S. group; they are not Muslim."[20][114] Nine government witnesses were called by the prosecution: Army Captain Robert Snyder, John Threadcraft, a former army officer, and FBI agent John Jefferson testified first.[14] As Snyder testified that Siddiqui had been arrested with a handwritten note outlining plans to attack various U.S. sites, she retorted: "If you were in a secret prison ... where children were raped and tortured ... This is no list of targets against New York. I was never planning to bomb it. You're lying."[115][116][117][118] The court also heard from FBI agent John Jefferson and Ahmed Gul, an army interpreter, who recounted their struggle with her.[119] The judge allowed the jury to hear about her target list and other handwritten notes, but not about the chemicals and mass-produced documents from "how-to" terror manuals, or about Siddiqui's alleged ties to alQaeda because they could have created an inappropriate bias.[120] The defense said there was no forensic evidence that the rifle was fired in the interrogation room.[114] They noted the nine government witnesses offered conflicting accounts of how many people were in the room, where they were positioned and how many shots were fired.[14] It said it her handbag contents were not credible as evidence because they were sloppily handled.[121] According to the Associated Press of Pakistan, Carlo Rosati, an FBI firearms expert witness in the federal court doubted whether the M-4 rifle was ever fired at the crime scene.; an FBI agent testified that Siddiqui's fingerprints were not found on the rifle.[122] The prosecution argued that it was not unusual to fail to get fingerprints off a gun. "This is a crime that was committed in a war zone, a chaotic and uncontrolled environment 6,000 miles away from here."[117] Gul's testimony appeared, according to

the defense, to differ from that given by Snyder with regard to whether Siddiqui was standing or on her knees as she fired the rifle.[123] When Siddiqui testified, though she admitted trying to escape, she denied that she had grabbed the rifle and said she had been raped and tortured in secret prisons before her arrest by a group of people pretending to be Americans, doing bad things in Americas name.[24] During the trial, Siddiqui was removed from the court several times for repeatedly interrupting the proceedings with shouting; on being ejected, she was told by the judge that she could watch the proceedings on closedcircuit television in an adjacent holding cell. A request by the defense lawyers to declare a mistrial was turned down by the judge.[124]

[edit]Conviction

Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, where Siddiqui was imprisoned

The trial lasted 14 days, with the jury deliberating for three days before reaching a verdict.[14][15] On February 3, 2010, she was found guilty of two counts of attempted murder, armed assault, using and carrying a firearm, and three counts of assault on U.S. officers and employees.[14][15][21] After jurors found Siddiqui guilty, she exclaimed: "This is a verdict coming from Israel, not America. Thats where the anger belongs."[125] She faced a minimum sentence of 30 years and a maximum of life in prison on the firearm charge, and could also have received a sentence of up to 20 years for each attempted murder and armed assault charge, and up to 8 years on each of the remaining assault counts.[15] Her lawyers requested a 12-year sentence, instead of the life sentence recommended by the probation office. They argued that mental illness drove her actions when she attempted to escape from the Afghan National Police station "by any means available ... what she viewed as a horrific fate".[16] Her lawyers also claimed her mental illness was on display during her trial outbursts and boycotts, and that she was "first and foremost" the victim of her own irrational behavior. The sentencing hearing set to take place on May 6, 2010,[21] was rescheduled for mid-August 2010,[11] and then September 2010.[16] Siddiqui (Federal Bureau of Prisons #90279-054) is being held in a federal prison in Carswell, Texas.[126]

[edit]Sentencing
Siddiqui was sentenced to 86 years in prison by the federal judge Berman in Manhattan on September 23, 2010, following a one-hour hearing in which she testified, .[127][128] In sentencing her, Judge Berman said: "As she did this ... [she uttered] in the same impeccable English that she has demonstrated here in the courtroom, anti-American sentiments like I want to kill Americans and Death to America. Referring to her five-year disappearance and her claims of torture, the judge said: I am aware of no evidence in the record to substantiate these allegations or to establish them as fact. There is no credible evidence in the record that the United States officials and/or agencies detained Dr. Siddiqui before her 2008 arrest.[129] After she was sentenced, Siddiqui urged forgiveness and asked the public not to take any action in retaliation.[128]

[edit]Reaction
This section requires expansion.

Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, criticised the conviction and the judicial process calliing saying it was carried out by a kangaroo court, with the judge displaying an "open bias" and the trial was unjust.[130]

[edit]Taliban

reaction

According to a February 2010 report in the Pakistani newspaper The News International, the Taliban threatened to execute captured U.S. soldier Bowe Bergdahl, whom they have held since June 2009, in retaliation for Siddiqui's conviction. A Taliban spokesperson claimed that members of Siddiqui's family had requested help from the Taliban to obtain her release from prison in the U.S.[131][132] In September 2010 the Taliban kidnapped Linda Norgrove, a Scottish aid worker in Afghanistan, and Taliban commanders insisted Norgrove would be handed over only in exchange for Siddiqui.[133][134][135][136] On October 8, 2010, Norgrove was killed during a rescue attempt either by one of her captors or by a grenade accidentally thrown by one of her rescuers.[137][138][139][93][93]

[edit]Reaction

in Pakistan

In August 2009, Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani met with Siddiqui's sister at his residence, and assured her that Pakistan would seek Siddiqui's release from the U.S.[140]The Pakistani government paid $2 million for the services of three lawyers to defend Siddiqui during her trial.[141] Many Siddiqui supporters were present during the proceedings, and outside the court dozens of people rallied to demand her release.[142]

A petition was filed seeking action against the Pakistani government for it having not approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to have Siddiqui released from the United States. Barrister Javed Iqbal Jaffree said the CIA arrested Siddiqui in Karachi in 2003, and one of her sons was killed during her arrest. On January 21, 2010, Jaffree submitted documents allegedly proving the arrest to the Lahore High Court. [143] In Pakistan, Siddiqui's February 2010 conviction was followed with expressions of support by many Pakistanis, who appeared increasingly anti-American, as well as by politicians and the news media, who characterized her as a symbol of victimization by the United States.[35] Her ex-husband, Amjad Khan, was one of the few who expressed a different view, saying that Siddiqui was "reaping the fruit of her own decision. Her family has been portraying Aafia as a victim. We would like the truth to come out."[144] After Siddiqui's conviction, she sent a message through her lawyer, saying that she does not want "violent protests or violent reprisals in Pakistan over this verdict."[14] Thousands of students, political and social activists protested in Pakistan.[59] Some shouted anti-American slogans, while burning the American flag and effigies of President Barack Obama in the streets.[145][146] Her sister has spoken frequently and passionately on her behalf at rallies.[35][146][147] Echoing her family's comments, and anti-U.S. sentiment, many believe she was picked up in Karachi in 2003, detained at the U.S. Bagram Airbase, raped and tortured, and that the charges against her were fabricated.[59][148] The Pakistani Embassy in Washington, DC, expressed its dismay over the verdict, which followed "intense diplomatic and legal efforts on her behalf. [We] will consult the family of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and the team of defense lawyers to determine the future course of action."[149] Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani described Siddiqui as a daughter of the nation, and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif promised to push for her release.[35] On February 18, President Asif Ali Zardari requested of Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, that the U.S. consider repatriating Siddiqui to Pakistan under the Pakistan-U.S. Prisoner Exchange Agreement.[150][151] On February 22, the Pakistani Senate passed a resolution expressing its grave concern over Siddiqui's sentence, and demanding that the government take effective steps including diplomatic measures to secure her immediate release.[152] Shireen Mazari, editor of the right-wing Pakistani newspaper The Nation, wrote that the verdict "did not really surprise anyone familiar with the vindictive mindset of the U.S. public post-9/11".[153] Foreign Policy reported that rumors about her alleged sexual abuse by captors, fuelled by constant stories in the Pakistani press, had made her a folk hero, and "become part of the legend that surrounds her, so much so that they are repeated as established facts by her supporters, who have helped build her iconic status". [146] Steve Inskeep of National Public Radio noted on March 1 that while when Siddiqui's case has been covered in the U.S., it has mostly been described as a straightforward case of terrorism, in contrast when "the Pakistani media described this very same woman, this very same case, the assumptions are all very different".[154] The

