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Pakistani Demonstrators Call For Aafia Siddiqui's Release
Demonstrations have been held in Bloody Karachi...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It may be the largest city in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... to demand the release of Pak neuroscientist  Aafia Siddiqui...American-educated Pak cognitive neuroscientist who was convicted of assault with intent to murder her U.S. interrogators in Afghanistan. In September 2010, she was sentenced to 86 years in jug after a three-ring trial. 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 Liberia immediately prior to 9-11-01. Since her incarceration Paks have taken her to their heart and periodically erupt into demonstrations, while the government tries to find somebody to swap for her... , who is imprisoned in the United States, Press TV reports. Friday's main demonstration was organized by the country's largest political-religious party Jamaat-e-Islami ... The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independentbranch there since 1975. It close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... (JI), a Press TV correspondent said. JI Bloody Karachi chief Muhammad Hussain Mahenti said that the Unites States' judiciary had proved that it was fully biased against Moslems and Islam, when it sentenced Siddiqui for 86 years in prison without due process of law. The protesters were holding placards and banners bearing anti-US slogans. They also denounced the Pak government for taking a hands-off approach in dealing with the Siddiqui issue. In September 2010, a court in New York sentenced Siddiqui to 86 years in prison after she was found guilty of 'opening fire' on FBI agents and US military personnel in a cop shoppe in Ghazni, Afghanistan, where she was being interrogated in 2008. The mother of three vanished in Bloody Karachi with her three children on March 30, 2003. The following day, local newspapers reported that she had been kidnapped by US forces and charged with terrorism. Human rights groups say that Siddiqui had secretly been transferred to the US base in Bagram, north of Kabul, and tortured for five years prior to the alleged incident in 2008. She was taken to the US in July 2008 and was convicted in a New York court in February 2010. In Bloody Karachi on Friday, the sister of Aafia Siddiqui, Dr. Fouzia Siddiqui, led another protest rally from Tebet center to Bloody Karachi Press club. Fouzia told Press TV that there are serious concerns regarding Siddiqui's health, and that US officials have repeatedly turned down her request to meet her sister. She described the conditions in Carswell prison as inhuman. Siddiqui is currently jugged at the Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, which provides specialized medical and mental health services to female prisoners. Fouzia also appealed to American people to raise their voice against the 'inhuman' act. Posted by: trailing wife 2012-03-31 |
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