The controversy of the Aafia Siddiqui case: a Pakistani icon, but a mystery in the United States

Aafia Siddiqui, a woman who has been held at the Federal Medical Center in Carswell for more than a decade, in Fort Worth, Texas, turns a sentence of 86 years for the alleged attempted murder of several US police officers in Afghanistan

Since his arrest in 2008, his case has generated great controversy.

While in the United States it is considered another name in the list of the most wantedin Pakistan it is seen as a Innocent victim and a resistance symbol. This duality in his perception has opened investigations and fed debates about his sentence and imprisonment.

Denied forgiveness: the official silence of the USA

In the United States, the case of Aafia Siddiqui has been practically ignored by the general public. Despite the efforts to obtain forgiveness through campaigns in social networks and requests, on January 20, then President Joe Biden denied both his forgiveness and his request for Religious comfort. The latter referring to the right of prisoners to receive Spiritual assistance In times of necessity. The lack of attention to your case has been reflected in the limited media coverage and the void change in its legal status.

THE OFFICIAL STORY: Attempt at murder or forced detention?

After his supposed disappearance In 2003, Aafia Siddiqui was arrested in 2008 in Afghanistan. During the five years prior to his arrest, Siddiqui has claimed to have been the victim of torture In Bagram prison, in Afghanistan, as part of the so -called «Post-9/11 torture program«. This program was implemented in the secret prisons of the CIA, known as «Black Sites«, Which operated in several countries, including some facilities in Afghanistan. These centers, dispersed by several countries, were used to interrogate key prisoners of Al Qaeda and other terrorism suspects.

The United States, meanwhile, denies the accusations of torture and rejects the possibility that Aafia Siddiqui has been arrested under these protocols. The US authorities insist that Siddiqui was arrested in 2008 in Ghazni, Afghanistan, for his alleged involvement in a plan to carry out an attack against Americans. According to the officers of the case, during his stay in the detention room in Ghazni, Aafia, hidden behind a curtain, shot the agents in charge of their custody, after finding a rifle M4 on the floor of the room. «The officer listened and saw Siddiqui shoot at least twice while the interpreter tried to take off his gun. No one was injured, ”Mehtab Syed, FBI agent testified.

A controversial trial: the lack of evidence in the Aafia Siddiqui case

The Aafia Siddiqui trial, held in 2010, was marked by the controversy and the lack of solid evidence. During the trial, no fingerprints were found in the weapon that Aafia allegedly used, and the holes on the wall of the interrogation room did not match the shots of an M4 rifle, as claimed. In addition, the bullets found in the walls did not match those of expected high speed of such rifle, according to reports of forensic experts.

Despite the lack of conclusive evidence, they sentenced Siddiqui to 86 years in prison for several serious charges and transferred her to the Federal Medical Center of Carswell, where she currently remains. “

The conditions in your prison

The Carswell Penitentiary Center has been indicated by sexual abuse and violations of Human Rights. Aafia Siddiqui, in particular, has several times “intolerable” conditions of their detention, which include sexual abuse, medical negligence and physical aggressions. In addition, Siddiqui has been prevented to meet with a magnet, despite its constant applications, which constitutes a rape of their religious rights.

Aafia Siddiqui as a resistance symbol

Although Siddiqui is a relatively unknown name in the West, Islamist circles commonly recognize it. They have appropriated their name and cause, often without the consent of most Pakistani or their own family. His case resonates especially among radicals, since it represents a Muslim woman who, according to her narrative, has suffered the consequences of American hostility and antagonism, especially within the framework of the war against terrorism. This perception hinders its release. Any attempt could be interpreted as a capitulation before the demands of terrorists, something politically unacceptable for the US government.

A case of impunity: Pakistani perception about Siddiqui

For Pakistan, Aafia Siddiqui personifies the Muslim victimization in the face of what they consider the impunity of the United States. The cause of its release will continue to be relevant in international networks and forums, while the perception of injustice persists in its case

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