News International, Pakistan's largest circulation English tabloid, carried a March 3 letter from Talat Farooq, the executive editor of the magazine Criterion in Islamabad, in which she wrote: The media has highlighted her ordeal without debating the downside of her story in objective detail. A whole generation of Pakistanis, grown up in an environment that discourages critical analysis and dispassionate objectivity ... has ... allowed their emotions to be exploited. The Aafia case is complex... The grey lady is grey precisely because of her murky past and the question mark hanging over her alleged links to militants.... Her family's silence during the years of her disappearance, and her ex-husband's side of the story, certainly provide fodder to the opposing point of view.... The right-wing parties ... have once again played the card of antiAmericanism to attain their own political ends.... Our hatred of America, based on some very real grievances, also serves as a readily available smokescreen to avoid any rational thinking.[155] A New York Times article reviewing the Pakistani reaction noted: "All of this has taken place with little national soul-searching about the contradictory and frequently damning circumstances surrounding Ms. Siddiqui, who is suspected of having had links to Al Qaeda and the banned jihadi group Jaish-e-Muhammad. Instead, the Pakistani news media have broadly portrayed her trial as a farce, and an example of the injustices meted out to Muslims by the United States since Sept. 11, 2001."[35] Jessica Eve Stern, a terrorism specialist and lecturer at Harvard Law School, observed: "Whatever the truth is, this case is of great political importance because of how people [in Pakistan] view her."[19] In September 2010, Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik sent a letter to the United States Attorney General calling for repatriation of Siddiqui to Pakistan. He said that the case of Siddiqui had become a matter of public concern in Pakistan and her repatriation would create goodwill for the U.S.[156] On September 27, 2010 the MQM announced that it would take out a procession the next day "to condemn the sentence awarded to Dr Aafia Siddiqui in the United States." [157]

[edit]See

also

Reaction to Aafia Siddiqui's Sentencing

Reaction to Aafia Siddiqui's Sentencing - by Stephen Lendman

On September 23, the FBI headlined, "Aafia Siddiqui Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court to 86 Years for Attempting to Murder US Nationals in Afghanistan and Six Additional Crimes." In sentencing, Judge Richard Berman ruled her acts premeditated, contradicting jurors saying they were not. More on the press release below.

No matter that she's completely innocent, and has been a US political prisoner since her March 30,

2003 abduction, incarceration, torture, prosecution, and conviction on bogus charges. Her case is one of America's most egregious examples of horrific abuse and injustice, climaxed by her virtual life sentence for an alleged crime she never committed.

Yet she was convicted for these claimed felonies:

(1) one count of trying to kill US nationals outside the US;

(2) one count of trying to kill US officers and employees;

(3) one count of armed assault of US officers and employees;

(4) one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and

(5) three counts of assault of US officers and employees.

Earlier articles about her can be accessed through the following links:

http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2008/12/abduction-secret-detention-torture-and.html

http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2010/02/aafia-siddiqui-victimized-by-american.html

http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2010/03/aafia-siddiqui-victimized-by-american.html

http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2010/09/aafia-siddiqui-sentenced-grievous.html

Gloating about another victory, like a predator over its prey, the FBI quoted Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara saying:

"As a unanimous jury found beyond a reasonable doubt (they're all unanimous or hung), Aafia Siddiqui attempted to murder Americans serving in Afghanistan, as well as their Afghan colleagues," though only Americans were with her in Bagram Prison at the time the alleged incident took place, as follows:

In the presence of two FBI agents, two Army interpreters, and three US Army officers, this frail 110 pound woman allegedly assaulted three of them, seized one of their rifles, opened fire at close range, hit no one, yet she alone was severely wounded.

It was her word against theirs. At trial, no credible evidence was presented, because there was none, not even her fingerprints on the alleged weapon. The charges were concocted, bogus and absurd, not even rising to the level of a bad film plot, yet jurors were intimidated to convict.

A Pakistani/American scientist, home visiting her family in 2003, local authorities abducted her at the behest of Washington, after which she was handed over and incarcerated at America's infamous Bagram Prison, Afghanistan.

Yet the FBI statement says: "SIDDIQUI was detailed (on July 17, 2008) by Afghan authorities," who found alleged incriminating items "in her possession" about a "mass casualty attack" planned against high-profile New York targets. "Other notes....referred to the construction of 'dirty bombs,' (and) ways to attack 'enemies,' including by destroying reconnaissance drones, using underwater bombs, and deploying gliders."

