Follow Us
US jury finds Dr Aafia guilty on all counts
NEW YORK: A US jury on Wednesday found Pakistani neuroscientist Dr Aafia Siddiqui guilty of two counts of attempted murder, though the crime was not found by the jury to be premeditated. She was also convicted of armed assault, using and carrying a firearm and assault of US officers and employees. A 12-member jury deliberated three days in a Manhattan federal court before unanimously declaring her guilty as charged.
Although she was not charged with terrorism, prosecutors described Aafia as a would-be terrorist who had also plotted to bomb New York.
In her closing arguments, defence attorney Linda Moreno accused the prosecutors of trying to play on the jury’s fears. “They want to scare you into convicting Aafia Siddiqui,” she said.
Tina Monshipour, an attorney for Aafia’s family, said after the verdict was announced: “This verdict is being subject to an appeal. There were a lot of unfair decisions. She was portrayed as a terrorist even if there were no terrorism charges in this trial. This is one of those cases in which we see prejudice and bias invade the courtroom.”
Reactions rolled in swiftly, with Aafia’s mother saying on national television that this decision would be “the beginning of the end for America”.
In addition, a statement from the Pakistan embassy in Washington read, “We are dismayed over the unexpected verdict of the jury in Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s case.” agencies
SOURCE : Dailytimes.com.pk
