Aafia Siddiqui convicted, may be sentenced for 60 years
Aafia Siddiqui, called ‘Laday Al-Qaeda’ by American media, has finally been convicted for attempted murder of Americans and may be sentenced for up to 60 years. Ironically, she was not charged for terrorism.
In 2003, Dr. Aafia, along with her 3 children, went missing in Karachi. In 2008, British journalist Yvonne Ridley hinted about presence of Aafia Siddiqui at United States run Bagram Airbase detention facility in Afghanistan.
The Foreign Office of Pakistan, as usual, denied knowledge of the alleged detention of a Pakistani woman at Bagram Airbase and said that the allegation would be looked into.
However, public protests vibrated across the world against inhuman treatment of Dr. Aafia, which caused US administration to declare her detention. In a lame statement from US Department of Justice (DOJ), it was stated that in July 2008 Aafia Siddiqui is arrested for attempting to kill United States Officers in Afghanistan. She has been transported to New York and will be presented tomorrow before a United States Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
In September 2008, her son was handed over to Pakistan by Afghan officials. Dr. Aafia was indicted for attempting to kill United States nationals in Afghanistan.
The trial continued for over 16 months and now, even when the jury was unconvinced about the charges, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui has been convicted.
The inhuman treatment of Dr. Aafia, her trial and conviction confirms that Obama Administration is following the path of Bush and the Justice system of United States is not really fair and impartial.
Those ostriches in Pakistan who thought Aafia Siddiqui would be released and handed back to Pakistan so that PPP government can score some points, should now return to their pots.
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February 6th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Zahid, your words have no weight, do not blame anyone wothout having proper details.
February 5th, 2010 at 1:42 am
@ Zahid Khan Pakistani u can be a gud lawyer for neo cons……give it a try
February 4th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
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 bad image.Why doesn’t my mother or sister or your mother or sister get caught in these types of cases. Simply because they are good women not some Al-Qaida sluts. If you do it you will have to pay for it. I appeal the jury to give this bitch the death sentence.
February 4th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Press reporters had been severely restricted from entering the court room, in fact no reporter from Pakistan was allowed in to the court room in well-planned technicalities for exclusion, so much for “freedom of press”!
Luckily Petra Bartosiewicz, a freelance journalist (not tied to any “corporate press”) qualified to enter the court room and expose the actual happenings, she has written a detailed account of the courtroom proceedings, this is exclusively on the following site: http://www.cageprisoners.com
February 4th, 2010 at 10:51 am
The hit and run culture must end. Our values have changed. The entire system is dysfunctional. People with distorted vision and short sightedness are playing with lives of populace. Its disgusting. No one is coming forward to change and until that leader is born to take people against injustices we shall remain crippled and with our silence approve lies and torments hurled on us. Its just a shame. Wonder when the leadership will feel it?!?
February 4th, 2010 at 9:59 am
There are a number of baffling questions that need to be answered. Why did the lady take the witness stand, acting against the advice of her lawyer? Why did she insist that all Jews in the jury should be removed? After all, not all Jews are anti-Muslim, there are some Jewish organizations and individuals who have even helped Palestinians and Bosnian Muslims. Why did she antagonize the jury and the judge by her violent outbursts? How is it that after her divorce, she married an Arab linked to Al-Qaeda? Why did she refuse the Pakistan government’s offer to provide her with the best lawyers that money could buy?
February 4th, 2010 at 9:40 am
so sad… this tradition of “handing over” should be stopped or we will have to see many more heartbreaking incidents like this. Where we have lost our self respect? There are many debt ridden countries in the world, but hardly anyone acts so foolishly like ours. We keep playing PPP, PML games and there s not even a single wise and visionary individual in their “pool of talent”. Alas ! we just can pray and wait for Divine help.