Yet these charges weren't in her indictment, exposing them as spurious. Instead, on July 18, 2008, she was accused of allegedly disarming and attacking seven armed Americans during interrogation.

Rampaging Imperial America

Post-9/11, America declared war on Islam to justify rampaging globally, focused heavily on Eurasia's mineral wealth, principally Middle Eastern oil, comprising two-thirds of the world's proved reserves.

Abroad, illegal imperial wars and occupations followed. At home, Muslims have been victimized, vilified, and persecuted for their faith, ethnicity, prominence, and activism - opportunistically targeted for political advantage. They've been singled out, hunted down, rounded up, held in detention, kept in isolation, denied bail, brutally tortured, restricted in their right to counsel, tried on secret evidence, convicted on bogus charges, given long sentences, and incarcerated as political prisoners or extraordinarily renditioned to a similar or worse fate abroad.

Victims are innocent pawns in the war on terror, mocking the rule of law, judicial fairness, and democratic freedoms - the modus operandi of rogue states, calling wars of aggression liberating ones, suppressing civil liberties for our own good, and rampaging globally for alleged "democratic freedoms," ones America won't tolerate at home or abroad.

US v. Pakistani Media Reports

After her sentencing, US media reports highlighted bogus government charges, ignoring the truth and Aafia's horrific treatment. CBS, for example, affirmed allegations that she's an "Al Qaeda supporter" and "cold-blooded radical." CNN noted her "Anarchist's Arsenal." ABC News called her "Lady Qaeda."

Wall Street Journal writer Chad Bray referred to her alleged "mass casualty attack" plan on New York landmarks, and for Rupert Murdoch's New York Post, she's a "terror mom (and) reputed Al Qaeda associate," a Bruce Golding headline saying, "Judge throws book at Pakistani plotter....'terror mom' has been eighty-sixed."

Note the difference in Pakistan. The entire country is outraged - in Karachi (Aafia's home city), Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Lehore, Quetta, Peshawar, Multan, and elsewhere.

Dawn.com headlined "Pakistanis furious over Aafia Siddiqui's sentence," saying:

In Karachi, "Pakistanis burned tires, (Obama effigies), and chanted anti-US slogans after a New York (hanging) judge handed down an 86-year sentence" on bogus charges. Her case "has long stirred passions in Pakistan....where anti-American sentiment is (deservedly) widespread."

"Many Pakistanis believe the US abducted Siddiqui and kept her in a secret prison for years as it pursued its war on terror." News of her "harsh sentence immediately sparked anger and disbelief." In Peshawar, angry protestors burned tires and shouted "Down with America!" Pakistan's president and prime minister were also named, and "Some hit a portrait of....Obama with their shoes."

Islamabad students were also outraged, shouting "Crush America, Siddiqui is our sister," and "We will bring her back."

More in Multan where dozens of lawyers and activists blocked traffic, shouting "Down with America," and burning effigies of Obama and former Pakistani despot Pervez Musharra.

In Peshawar, thousands of political, social, and religious activists protested on city streets, holding banners and placards condemning the sentence. They demanded Aafia's release and end to US Waziristan drone attacks.

A supportive Pakistan Times editorial called America "an authoritarian, arrogant superpower," and Aafia's sentence "unheard of....people will be waiting to see how (Obama reacts). Only time will tell if the US president will step in to mitigate (this outrage) by either pardoning Dr. Aafia or sending her back to Pakistan to serve at least part of her sentence in her home country."

"Dr. Aafia may very well become the poster-child for increased hatred against the US and more sympathy for the militants," a possibility both countries should consider.

Aafia's sister, Fauzia, called the sentence "a slap in the face of our rulers, who have pledged and made promises to bring" her back.

Addressing a supportive rally, she said they failed miserably to help Aafia. "The sentence bears testimony to the fact that this government is a puppet of the US. We are peaceful people, and our aim is to bring back Aafia."

Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit expressed "disappoint(ment with) the sentence and sad that our efforts....did not succeed. We are still in touch with the US administration to see what possible options are available. We are not giving up." At issue is whether they ever tried, given the ties between the countries "in the fight against Terrorist militancy...."

