Fwd: [bangla-vision] Dr. Aafia Siddiqui's 39th birthday observed in brutal, unconstitutional custody

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <peacethrujustice@aol.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 3, 2011 at 3:02 AM
Subject: [bangla-vision] Dr. Aafia Siddiqui's 39th birthday observed in brutal, unconstitutional custody

 

THE PEACE THRU JUSTICE FOUNDATION

 

RABI AL-AWAL 1432 A.H.

(March 2, 2011) 

 

 

CONTENTS:

 

1. Statement from Aafia's Family

2. The April 9th Mobilization

3. Article on the "Raymond Affair"

4. Aafia Newsletter

(Be sure to check out the newsletter's case comparison between Aafia and Raymond.)

 

Assalaamu Alaikum (Greeting of Peace):

 

We begin with a Forwarded Message from the Family of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui; a political prisoner in  the United States of America.

 

 

March 02, 2011 marks Dr. Aafia's 39th birthday and her 8th separated from her children.

 

Currently she remains in total isolation with no ability to contact family by phone or personal visitation.  Her last visit with a family member was in May 2009 (21 months ago) and her last phone call was in October 2010 (4 months ago). 

 

Anyone wishing to send her a card may do so at the following address:

AAFIA SIDDIQUI # 90279-054
FMC CARSWELL
FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER
P.O. BOX 27137
FORT WORTH, TX 76127
U.S.A

As with any communication, Please DO NOT DISCUSS HER LEGAL CASE, POLITICAL ISSUES OR SIMILAR ISSUES. Thank you for your support and any cards sent will be greatly appreciated.

THE APRIL 9th MOBILIZATION

With the recent release of the International Justice Network's (IJN) eye-opening report on Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, it is now A DOCUMENTED FACT that Aafia's rendition in Pakistan, and subsequent five year secret imprisonment overseas did indeed occur.

It is also a fact, in the opinion of many experts, that Aafia's forced removal to the United States; her subsequent pre-trial confinement under torturous conditions in the US; and the sham of a trial, and subsequent 86 year sentence (which has her where she is today) is a violation of the U.S. Constitution and well established international law.

While the U.S. government exerts pressure on the Pakistani government for the release of a U.S. citizen ("Raymond Davis") who willfully and deliberately took two lives (while a "guest" in Pakistan) - and to ignore any facts that may stand in the way of that release - that same U.S. government has done everything in its power to bury the FACTS surrounding this wrongfully imprisoned Pakistani Muslim woman; and to bury the body, and further damage the mind and spirit of Aafia Siddiqui as well!

THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!

Insha'Allah, on Saturday, April 9, 2011 (at a time yet to be determined), a broad, Muslim-led coalition of concerned people will hold a demonstration at the federal facility in Fort Worth, Texas, where Aafia Siddiqui is currently being held...totally, and brutally, cut off from the outside world! If you are within driving distance of Ft. Worth, please mark your calendar and plan now to join us!

Our message to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, the U.S. Department of Justice - and to all other relevant offices within the U.S. government - will be:

Accord Dr. Aafia Siddiqui the Human Rights that she is entitled to (even as a prisoner), under U.S. and International Law!

Insha'Allah, we expect to have published copies of the IJN report (in the form of a roughly 30 page booklet) available for distribution at that time.

Help us spread the word!

El-Hajj Mauri' Saalakhan

For additional information call: (301) 220-0133, or via e-mail: peacethrujustice@aol.com

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men [and women] do nothing."

- Edmund Burke

-------------------------------

 

http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=33808&Cat=2&dt=3/2/2011

 

Raymond affair: the US legal position is shaky

 

By Thomas Houlahan
Wednesday, March 02, 2011

 

WASHINGTON: Since 27th January, when Raymond Davis shot two Pakistanis to death and his associates crushed a third to death, the United States government has chanted its claim that Davis is entitled to full diplomatic immunity like a mantra. Those delivering the message behave as though Davis' diplomatic immunity must be accepted as a fact simply because the US government has said that it must.

Said President Obama referring to the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations: "We expect Pakistan, that's a signatory and recognizes Mr Davis as a diplomat [it has not], to abide by the same convention." State Department Spokesman PJ Crowley added, with regard to Davis' status: "He has diplomatic immunity, and Pakistan needs to meet its international obligations."

Pakistan's government, worried about what the situation's implications for future American aid might be, has been singing along. "Under our laws, we have to accept the immunity for Raymond Davis," then-PPP spokesperson Fauzia Wahab told CBS News. "Pakistan has international obligations and we have to fulfill those obligations."

When the statement produced a backlash the government attempted to distance itself from it, claiming that it had been Wahab's opinion and not the position of the PPP. However, Interior Minister Rehman Malik has taken the same line, saying that Pakistan was signatory to "certain international laws protocols which cannot be violated."

