Prisoner 650 is in Texas - Binyam Provides More Evidence
"Binyam shares that Dr. Afia, an MIT grad, was in fact held in Bagram, Afghanistan for the five years of her disappearance. She is now in Texas receiving treatment."
The unjustly ousted Chief Justice of Pakistan is back in his seat and it marks a long-awaited victory for the historical struggle by the lawyers, politicians and supporters. Now that this battle has been won, perhaps the same level of energy can be useful in getting justice for the Pakistanis suffering from inhumane and horrendous torture at the cost of being innocent.
Dr. Afia Siddiqui is one such female prisoner captured by the CIA in the Bagram jail in Afghanistan. Her story was brought to light by Yvonne Ridley after five years of her being “lost” along with her three children. It is her story that demands attention, justice and freedom.
The unjustly ousted Chief Justice of Pakistan is back in his seat and it marks a long-awaited victory for the historical struggle by the lawyers, politicians and supporters. Now that this battle has been won, perhaps the same level of energy can be useful in getting justice for the Pakistanis suffering from inhumane and horrendous torture at the cost of being innocent.
Dr. Afia Siddiqui is one such female prisoner captured by the CIA in the Bagram jail in Afghanistan. Her story was brought to light by Yvonne Ridley after five years of her being “lost” along with her three children. It is her story that demands attention, justice and freedom.
What is Afia’s Story:
Dr. Afia (now 36), along with her three children, was kidnapped in March 2003, while on her way to Rawalpindi (Islamabad) from Karachi. Her family claims that unidentifiable men visited their home soon after her arrest, warning them against speaking up about their daughter who was in their custody. Once it became clear that CIA, in collusion with the Pakistani agencies, did in fact arrest her (still denying that they kidnapped her originally), she has been accused of aiding “terrorists” by providing them with a post-box under her name in the US. Her uncle claims that this mailbox was so that she could receive her own mails.
An MIT grad with a PhD in neurology, Dr. Afia is also popularly known as Prisoner 650, the term first coined by Moazzam Beg, an ex-prisoner from Guantanamo who spent a period in Bagram before being transferred to Cuba. In his book “Enemy Combatant” Moazzam describes the screams of an unknown woman haunting him in Bagram jail. It was investigations on this and Dr. Afia’s case as put forward by her family, that led to the belief that Prisoner 650 was in fact Dr. Afia Siddiqui. Late last year, this was refuted by the CIA who shared that Prisoner 650 was someone else.
The recently released Binyam Muhammad, who also spent a period of his incarceration in Bagram, has confirmed that Prisoner 650 is in fact Dr. Afia. Evidence from him, also brings to light that throughout her five year disappearance, Dr. Afia was being held by the US authorities in Bagram.
Torture of an Innocent Woman is the Worst Case of Inhumanity:
Dr. Afia’s family and lawyers have constantly shared reports of her weakening health and mental status. It is reported by ex-inmates of Bagram, that Dr. Afia was made to share the public bathroom, even for showering. She was strip searched, raped and abused. In New York where she was moved last Summer, after a worldwide uproar speaking against her torture, Dr. Afia refused to come to court in order to avoid being strip-searched by males. She has now been shifted to Texas for tests and treatments.
According to her lawyers, Dr. Afia’s psychological state is so poor she hallucinates two of her children. When kidnapped along with her in 2003, her children were aged between 3 ½ months and 7 years. It is feared and in fact even believed so by her prosecutors that one of her children is dead and the other lost. The only one, who returned safely in August 2008 as a result of efforts by Dr. Afia’s family, lawyers, Ridley, and human rights organizations, after five years, is her eldest son Ahmed. She does not hallucinate him.
But What About Afia Now:
It is unfortunate though, that now that the impeachment of the ousted Chief Justice has been done, not enough is being heard about Dr. Afia, even in the media. There has been no change in policy yet, nor any significant update in her case.
