Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is on trial this last week in New York on charges of her attempting to kill an FBI officer in Afghanistan. It interesting to note that none of the assault charges are seemingly holding up against her, the M-4 rifle which she allegedly used to fire four shots at the officers has not produced a single finger print of her, while other items presented as evidence in are trial are also not standing up in court. What one must remember that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui was abducted from Karachi and held in some US custody from 2003 for allegedly supporting terrorism, only to re-emerge as a Prisoner 650 charged with assaulting FBI officers in 2008, her trial is not about her terrorism but instead an assault charge made against her in 2008.
Sounds like someone in Pakistan must answer the tough question as to why they felt the need to hand over her and many like her over to the US without a proper investigation and trial ensuring that they were actually guilty of the alleged crime or terrorist activity. Musharraf or for that matter should not have bartered with her life to pick up and let the Americans smuggle her out of Pakistan merely on the basis of a hunch?
A good summary of the progress of the trial can be heard in this short 10-minute interview of Tina Foster, Executive Director of International Justice Network who has been monitoring Dr. Aafia Siddiqi trial in New York on Letters to Washington telecasted on KPFA Washington Radio
[audio:Aafia.mp3]
Connie Lynn Nash has been following her trial extensively on her blog One Heart for Peace. She makes a detailed comment in The Nation to say
“With U.S. officials failing to produce evidence implicating Dr. Aafia in a shooting incident in Afghanistan, it is now certain that the whole case was basically intended to cast her in the role of the villain. This is how the U.S. can demonise Muslim men and women. Forensic tests have confirmed that the gun allegedly used by her did not carry her fingerprints. Besides, there is the report by a ballistic expert, which also goes in her favour. Now, it doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to see that the charges from day one were totally trumped up since it is totally inconceivable and impossible for a frail woman to carry out such a daredevil stunt of snatching a heavy M-4 rifle single-handedly from a bunch of U.S. commandoes, overpowering them by sheer physical strength, and take aim at them. Nothing could be more ridiculous.
During her trial she also revealed that while in custody she has been brutally tortured and coerced into confessing herself as a terrorist. The U.S. army thugs who abducted the innocent doctor on these false charges must now be brought to book. General Musharraf for his complicity in giving the Americans a virtual carte blanche to commit such atrocities to Pakistanis in broad daylight should also be held accountable. All this provides a peep into the world of our ally Uncle Sam who takes great pride and joy in setting up facilities like Guantanamo Bay detention camp, Abu Gharaib Jail, Camp X-Ray, Bagram Air Base facility, where countless Muslim men and women have been tortured and abused. Likewise, the appalling treatment meted out to the Muslim Diaspora in the US made more intense by draconian measures seriously compromising civil liberties including airport screening procedures and tough immigration laws, shows the degree of Islamophobia prevailing there.
Under the circumstances, it is mandatory for Islamabad to make it clear to the US that it won’t tolerate humiliation of Pakistanis anymore. It would be unfortunate if the state dithers at a time when its citizens are in a dire need of help and protection. As an opening gambit, it should use its muscle and clout in securing Dr. Aafia’s freedom.”
Comments
10 responses to “Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s Trial”
one should give the credit to this govt for fascilitating the release of dr.afia siddiqi. people are hoping that dr.afia siddiqi will be released soon.
Here is a very detailed article from Western Press about Dr Aafia http://www.harpers.org/archive/2009/11/0082719
Aafia case is very complicated.She had left her first husband in unclear situation and married to a foreign alqeada warrior.She surely worked something wrong or might be suspicious whom no body is trying to probe exactly that had forced Musharraf govt to give her in CIA custody.
If Americans wanted to get rid of her, they could have easily managed it while she was in Afghanistan.
Why she kept alive and brought to court is very debatable issue which is out of range of our impotent government.
I feel sorry for her and do deeply truly sympathize with her.
Whatever her circumstances were and whoever she married ….the abuse torture is not permissible.
She is attending the court I say what a remarkable woman nerves of steel…..to survive this.
Wish her all the best
This is not an abuse as her ex husband confounded her case more by giving some documentary proofs of her links with alqaeda net work to CIA.
I always told people that never ever dare to snatch a child from mother's lap as after this a woman takes no time to turn into a wild cat.
So she was deprived by her kids and it is only hope of seeing her kids and desire of raising them under her protection which are keeping her strong nerve live and active.
No doubt that even a man cant uphold this torture in isolation but I think a mother can bear it.
Truth Serum: Professor McCoy Exposes the History of CIA Interrogation, From the Cold War to the War on Terror
Professor McCoy Exposes the History of CIA Interrogation, From the Cold War to the War on Terror February 18, 2006 By Alfred McCoy http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/4391
UW-Madison Prof. Alfred McCoy talks about Torture on 9-11 at the Barrymore http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fspXZ9VlsQ
Truth Serum, Torture – Democracy Now Amy Goodman –
Historian Alfred McCoy: Obama Reluctance on Bush Prosecutions Affirms Culture of Impunity http://www.democracynow.org/2009/5/1/torture_expe…
She should be hanged for what she did. If she is innocent she wouldn't be in this situation. People like these give Islam and Pakistan the image. I appeal the jury to give this bitch the death sentence
I am really shocked to read your comments about a muslim woman. What you have done to make islam and pakistan's picture more clear and brighter? Any achievment so far? Any positive move which you revlutionized the world?
You are saying that she should be hanged I wish you could have felt the egony and pain she went through.
If she was supporting those fundamental organizations which are doing jihaad. she was right. Every muslim should stand for jihaad. Look at Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Kashmir and many more countries where muslims are being killed. One must take stand or support those who fight against those terrorists who are killing innocent muslims.
I am a huge supporter of Dr. Afia and people like her. And every Muslim is huge supporter of Dr. Afia.
Absolute injustice from the leaders of U.S. and Pakistan.