Malik and other government officials are always quick to add that the courts will decide, but there's not much secret that the PPP government would like to find an excuse, -any excuse, to release Davis. Unfortunately for the State Department and its allies in Pakistan's government there are serious questions as to how "obligated" Pakistan is in this matter. A nation's signature on a treaty does not automatically make its terms binding domestic law. No one should know that better than the US government.

According to the US Supreme Court "not all international law obligations automatically constitute binding federal law enforceable in United States courts." The Court added that while treaties "may comprise international commitments, they are not domestic law unless Congress has either enacted implementing statutes or the treaty itself conveys an intention that it be 'self-executing' and is ratified on these terms." (Medellin v. Texas 552 US 491 [2008]). Whether or not a treaty is self-executing is a matter for the Supreme Court to decide.

Pakistani law takes the same view of international obligations that American law does. Pakistan's Supreme Court has held that treaty rights cannot be enforced if they have not been incorporated by legislation into the laws of the country. "According to Article 175(2) of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, no court has any jurisdiction unless conferred by or under any law or the constitution, therefore, treaty unless was incorporated into the law so that it become part of Municipal Laws of the Country, no court shall have jurisdiction to enforce any right arising therefrom." (Societe Generale De Surveillances SA v. Pakistan, 2002 SCMR 1694 [2002]).

sIn 1972, when Pakistan's parliament finally got the opportunity to pass judgment on the 1961 Vienna Convention (the Convention was signed by Ayub Khan, a military dictator), it chose, after careful deliberation, not to incorporate more than half of its articles into Pakistani law.

Under the terms of the Convention, the receiving country has virtually no say in who is sent to it with diplomatic immunity. The opportunity for abuse was self-evident, so Parliament dispensed with the one-sided articles (the ones the US is largely relying upon) in order to reserve for Pakistan's Foreign Office the final word on who gets diplomatic immunity and who does not.

Pakistan's courts, meanwhile, are under an obligation under Article 4 of the Constitution to ensure that any person within Pakistan enjoys the protection of the law (including the two people Raymond Davis killed as well as their families). They are also under an obligation under Article 5 of the Constitution to ensure that any person within Pakistan (including Raymond Davis) obeys the law. The courts would therefore be unlikely to sign off on any cynical arrangement between the two governments.

Three Pakistani citizens have been killed by people sent to Pakistan by the United States government. Those people weren't there for diplomacy. The US legal position is shaky. It would therefore be nice to see more contrition out of the US government and less misplaced self-righteousness.

 

The writer is an associate at the Center for Security and Science. He has served in the New Hampshire legislature and as an election monitor in Pakistan. Email: TGHatCSS@gmail.com.

--------------------------------------

 

Subject: Anniversary of Trial; Aafia & Davis; Dr. Aafia Book; News;