It is imperative that the Pakistanis and the rest of the world is educated about the horrendous case of inhumanity. It is essential that the allegations and facts about her case are brought to light so that the public can make its own neutral choice. Furthermore, legalities of international justice and law should be made clearer to the vast majority so that it is clarified that whether Dr. Afia is innocent or not, she is not made to go through the trauma that she is undergoing since 2003.
The media plays a crucial role in this – and if the mainstream media chooses to ignore this story, then it is up to the independent media to give voice to this case and bring it to the mainstream media’s attention. An innocent victim of a filthy war run by US and its allies, Dr. Afia’s case demands that we do not let it fade – until she and the likes of her get justice.
Dr. Afia (now 36), along with her three children, was kidnapped in March 2003, while on her way to Rawalpindi (Islamabad) from Karachi. Her family claims that unidentifiable men visited their home soon after her arrest, warning them against speaking up about their daughter who was in their custody. Once it became clear that CIA, in collusion with the Pakistani agencies, did in fact arrest her (still denying that they kidnapped her originally), she has been accused of aiding “terrorists” by providing them with a post-box under her name in the US. Her uncle claims that this mailbox was so that she could receive her own mails.
An MIT grad with a PhD in neurology, Dr. Afia is also popularly known as Prisoner 650, the term first coined by Moazzam Beg, an ex-prisoner from Guantanamo who spent a period in Bagram before being transferred to Cuba. In his book “Enemy Combatant” Moazzam describes the screams of an unknown woman haunting him in Bagram jail. It was investigations on this and Dr. Afia’s case as put forward by her family, that led to the belief that Prisoner 650 was in fact Dr. Afia Siddiqui. Late last year, this was refuted by the CIA who shared that Prisoner 650 was someone else.
The recently released Binyam Muhammad, who also spent a period of his incarceration in Bagram, has confirmed that Prisoner 650 is in fact Dr. Afia. Evidence from him, also brings to light that throughout her five year disappearance, Dr. Afia was being held by the US authorities in Bagram.
Torture of an Innocent Woman is the Worst Case of Inhumanity:
Dr. Afia’s family and lawyers have constantly shared reports of her weakening health and mental status. It is reported by ex-inmates of Bagram, that Dr. Afia was made to share the public bathroom, even for showering. She was strip searched, raped and abused. In New York where she was moved last Summer, after a worldwide uproar speaking against her torture, Dr. Afia refused to come to court in order to avoid being strip-searched by males. She has now been shifted to Texas for tests and treatments.
According to her lawyers, Dr. Afia’s psychological state is so poor she hallucinates two of her children. When kidnapped along with her in 2003, her children were aged between 3 ½ months and 7 years. It is feared and in fact even believed so by her prosecutors that one of her children is dead and the other lost. The only one, who returned safely in August 2008 as a result of efforts by Dr. Afia’s family, lawyers, Ridley, and human rights organizations, after five years, is her eldest son Ahmed. She does not hallucinate him.
But What About Afia Now:
It is unfortunate though, that now that the impeachment of the ousted Chief Justice has been done, not enough is being heard about Dr. Afia, even in the media. There has been no change in policy yet, nor any significant update in her case.
It is imperative that the Pakistanis and the rest of the world is educated about the horrendous case of inhumanity. It is essential that the allegations and facts about her case are brought to light so that the public can make its own neutral choice. Furthermore, legalities of international justice and law should be made clearer to the vast majority so that it is clarified that whether Dr. Afia is innocent or not, she is not made to go through the trauma that she is undergoing since 2003.
The media plays a crucial role in this – and if the mainstream media chooses to ignore this story, then it is up to the independent media to give voice to this case and bring it to the mainstream media’s attention. An innocent victim of a filthy war run by US and its allies, Dr. Afia’s case demands that we do not let it fade – until she and the likes of her get justice.
0 Response to "DR. AAFIA SIDDIQUI STORY"