They congregated outside the Pakistani Embassy...they stood there as the rain poured down on them like tears down from heaven for Dr Affia, they still stood there when the icy winds turned their fingers numb like the devil willing them to go home. They stood there strong and defiant calling for The Pakistani Government to now release Dr Affia. Knowing that the discomfort that they felt was nothing compared to the pain and suffering this innocent sister had suffered. Feeling that somehow this act of defiance and strength would help to free a woman's whose only crime was being born Muslim.
Some of you reading this will not know the history of Dr Affia and may wonder what this post is about and why we are trying to free a woman that has been sentenced to 86 years by the American Government. You may wonder how innocent a woman can be if the American Judicial system sentenced her for so long. You may even be wondering what evil act it was that she committed to deserve such a long sentence. What if I told you it was for nothing...would that shock you? Surprise you or even intrigue you? However it makes you feel at least you are thinking of her. Below I have included an extract from Justice for Affia giving a brief overview of Affia's story.
WHO IS AAFIA SIDDIQUI?Dr Affia was originally arrested due to a family member being linked 9/11. To this day no links between Dr Affia and Al - qaeda have ever been found and she has never been tried for any crime linked to terrorism. She and her family were abducted under false pretences. One child at the time aged 6 months has never been found. Dr Affia was told that he had been murdered and our hearts scream for this to be a lie. Her 10 year old daughter was only found last year and is severely traumatised....we can only imagine what this poor child has been through...more then anything she needs her mother right now. A whole family has suffered here and is still suffering everyday that Affia is detained.
Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui, along with her three children, disappeared in Karachi in March 2003. Their whereabouts were unknown for the next five years. Throughout this time, Aafia was held without charge and abused whilst in secret detention. Former Bagram prisoners testified to the presence of a female prisoner with the number ‘650’, whose horrific screams they would hear.
Following demands for her recovery by human rights organisations and the Pakistani public, Aafia resurfaced in Afghanistan in August 2008, framed with the attempted murder of US personnel. Transferred to the US, Aafia was convicted in a shocking miscarriage of justice, despite the conflicting testimony of the soldiers and lack of evidence - no gun residue from the rifle, no trace of fingerprints on the rifle, no bullet shells in the room or bullet holes on the walls. Despite the prosecution admitting Aafia was not a member of al-Qaeda or linked to any terrorist group, she was for all intents and purposes, tried as such. She was sentenced on September 23rd to 86 years in prison.
Since her conviction, she has been denied access to phone calls, mail, and any visits, in the interests of ‘national security’. Whilst the two elder children were released in 2008 and 2010 respectively, the whereabouts of her youngest child, Suleman - only six months old at the time of the abduction - remain unknown, although it is believed that he may have been killed in US custody.
Does this sound right to you? Does this sound like justice?
On a day when the rest of London wore Poppy's and celebrated all that the soldiers have done to make this country great and safe we mourned a woman who had been let down by the world...how can we sit there celebrating freedom and equality when it is evident that it is only there for the select few.
A brother today said something that struck a major cord with me...if it could happen to Affia it could happen to any sister.
Those words sent a chill down my spine...it made sense..this woman was an educated neuroscientist, a Mother, a wife a woman no different from any other sister..trying to juggle work and what to make the kids for dinner. But look at what happened to her....is this something you could even imagine in your wildest dreams happening to you?
Could you imagine being wrenched away from your family and home...to be told your child is dead, to be beaten and raped, to be humiliated and abused. No I don't think any of us could imagine that happening to us or anyone we know. It's beyond belief, something reminiscent of a Hollywood film...but its not its true life for Affia.
So the question is what can we do? We can't turn back the hands of time and give those children back the years they missed with their mother, we can't take away the pain and the abuse. But what we can do is work together to get her home to her family where she belongs. We can never give her back the years that she lost but we can prevent her losing more.
The following is some information from the Justice for Affia
THE NEXT CHAPTER IN THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE...info@justiceforaafia.org
REQUEST AAFIA’S IMMEDIATE REPATRIATION TO PAKISTAN
Eric Holder: Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530-0001, Tel: 202-353-1555, Email: AskDoJ@usdoj.gov
Hilary Clinton: Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street, N.W. Washington DC 20520, Tel: +1 202 647 4000, Fax: +1 202 261 8577, Email: questions@friendsofhillary.com
Mr. Asif Ali Zardari: President of Pakistan, President’s Secretariat, Islamabad, PAKISTAN, Email: publicmail@president.gov.pk , Tel 92-51-9204801-9214171, Fax 92-51-9207458
Mr. Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani: Prime Minister of Pakistan, Prime Minister House, Islamabad, PAKISTAN, Fax: + 92 51 9221596, Email: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk
Mr. Rehman Malik: Minister of Interior, Room No. 404, 4th Floor, R Block, Pak Secretariat, Islamabad, PAKISTAN, Fax: +92 51 920 2624, Tel: +92 51 99212026, E-mail: minister@interior.gov.pk, ministry.interior@gmail.com , interior.complaintcell@gma il.com
Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi: Foreign Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Islamabad, Pakistan, Tel: +92 51 921 0335, Fax: +92 51 920 7600, Email: smhq148@hotmail.com
WRITE TO AAFIA
Aafia Siddiqui # 90279-054, MDC Brooklyn, Metropolitan Detention Center, PO Box 329002, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Letters can also be emailed to letters@justiceforaafia.org
Email a message of support to her family support@justiceforaafia.org
DONATE
With your help, JFAC hope to raise a minimum of $200,000 to finance legal defence and advocacy efforts.
BANK: Lloyds TSB Bank
ACCOUNT NAME: Justice For Aafia Coalition
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 41160960
SORT CODE: 30-94-42
IBAN: GB37LOYD30944241160960
SWIFT: LOYDGB21112
Host a ‘Bring Aafia Home’ party
Further details forthcoming
Volunteer for JFAC
ABOUT JFAC
JUSTICE FOR AAFIA COALITION (JFAC) was formed in the wake of Aafia’s conviction in February 2010 by a group of Muslim women activists in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Saudi Arabia. JFAC is an umbrella organisation which aims to unite and coordinate efforts on behalf of all concerned individuals and organisations striving for justice for Aafia and her children. Membership is open to all, irrespective of faith and location and currently spans five continents.
www.justiceforaafia.org
I haven't had the opportunity to edit the photos from today as I think I am getting a temperature after standing in the rain for 3 hours but I have included below a selection of shots taken from several Affia vigils and protests this year. I just want to say a big thank you to all the people involved in helping Dr Affia Aka Prisoner number 650, who have dedicated so much time and effort...thank you for not allowing Affia to be forgotten.
And for the rest of us...we need to get involved...this sister is all sisters..so in what ever way you can..even if it's just turning up at a demo or event please show your support for Dr Affia
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please feel free to leave any comments or feedback