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

February 05, 2011 Vol 3, Issue 9 Dear sidd, 1st Anniversary of Aafia's Conviction Commemorated  February 03, 2011 - The first anniversary of the conviction of Dr. Aafia in Richard M. Berman's court in New York was commemorated across cities in Pakistan with many solemn marches remembering a dark day in the American legal process.     Aafia and Raymond Justice of the Mighty  Aafia: Kidnapped, tortured, held in secret and then in isolation >> Raymond: Pampered, full access to lawyers of his choice and his embassy Aafia: Vienna Convention disregarded >> Raymond: Vienna Convention invoked Aafia: US & Pak govts worked tirelessly to ensure she never goes free >> Raymond: US & Pak govts working tirelessly to ensure he goes free as soon as possible Aafia: Harmed no one >> Raymond: Killed 2 human beings and caused 1 additional death  Aafia: imprisoned for 86 years for "attempting to kill her captors" >> Raymond: Given immunity and expected to be released in a few days Aafia: Citizen of Pakistan >> Raymond; Citizen of USA     To quote from Mel Brooks: "Its good to be king!" The Rampage of Raymond Davis Self-Defense or Spy Mission Went Awry by Abdul-Majid Jaffry,  OpEdNews    Pakistani rulers have effectively turned Pakistan and US relation into the relationship between the vassal and suzerain state; with Pakistani rulers' abject submissiveness, Pakistan's sovereignty has been very much reduced to flag waving and singing the national anthem.... ...Pakistan's newspaper Nawa-e Waqt in its editorial writes, "The Blackwater operatives, who committed heinous and inhuman crimes in Iraq, come wherever they please in Pakistan without visa or travel document. They keep on roaming around in vehicles with fake number plates with dangerous weapons. These U.S. officials point guns at the security people if asked to reveal their identity. During a few minutes debate, there is a series of phone calls from the high officials, and they, who consider Pakistan as their playground, are allowed to go with honor (How Much Dignity is Left?", Nawa-e Waqt, January 18, 2010, translated from Urdu). It is also claimed by many and cannot be dismissed easily that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui was abducted independently by Americans mercenaries from Karachi and then transferred to Afghanistan. ...However, the recent murder of two Pakistanis by a U.S. "diplomat" Raymond Davis on a busy street of Lahore in full view of public forced the Pakistani government to arrest the American suspect. After the shooting and killing Davis called the consulate for help, a Land Cruiser, came to the scene. The driver of the Land Cruiser went the wrong way down a one-way street and ran over a man on a motorcycle, killing a third person. The driver of the get-away vehicle and four passengers who came to rescue Davis fled the scene and are still at large.   Despite repeated requests the U.S. Consulate is not revealing any information about the driver who killed a motorcyclist.   ...The U.S. authorities claim that the name of the man arrested for the double murder is not Raymond Davis.  The U. S State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said, "We have not released the identity of our employee at this point"; however, he denied the man's name is Raymond Davis.  The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan says that the man in Pakistan's custody is a diplomat with a valid U.S. diplomat passport and visa. But the copies of passport and visa of Davis obtained by DawnNews show that his name is Raymond Alan Davis, his passport is not of a diplomat and he was not on diplomatic visa but he came to Pakistan on a business visa. ... ABC News says, Davis is an employee of Hyperion Protective Consultants LLC, a private security company based in Orlando, Florida.     ...The Washington Post in its report of January 27 puts a new twist to the already complicated storyline, and even adds a dose of suspense. Here what the Post says, " A senior former U.S. diplomatic security agent suggested Thursday that the American involved in a fatal shootout in Lahore, Pakistan, was the victim of a spy meeting gone awry, not the target of a robbery or car-jacking attempt." Post quoted Fred Burton, a former deputy chief of the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service's counter-terrorism division who worked on several major terrorism cases in the 1980s and 1990s , as saying: "It looks like an informant meet gone bad more than a car-jacking attempt," If we consider what a diplomat fluent in Urdu with automatic weapons and large sum of money in a rented car was doing in the part of town that has been scene of terror bombing, Burton's theory of "an informant meet gone bad" appears highly credible. ...Pakistanis strongly suspect U.S. hands in the terror bombings in their country. At the end of the day, the U.S. will get its way; Pakistan's servile administration under the U.S. pressure will let Davis go free. There will be some clamor in the press and anti U.S. demonstration on streets but all will be forgotten and forgiven soon. The other likely scenario: to appease the Pakistani public, the U.S. may release Dr. Aafia Siddique; a Pakistani sentenced in the U.S. to 86 years in prison for attempted murder, in exchange for the release of Raymond Davis. It is highly unlikely, rather unimaginable, that the trial will go to its end, and if Davis found guilty that he will serve the full sentence in a Pakistani jail. The U.S.A is not Pakistan, and Raymond Davis is not Pakistani Aafia Siddique, who was sold and forgotten and abandoned by her Pakistani rulers.   full article here    In This Issue Raymond Davis Case New Book & KU Bookfair English News Urdu News New Website Coming Soon... To send cards to Aafia: Aafia Siddiqui #90279-054 FMC Carswell P.O.Box 27137 Fort Worth, TX 76127 USA for more information see shape=rect target=_blank> JFAC IJN Support the "Books Behind Bars" campaign sponsored by JFAC   When Aafia was transferred fo FMC Carswell, Texas, she was deprived of all the books and notes previously in her possession.  Supporters are requested to participate in JFAC's 'Books Beind Bars' campaign, to send Aafia reading material that may bring some small light and hope in the darkness of her prison cell.   Books on nature photography, children's education, water conservation, sustainable agriculture, positive Islamic stories and du'as will be particularly helpful.   Please note that books can only be purchased and sent directly from the publisher or retailer e.g. Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, etc to her prison address. They cannot be sent as regular mail from individual supporters.   