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Legal team working on expediting efforts to bring Aafia home

And who knows? The horse might learn to sing.

[Dawn] 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...
, a Pak neuroscientist jugged
You have the right to remain silent...
in the US for 86 years for allegedly attacking American soldiers in Afghanistan, had a third meeting with her sister at a prison hospital in Texas on Thursday.

"Please think of Fowzia Siddiqui and Aafia today! After the tainted joy of their reunion after 20yrs today they must say goodbye at least for a while," Aafia’s lawyer Clive Stafford Smith wrote in a tweet he posted before the meeting.

The two sisters had their first reunion in 20 years at the Carswell prison hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, on Tuesday. The lawyer attended all three meetings between the two sisters while 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 independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. 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...
Senator Mushtaq Ahmed also accompanied them on at least one occasion.

"Govt of Pakistain you owe her honesty," the lawyer wrote in another tweet. "Aafia and I spoke today about how she needs to know whether her infant Suleiman was really killed when she was originally kidnapped."

US authorities say Aafia was detained in Afghanistan in 2008 and was brought to a US military base for interrogation, where she grabbed a rifle and opened fire on her interrogators.

The US government said it was unaware of her location from March 2003 until July 2008, but statements released by Aafia’s side indicated that she was kidnapped earlier in Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
, where her son also disappeared.

Her other two children — a son and a daughter — were babies when she was incarcerated but they are in their 20s now. She saw their pictures on Tuesday, after 20 years.

She had not been in contact with any of her family members for more than a decade.

"It was deeply depressing, but nevertheless a privilege, to be present for this emotional reunion," said Mr Smith, the lawyer. The visits, he said, focused on "how we can get her home from the hell of her current existence".

Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, in a tweet, said the sisters met in a room separated by a glass wall and were not allowed to exchange gifts. Quoting Dr Fowzia, he said Aafia was not in a good condition and was not aware of the death of her mother, who passed away last year.

Dawood Ghaznavi, a Pakistani lawyer associated with the free Aafia movement, said US authorities could send Aafia to Pakistan if the Pak establishment assured them that "they would keep Aafia in a secure place" and would not allow her to resume her activities.

Yes, but who would be gullible enough to believe Pakistani government assurances in this matter?

Mr Smith said, "our request is to let Aafia go home" but it could only happen if Pakistain made sincere efforts.

Posted by: trailing wife 2023-06-03

http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=668836