As the War on Terror enters a new decade with a new administration, ghosts from the Bush era are beginning to emerge from the dark corridors of hidden detention centers, secret renditions, and elusive intrigues.
One of those ghosts whose story has been haunting the imagination of the Pakistani public for several years and recently even in Europe, is now beginning to capture the attention of Americans bold enough to enter the war’s most ghastly graveyard.
It is the ghost of Dr. Aaffia Siddiqui, a Pakistani MIT graduate and mother of three, who disappeared from the streets of Karachi in March 2003 along with her 3 children, at the time age under 6 mos, 3, and 7.
For years her family searched for her desperately, at times believing the worst; that she was dead. Then suddenly, 5 years later the ghost appeared live in the flesh, 12,000 miles from where she had disappeared.
In September 2008 the MIT Mom was brought to a Manhattan Court Room to be indicted on charges of trying to kill American soldiers and being a member of Al Qaeda. She was frail, delusional, incoherent, and wounded with a bullet wound to her abdomen dressed so badly that the judge had to order immediate medical attention. Her mugshot picture portrayed unspeakable horrors.
During the pre-trial hearing Dr. Siddiqui appeared in a complete veil, unusal for her according to family members. Her court room outbursts and body language signified a completely broken human being. Although there has been no independent assessment of her mental condition, she was clearly paranoid and incoherent. Moreover, her family has been unable to see her or communicate with her.
Few American’s are familiar with the facts surrounding her case; even less are familiar with the shocking claims being made by her family and indeed, by a majority of Pakistanis. Pakistan was so concerned with her plight that there have been resolutions passed in the parliament demanding her release. Meanwhile the western media has portrayed her as the Mata-Hari of Al-Qaeda, the female version of Chemical Ali, the “mother” of all terrorist. And much of this continues even as the prosecution made a stunning reversal when they announced to the court on January 11th that they would “not be charging” her with any connection to “any terrorist group”; This includes any connection to Al Qaeda, the Taliban, or Osama bin Laden.
However to the family, to the majority of Pakistanis, and to her growing number of supporters throughout the world, she is in fact prisoner 650, known as the “Gray Lady of Bagram”, whose shreaks and cries were so disturbing that the prisoners went on a hunger strike to demand that the torture against her stop. Several released detainees have since identified Dr. Siddiqui as the same prisoner 650 and several human rights groups also maintain that she is indeed prisoner 650. In fact, the weeks before her sudden and mysterious appearance at a police station in Afghanistan, human rights groups had been intensifying their demands to have prisoner 650 identified and produced.
Even more disturbing than what may have happened to her is what has come of her two still missing children. Though the older child who is now 13, was returned to the family in Pakistan shortly after her arrest, there is no information on the whereabouts of her two younger children who should now be age 6 and 9. Whether or not the prosecution is able to prove its limited attempted murder case to an American jury, surely no one can deny the innocence of the two missing young children.
The case of Aafia Siddiqui raises a number of mysterious questions are still to be explored. Now that the prosecution has decided not to charge her with terrorism why was she placed on the FBI’s terrorist list to begin with? What happened to her during those 5 missing years. What was the level of cooperation between Pakistani and American intelligence in her pursuit and possible abduction? What does her case mean for the future of Pakistan, U.S. relations. How does her case redefine the war on terror and the meaning of law, liberty, and human rights in 21st century America? And, the most troubling and pressing question of all; where are the children?
The trial of Aafia Siddiqui will begin on January 19th at the S.D.N.Y. courthouse at 500 Pearl St. Manhattan, New York.
We are expecting her case to wrap-up in two weeks. Cell-phones and laptops are not allowed. So we will cover as real-time as possible.
Stay tuned!
Ibrahim Sajid Malick is a Pakistani-American writer, technologist, and social entrepreneur. He has been writing on Pakistani society and politics since 1986. He has held several media, communications, and technology positions for organizations large and small. Mr. Malick graduated from New School for Social Research with a master’s degree in anthropology. He holds several technology and management certifications. He works for a leading technology firm and blogs at www.ibrahimsajidmalick.com
america had not do justice ,inshallah GOD will do it on judgment day.
I HATE AMERICA ………….PLEASE WAIT AMERICA FOR NEW MUHAMMAD BIN QASIM ,
no one knows the real history of afia , what she did in afghanistan for whom and with whom? our religious parties are doing politics on the issue of afia , let her be sentence to death.@Sagheer: @Sagheer:
we all hate american policy makers and thats because of what they are doing with muslim world but once afia was also working for america. do anyone know this?
