The Propaganda Campaign Against Aafia Re-intensifies

19 January 2010

By El-Hajj Mauri' Saalakhan

"During the proceedings, the prosecution stated that they will not be alleging that Aafia is a member of Al Qaeda, the Taliban or any terrorist organization."

Despite the government's decision, and the judge's ruling, that the prosecution would not allege that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui has any ties to Al-Qaeda (or any other alleged terrorist group) - because she NEVER DID! - this didn't stop the Daily News from featuring a sensationalistic, a highly prejudicial newspaper caption that proceeded to dub her "Lady Al Qaeda" (see below).

To add insult to injury, they presented Aafia's concern about the possibility of "Israelis or Zionists" on the jury as a demand to exclude "Jews" from the jury.

With deceitful allies like these (newspaper rags) in the court of public opinion, the government can afford to lean a little more on the side of fact in its official charge sheet against Aafia Siddiqui. (And this is precisely why our sister receiving broad support from her community - from start to finish - is so important.

Let us see you at 500 Pearl Street (in lower Manhattan) at 8:00 in the morning, please.

Aluta Continua

(The struggle continues)

"The ultimate measure of a man [or woman] is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.


To: All Muslim Leaders! - i.e. imams, amirs, board presidents, executive directors, student leaders, etc. To Muslim husbands and fathers, mothers and housewives, brothers and sisters...to concerned Muslims of every rank and profile.

Sister Afia Siddiqui Protest Circular

Assalaamu Alaikum:

Our sister, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, goes on trial this coming Tuesday, 9AM, at the federal courthouse located at 500 Pearl Street, New York City. I could write a 20 page dissertation on what we should do and why. But I won't, because I've already written enough. I will simply say this, in brief.

If at the end of this legal proceeding most us stay home, or locked into other day-to-day routines (and ignore the opportunity to DO something), and Aafia ends up suffering the same fate as so many other committed Muslims in pre-and-post 9/11 America...railroaded into prison; in the aftermath of this precedent-setting trial, each of us will have to look at ourselves in the mirror and take stock. If the reflection that comes back at us is of someone who wonders if they might have made a difference, but didn't even try, we will have no one else to blame but ourselves, for the emptiness and increased insecurity which will no doubt come in its wake!

In the struggle for peace thru justice,

Candle light vigils, and protests will be held across Pakistan:

"STOP KANGAROO TRIAL! FREE INNOCENT AAFIA"

WHERE: Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Gujranwala & Faisalabad
WHEN: Tuesday Jan. 19th, 20010

This is time coordinated with USA on request of PAK-USA Freedom Forum, with similar events are expected to occur in UK, australia, Spain, Qatar, Turkey etc.
---

"PROTEST against the illegal trial and demand immediate repatriation of daughter of the nation Dr. Aafia Siddiqui."

WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 19th, 2010
WHAT: Declared "Save Aafia Day"

Jamat-e Islami Pakistan is holding a protest on Monday 18th January in Karachi press club under leadership of Jamat-e-Islami Syed Munawwer Hussan.

Stand in solidarity with Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in front of Federal Court

500 Pearl St in lower Manhattan

(Gather at Worth Street & Baxter in front of the Federal Court Building - east of Foley Square)

Dr. Aafia Siddiqui's trail begins Tuesday, January 19th 2010 at 9:00am.

Pre-trial motions and jury selection were held from Jan 11 through Jan 15

The start of Dr. Aafia Aiddiqui trial has been declared "FREE DR AAFIA SIDDIQUI DAY" across the U.S., Pakistan, Europe, Australia, and Middle East.

Supporters around the world will be gathering and protesting at the same time.

In Pakistan Dr Aafia Siddiqui is considered to be a 'Daughter of the nation". The Pakistani Supreme court recently called her case "the most important challenge for the country." The Pakistani Parliament passed an overwhelming resolution in support of her and has forced the government to pay for her legal defense in U.S. courts.

Dr. Aafia Siddiqui's torture and secret detention by U.S. forces in Afghanistan aroused enormous anger and indignation. Her continued imprisonment in solitary confinement in U.S. prisons and the continuing brutal strip searches that she is subjected are internationally condemned.

Dr. Aafia is a 36-year-old Pakistani woman who is a U.S. educated neuroscientist. She was illegally kidnapped with her three young children in Karachi, Pakistan in 2003 and taken to U.S. custody in Afghanistan, where she was held in secret detention and tortured for 5 years. She was shot and severely wounded during an interrogation by FBI agents in July 2008. She is charged with attempted murder of FBI agent(s) in Afghanistan. According to the prosecutors and all U.S. officials, she has no links to any 'terrorist organizations'. Forensic evidence supports Dr Aafia Siddiqui's innocence. Dr. Aafia's fingerprints were NOT on any gun, nor her DNA nor any residue nor any bullets.

The only fact that all witnesses agree on is that Dr. Aafia herself was shot by U.S. personnel then taken from Ghazni to Bagram and finally flown to New York to be charged. Dr. Aafia Siddiqui at every court appearance continues to refuse her lawyers, to declare to the court that she has been tortured and to decry the pain of strip searches.

Her sister Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, and family, her friends and her lawyers believe her continuing statements that she was tortured in Afghanistan and the children were terrorized in US custody. The family and friends have fought for support from the Pakistani government and international human rights organizations.

The International Action Center, www.IACenter.org urges full support for the international call to Free Dr. Aafia Siddiqui!

Justice and a full accounting for ALL the missing and secretly detained prisoners in Pakistan and around the world!

All out on Tuesday, January 19 - 8 to 9 am at Federal Court Building

Fill the court every day of sister Aafia's trial - Judge Richard Berman Court Room

news@freeaafia.org.

International Action Center,

55 West 17th St, #5C, New York, NY 10011

Ph: 212-633-6646 - www.IACenter.org

Stand for humane treatment and stand against injustice! Standing for Dr. Aafia brings light to all missing persons, victims of extraordinary rendition and people held in secret prisons. It sends the message that all human beings, especially - our sisters - Muslim women have rights!

God Bless,

The Free Dr. Aafia Campaign

THE PEACE AND JUSTICE FOUNDATION
11006 Veirs Mill Rd, STE L-15, PMB 298
Silver Spring, MD. 20902

 

 

 

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