The International Tribune reported that Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik said government efforts "will surely bring (her back), but it needs time to do it."

Pakistan's US ambassador, Hussain Haqqani, said "the government took every possible step for (her) safe release," adding that efforts will continue.

Pakistan's Jamiat Uleme-e-Islam Party (JUI) chief, Fazalur Rehman, cancelled his US trip in protest, saying "the punishment of Doctor Aafia has added to the list of American crimes, and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said he, too, "would make all efforts for Dr. Aafia's release," adding that "the entire nation was praying for her safe return."

Tekreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Party chairman, Imran Khan, condemned the verdict as "unethical and inhuman," warning it could inflame the entire Muslim world. He also announced launch of a countrywide protest, saying Pakistanis won't tolerate this outrage.

"Aafia is the daughter of the nation," he said, "and all-our efforts should be made for her early return." PTI plans protest rallies, seminars and meeting throughout the country, its campaign to continue until Affia's back home.

Farooq Sattar, Parliamentary leader of Pakistan's third largest political party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), condemned Aafia's sentence, announced protests, and said MQM officials would meet with America's ambassador to demand her release. MQM head, Altaf Hussain, also wants her released and sent home, saying, if in power, MQM "would have immediately severed ties with the US and its allies...."

In America, Aafia's a "terrorist," in Pakistan a national hero, at least on the country's streets, if not the halls of power, despite the above rhetoric.

For their part, Aafia's family vowed to launch a "movement" for her release, Fauzia telling reporters that all of Pakistan would agitate for her. "I was alone when I started the campaign to release my sister, but from now on it will be the Aafia movement as the whole nation is with me."

Qazi Muhammad, Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president asked "Why is our individual and collective conscience as a nation silent on the maltreatment of Dr. Aafia, the daughter of the nation?" He said an SCBA delegation would meet with her family, and offered to defend her in the US pro bono.

Responses from Human Rights Groups

The International Justice Network (ICN - supporting human rights globally, including Aafia's family) issued a press release, saying:

"Dr. Aafia Siddiqui - who has never caused harm to anyone - has now been condemned to spend the rest of her life in a (US) maximum security prison....This sentence is not only unjust because of its harshness, (but) also because of its impact on her....children....who may never see their mother again. But the greatest injustice....is that those who are responsible for the kidnapping, disappearance, and abuse of Dr. Siddiqui and her children without cause have yet to answer for their actions."

"The International Justice Network stands in solidarity with the international community in condemning this unfair and unjust result in Dr. Siddiqui's case."

Dr. Mehdi Hasan, chairperson of The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) issued the following statement:

America must "assess the impact of the unusually harsh punishment awarded to (Aafia), particularly in view of the absence of direct and credible evidence against her."

In fact, there's none.

It's also a red herring for the US embassy to say Pakistan must sign two international treaties relating to prisoner exchanges before Aafia can be returned - the Council of Europe Treaty and OAF Convention. In fact, reversing her sentence and repatriating her is as simple as doing it, an Obama stroke of the pen sending her home. It's time for Pakistan's government to put its muscle where it's rhetoric is and demand nothing less, suspending diplomatic relations until done.

A Final Comment

On September 11, 2001, America declared "war on terror" based on a lie, then used it as justification to rampage globally. Thereafter, democratic freedoms weakened or disappeared, and Muslims became the target of choice. A war on Islam followed.

Stereotypically called culturally inferior, dirty, lecherous, untrustworthy, religiously fanatical, and violent, they've been prejudicially called Islamofascists, "terrorists," or a homeland fifth column. Their fate became summary judgment - no due process, judicial fairness, or innocent unless proved guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt by an impartial jury of their peers.

Aafia is their poster child, an innocent woman brutalized and condemned to spend the rest of her life in maximum security confinement, meant for America's "worst of the worst" criminals. The facilities are extremely harsh. They crush the human spirit, body and mind, in Aafia's case even more than already after seven and a half brutalizing years.

More is now planned for the rest of her life unless world outrage saves her, no easy task given the Obama administration's contempt for the rule of law, human rights and justice, as roguish as Bush officials.

That alone should incite everyone's moral outrage. Aafia's case adds an exclamation point!

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

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