Tag Archives: Aafia

Aafia Siddiqui: Victimized by American Depravity

by Stephen Lendman

Her trial proceedings were carefully orchestrated. Witnesses were either enlisted, pressured, coerced, and/or bought off to cooperate, then jurors were intimidated to convict, her attorney, Elaine Whitfield Sharp, saying their verdict was “based on fear, not fact.”

On February 3, 2010, after a sham trial, the Department of Justice announced Siddiqui’s conviction for “attempting to murder US nationals in Afghanistan and six additional charges.” When sentenced on May 6, she faces up to 20 years for each attempted murder charge, possible life in prison on the firearms charge, and eight years on each assault charge.

In March 2003, after visiting her family in Karachi, Pakistan, government Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agents, in collaboration with Washington, abducted Siddiqui and her three children en route to the airport for a flight to Rawalpindi, handed them over to US authorities who took them secretly to Bagram prison, Afghanistan for more than five years of brutal torture and unspeakable abuse, including vicious beatings and repeated raping.

Video : Dr. Aafia Family Interview – 26 March 2010

Video : Dr. Aafia Family Interview – 26 March 2010

SOURCE : Pkpolitics.com

MIRROR

Dr Aafia’s detention

The anger that one feels at the arbitrary arrest of Dr Aafia get further intensified as she completes seven years of detention. And thoughts inevitably turn to the fate of her three children, 9-year old Maryam and two young sons who went missing with her. Their abduction, for which her sister Dr Fouzia points a finger at the US, is condemnable to say the least.

This is not simply the height of moral degradation; it shows a ruthless feature of the war on terror, a fiendish plot that has dragged the little kids into it. At first, the US authorities confirmed that one of her sons was in their custody but later they retracted. However, the family is of the firm belief that they are being held captives either by the FBI or some intelligence agency in Pakistan.

‘Aggrieved Aafia’ and America

By Nighat Leghari

After having implicated Dr Aafia Siddiqui in a false and fabricated case and keeping her in a secret prison for seven long years, the US court of justice have given the verdict which provided a laugh line to the world jurists community. Coming out form the court house even the defense Attorney, Linda Moreno wearing a worn out smile said, “Now I have no faith in American justice system. I completely disagree with this partisan verdict we will go into an appeal against this verdict. She further revealed in her closing statement “The case is about “Fear versus Facts”.

The prosecutor portrayed Dr. Aafia as a terrorist, though she was not charged with any terrorism offences but prosecutor charged her as “would be terrorist”. The verdict she said explains the fear versus facts but I say there is no room for fear in the court room, it indicated that verdict of the jurors took over fear of the US justice system.

Dr Aafia has no connection with terrorists

KARACHI: British Muslim journalist Maryam Ridley has said Tuesday that Dr Aafia Siddique has no connection with any terrorist organisation, including Al-qaeeda and Taliban.

Ridley voiced these views while addressing students of Institute of Business Administration in Karachi. She said that Dr Aafia’s case has been presented in front of American Jury in dramatic way and was charged with baseless allegations.

Release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui demanded

GOLARCHI: The members of the Pakistan Human Rights Development Organization (PHRDO) Golarchi chapter under the leadership of Afzal Arain, Ghulam Mustafa Khokhar, Afzal Shah and others took out a protest rally for release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui on Sunday.

The participants of the rally marched through various roads of the city and reached outside the Naushehro Feroze Press Club.

Addressing on the occasion, the protesting leaders strongly condemned the arrest of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui by American authorities.

They said that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui was convicted in a false case by an American jury.

Sister, mother of Dr. Aafia Siddiqi calls on Rehman Malik

KARACHI, March 21 (APP):  Sister of Dr. Aafia Siddiqi, Dr.  Fauzia Siddiqi along with her mother met with  Interior Minister, Rehman Malik at the Chief Minister House here on Sunday. During the meeting, the Federal Minister for Interior assured them about the progress in the case and release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqi.

Dr. Fauzia Siddiqi handed over the snaps of children of Dr.  Aafia Siddiqi to Rehman Malik and sought  the government’s help to search them.

The Federal Interior Minister assured them  of full cooperation to search the children.

British journalist backs Aafia case

KARACHI: A press conference arranged by “The Free Aafia Campaign” was held at the Karachi Press Club on Saturday.

On the occasion, British journalist Maryam Yvonne Ridley criticised the American and European media and said they had done nothing to provide justice to Dr Aafia.

“Pakistanis will have to start demonstrations to stimulate their political leaders to do something for bringing Aafia and her children back home,” she said.

Faisal Saleh urges Opp to protest Aafia’s detention

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) parliamentary leader Faisal Saleh Hayat on Wednesday urged opposition parties to stage a protest and sit-in outside the US embassy in favour of Dr
Aafia Siddiqui.

Taking part in a discussion on an adjournment motion regarding the bomb blast at the Special Investigation Building in Lahore, Faisal criticised both the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for only targeting the Musharraf-era’s policy. He said both parties had failed to bring any positive change in the country despite a lapse of two years. They did not waste any opportunity for criticising General (r) Musharraf and his party, but despite the mandate given by the people in the 2008 elections, not a single policy of Musharraf has been changed,
he claimed.

Speaking on the floor of the House, Faisal said the PML-N should play its role as a major opposition party to press the government for change. He suggested the opposition leader to lead a rally and a sit-in in front of the US embassy against the detention of Dr Aafia. He said no one from the opposition or the treasury discussed the issues of Dr Aafia and drone attacks with US Secretary of States Hillary Clinton during her visit
to Pakistan.

Ready to forgive everyone when Dr Aafia returns home: Dr Fozia Sadique

MULTAN: Dr. Fozia Sadique sister of Dr Aafia Sadique said that she is ready to forgive everyone when Dr Aafia returns at home.

Talking to media persons here at Multan airport on Friday, Dr Fozia Sadique sister of Dr Aafia Sadique, detained in American jail said that all allegations on Dr Aafia are false and nation would not be satisfied till release of Dr Aafia.

She said that whole nation demands back of Dr Aafia on Pakistani land from where she was picked up.