Washington: The revelation of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui being subjected to sexual assault at least twice in an American prison has come to light. This disclosure was made by Aafia Siddiqui’s lawyer, Clive Stafford Smith, who stated that the Pakistani government is aware of incidents of sexual assault against Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.
Speaking to Geo News, Aafia Siddiqui’s lawyer Clive Stafford Smith stated, “Dr. Aafia Siddiqui accused the guards of sexual assault after which a minimum of two instances of sexual assault were perpetrated by the prison guards, while other inmates in the prison subjected her to sexual harassment numerous times.”
Lawyer Dr. Aafia Siddiqui stated, “As an American, I am ashamed to talk about what our prison system has done to Aafia. The treatment Aafia is undergoing in terms of sexual misconduct is beyond description.”
In a conversation with Geo News, he further explained, “The complaints Aafia has are very alarming and true. Currently, there are 10,250 women in American prisons, and among all those women, Aafia is the one who has experienced the worst treatment.”
According to Clive Stafford Smith, it is the responsibility of the Pakistani government to address the issue, and he promised to inform them of all the alarming details. He stated, “I am an American, and I apologize for what has happened to Aafia. I am doing what I can, and it is the duty of the Pakistani government to protect Aafia.”
He further commented, “Ultimately, it is the job of the Pakistani government. It is the failure of the Pakistani government not to bring Aafia back. What we are seeing here is a result of the failure to commit essential resources for Aafia’s assistance. The Pakistani government needs to prioritize Aafia’s case with America.”
Clive Stafford Smith also stated, “Sexual assault took place against Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in Bagram jail. In Bagram, sexual assault against Dr. Aafia was carried out as a retaliatory measure.”
According to Clive Stafford Smith, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui faces harassment and violence every day she is brought back. He provided details about Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s background, mentioning her education in America and the legal issues she faced in Afghanistan.
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani scientist who obtained education in America, was sentenced to 86 years in prison in September 2008 by a New York court for her alleged involvement in a shooting and attempted assault during an interview with American authorities in Ghazni, Afghanistan. These were allegations that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui had denied.
She was the first woman accused by America of having ties to Al-Qaeda, but no charges were ever proven against her. Aafia went to America for higher education at the age of 18, where her brother resided. She obtained a Ph.D. degree there.
However, after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 in 2001, she came under suspicion by the FBI radar due to donations made for Islamic organizations. America suspected her of joining Al-Qaeda. Upon her return to Pakistan, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui married into the family of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.
Around 2003, Aafia, along with her three children, went missing from Karachi. Five years later, she was found in Afghanistan, where local forces arrested her in Ghazni.
(Thanks to: Geo News)