The question is that only Miss Afia had put US forces in trouble. Why does she became an example before the world. America is still facing problems in Iraq and Afghanistan and had lost so many soldiers in these wars. Why do people try to harm US? How can the mind of people in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq can be changed positively towards US when such cases like Miss Afia come on the scene. Terrorist are not born terrorists, but the materialistic- based policies of developed countries are playing a vital role in destruction of the peace of the world. A mother was captivated, torched brutally, deprived from her children and still is in the hands of peace claimer as her free life can harm US forces again. Does anyone know, Pakistan is not with the people of Pak. It is now the watch dog of US in the region. Pak moves on corruption lists and US is appreciating for what it does for Americans and not scolding it for what its corrupt politician done with its public. Thank you America for such a great bless!
so.. the CIVILIZED WORLD.. finally killed their JUSTICE..
aoa
@ imran and raza ans me wht u guys know and how do u know lolz
everybdy is commenting im not supporting anybdys comment. i just wana ask r u in embassy or r u the spokesman of america or pakistan, or are u in some intelligence agency wht is ur professional status to be knowing the facts so clearly. people i tell u u got the knowledge from magazines, news , and gossips all around things prevailing . now if u say she commited crimes in africa were u in africa and usay smbdy is caught r u sure sh muhamad is caught lolz
if i m talking like this meaning by i m inside such issues from a professional platform and it is rediculus to comment like uguys have how dare americans to get hold of even a worst criminal from ma land pakistan even she wd have killed americans how dare they. 2ndly the respect of women and thirdly she is innocent by all means they just wana c us slaves and the professional competency of dr afia siddiqui they cdnt bear pray for me tht with the pasage of time if i grow up in ma svc and i reach tht stage whr i cd make decisions for ma cty i ll hang u psy ops people to death as wel hope for the best
she lived and will die 4 allah think if u die 2day for whom u will die haan
@arslan khan: how can it possible, while she is guilty.
@mona khan: .u are mindless.
@Muhammad Aqeel:do u. knowthe terrorists activitiesin world.
shut up idiot she did nothing !!!!!!!!!!@Imran:
yA ALLaH dR afIa sAddIkI kO rAhA kAr Or Un zAlmU kO ItnI sAkqt sAzA dAy k UN sb ka mO kAlLA hO iS dUNIyA mE bE Or aaKhRat mE bEe jInhO nEe Isy pAkrAyA oR is pAr izEyAt dEen oR pErveez mushArAfkUty kO bEe………AAMEEN
“Kia logon ney yeh samajh rakha hey k woh bus itna kehnay per chore diey jayen gey k “HUM IMAN LAEY” or in ko azmaya na jaey ga”
[Sorah: Al-Anqakaboot 2 : 29]
sub mulim mumalik k sadar kanjar hain. jo kuch nhi kar sakte
American s are great hater of Islam. They are showing their hate by treating Dr.Afia in this manner.
They are not afraid of terrorism but with Islam.
afia saddiqi is innocent. americans are totally terrorists. i can prove that they r terrorists. look at the punishment in the GOWNTANAMO PRISON, BLACK WATER, ISRAEEL CRUELTIES.
f i was the president i would unite all muslims againsts the americans and my second task was to punish the pak leaders.
we are with u and will struggle against the non muslims.
CURSE UPON PERVIZ MUSHARAF….
@Imran: So you are musharaf’s chokra…
aaj kal media ka itna acha roll chal raha he lekin aafia siddique k silsile me to inho ne kuch b nahi kiya why?
Pakistan ISLAM k nam par bana he aur pakistani awam aur govt dono muslim he lekin aafia siddique k matter me ye gheron jesa salook q kar rahe he,plz musalman hone ka farz ada karon.
Shame on all political leaders
Mr. Yousaf Raza Gilani
Asif Ali Zardari
Mr. Kiyani
Nawaz Sharif
Shahbaz Sharif
Altaf Hussain
Rehman Malik
Ch. Shujjat Hussain
Qazi Hussain Ahmad
Moulana Fazl-ur-Rehman
Asfandiyar Wali
and etc……….
Is there any Muhammad Bin-Qasim Amongst us who dares to bring daughter of Nation?
Shame to democratic leaders and Human rights organizations & shame on those peoples who says that Dr. Afia is criminal and terrorist. They forget that One day we will left towards Allah.
good brother asif suhail u r absolutely right and i m 100%agree with u r point of view………….same thinking like asif suhail.
i thiink both raza and imran seems to be qadyani and harrami, coz a real brother dont talk about her sister like that way.
i proud to be called the brother of Aafia, ALLAH bless u my sister, we all muslim and pakistani are become begherat coz we cant do anything for u, for give us……. for give us
the way in which american’s treated with her was really terrible ! Every one who has the sense can judge who is right, either America or Dr. aafia.
i don’t need to further explain her innocence. because a wise person does’nt need this and a selfish and mean person will never accept this! so shame on u Mr. imran and raza !