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13 March 2013
By El-Hajj Mauri' Saalakhan
Prelude to a Three Part Struggle
The March on the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, DC
-- News Release - March 12, 2013
In March 2012, demonstrations were held in 15
countries that called for the release and repatriation
of a Pakistani female prisoner, and MIT graduate, Dr.
Aafia Siddiqui. The smallest of those demonstrations
was in the very country where this young woman, who
many regard as a political
prisoner, is being held, the United States of
America.
Determined not to see a repetition of last year's
disappointing outcome, American activists held a press
conference on "International Women's Day" at the
National Press Club in downtown Washington - to bring
attention to the plight of Dr. Siddiqui, imprisoned
attorney Lynne Stewart, and to remember the life and
legacy of Rachel Corrie – an American activist who at
the age of 23 had her life taken away by an Israeli
soldier in Occupied Palestine, while nonviolently
attempting to prevent the destruction of a Palestinian
family's home in the Rafah refugee camp. Later that
same day a demonstration was held outside the
Pakistani Embassy for Dr. Siddiqui.
Last Friday's two part initiative was sponsored by a "Coalition
of Conscience" comprising
a diverse array of civil liberties, human rights and
antiwar activists and organizations. The speakers were
Sara Flounders of the International Action Center (IAC);
Sue Udry of Defending Dissent Foundation and the
Coalition to Stop FBI Repression; Ann Wright, a
retired U.S.
Army Colonel and former U.S. diplomat; Ralph Poynter,
the husband of Attorney Lynne Stewart; Steve Downs of
Project SALAM and the National
Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms; Joe Lombardo of
the United National Antiwar Coalition; Shahid Comrade,
a Pakistani American New York-based activist; M. Salim
Akhtar of the Pakistan American Democratic Forum &
American Muslim Taskforce; Mauri' Saalakhan of The
Peace Thru Justice Foundation, and the
politically-conscious graphic artist Chris Towne.
While the majority of speakers at both the press
conference and demonstration were non-Muslim, the
majority of demonstrators who assembled in front of
the Pakistani embassy were Muslim - young and old, of
varying cultural hues (i.e. South Asian, Arab,
Persian, African, and African American) - who called
on the outgoing government in Pakistan to do the right
thing before it leaves office, secure the release and
repatriation of their Pakistani citizen.
One area leader who was unable to attend the press
conference, but who delivered a presentation at the
embassy protest that clearly resonated with many who
were there, was Imam Mohammad al-Asi, the only Muslim
religious leader at either event. In fact, of the
national Muslim organizations with offices in
Washington, none were
represented at the press club or embassy rally.
Among the many noteworthy signs that were carried by
the protesters were two that eloquently summed up the
reason for the demonstration at the embassy:
DEMAND THE REPATRIATION OF YOUR CITIZEN DR.
AAFIA SIDDIQUI
&
"ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN" BE ISLAMIC DEFEND THE
OPPRESSED!
The concluding part of the special March 2013
mobilization, marking a decade of imprisonment for Dr.
Aafia Siddiqui, will take place in Fort Worth (TX)
later this month. On Friday, March 29, from 3-5PM,
Aafia's supporters will gather at the U.S. District
Court located at 501 W. 10th St,
in downtown Ft. Worth. On Saturday, March 30, 12 noon,
supporters will assemble outside the military reserve
base where FMC Carswell is located.
Among the speakers for the mobilization in Texas will
be the former U.S Attorney General, and
internationally renowned human rights icon, Ramsey
Clark.
For additional info on the upcoming Fort Worth
mobilization, or for access to the audio record of the
March 8th press conference, send an e-mail to peacethrujustice@aol.com or
call (301) 220-0133, or (202) 246-9608. |
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