All books must be soft cover/paper back only and should be sent to the address above.   More information here  New Book  & Karachi University Book Fair   A new book on Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is now available on line for free download.   The Book entitled "Daughter of the Nation, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui" is in Urdu and was prepared by independent writers.   To READ online or DOWNLOAD a Free Copy, go to:    DrAafia.com   ====================   The Aafia Movement stall at the recent Karachi University Bookfair attracted large crowds and several hundred students signed up to join the Aafia Movement.    NEWS Friends, Not Masters...  Feb 01, 2011 Arab News - EDITORIAL Diplomatic immunity is not a license to go around shooting whoever one wants. No matter what an overwhelming majority of Pakistanis think and feel about their joined-at-the-hip equation with the United States, clearly ordinary Americans and their leaders seem to view the South Asian nation as a place where they could behave as they please.... How else would you describe the demand of the Americans asking Pakistan to release Raymond Davis, who shot dead two Pakistanis in broad daylight in Lahore this Thursday? ... On the other hand, the Foreign Office in Islamabad has stuck to its stand that the US citizen identified by the police as Raymond Davis was not a diplomat and had not been granted diplomatic status by the Pakistani government. He was only a part of the US Embassy's technical and administrative support staff. Whatever the truth to these claims and the status of Davis, who has given him the right to start shooting unarmed civilians in a foreign country?  For a diplomat, Davis could shoot like a pro, taking out his two victims with deadly precision.  Even assuming Davis is indeed a diplomat, is it OK to shoot and kill anyone he pleases? The Vienna Convention or not, diplomatic immunity is no license to kill innocent civilians, or anyone for that matter. Instead of apologizing for their "diplomat" going berserk on Pakistani soil, the US ambassador is invoking diplomatic immunity.  ...The Pakistanis haven't forgotten the predicament of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, the MIT-trained neuroscientist sentenced to life after languishing in US custody for eight years. Her crime? Attacking FBI officials in Afghanistan! Endless protests and repeated appeals by Pakistan's leaders seeking her freedom have fallen on deaf ears.   Full Report here   ========================  Lahore Victims Families Offered to Forgive Shooter for Aafia  DAWN, Feb 01, 2011 By Asif Chaudhry LAHORE: The parents of the both Fahim and Faizan - two young men who were shot dead by a US Consulate employee on Thursday - have said they are ready to withdraw the murder case filed against Raymond Davis if the US authorities allow Dr Aafia Siddiqui to return to Pakistan as a free citizen. "We discussed the matter in detail and finally decided to link up the withdrawal of murder case with Dr Aafia Siddiqui release," Fahim's father Shamshad Ali, who works as a security guard at a local factory, told Dawn on Monday. "They (US authorities) should release Dr Aafia or see Davis hanged," Faizan's brother Imran Haider said, rejecting all other options, including monetary compensation.... ..."While recalling the efforts of Dr Aafia's helpless family for her release, we have decided that this is the time to forget our agonies and use the opportunity to get the nation's daughter released." Full story here    (Note: Dr. Aafia's sister has since said that the victim's families must be allowed to grieve their loss and should not be dragged into politics, stating that the killer of their loved ones cannot be exchanged for Dr. Aafia who harmed no one) ========================  Proposals Put Forth to Swap Raymond for Aafia   The NEWS, Feb 01, 2011 Senate deputy chief supports swapping of Davis with Dr Aafia ISLAMABAD: Deputy Chairman Senate Jan Muhammad Jamali on Monday supported the demand of JUI-F Senator Dr Ismail Buledi, who has asked the Pakistan government to seek the return of Dr Aafia Siddiqui in exchange for a US citizen who killed two Pakistanis in Lahore a few days back. "By making this demand, you are reflecting the wishes of the people of Pakistan," Deputy Chairman in response to a point of order from Dr Buledi said.  Senator Buledi said Pakistan should now avail the opportunity to get Dr Aafia repatriated from the United States in exchange for accused Raymond Davis involved in the killing of three persons in Lahore last week. "It is a great opportunity to get Dr Aafia back home,"...   Street Anger is mounting in Pakistan in the cases of Raymond and Aafia   ========================  Pakistanis Debate Justice in Raymond Case    The NEWS, Feb 01, 2011 ISLAMABAD: There is a growing demand in Pakistan after the Lahore incident that the American killer should be exchanged for Dr Aafia Siddiqui. However, Dr Fauzia Siddiqui said that Davis was a killer and after meeting the heirs of the deceased youth, Aafia's family can never imagine to forgive the blood of Pakistanis against repatriation of Aafia. She mentioned that first Aafia should be brought home with respect then the government should think of dealing the case of Davis with the Americans. "Aafia has not killed anyone; therefore, we can not demand exchange ... with a double murderer," said Dr Fauzia, adding that it was the time for government to negotiate with Americans regarding respectful repatriation of Dr Aafia. Dr Fauzia said that she has met the families of the three deceased youths of Lahore and after looking at the condition of mothers of those three boys, she could not demand for forgiving the blood of Pak nationals rather David should be punished under the penal law of the country for the crime committed. On the other hand, a few parliamentarians have raised their voice for exchange of Davis for Dr Aafia and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf vows to establish a fund for the legal heirs of the three youths who were killed by American so that those families should not compromise on money with US. President PTI Traders-Wing said that Pakistan should make a simple deal with US: "Give us our innocent Aafia and take your double murderer Davis." He mentioned that time has come for Pakistan to take a stand before the Americans, otherwise, world will curse on us. He said that his party is ready to establish a fund for the heirs of three deceased youths of Lahore so that they should not accept American offer of money against blood rather ask for the extradition of Dr Aafia from America in return of Davis. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan's ex-Chairman Iqbal Haider on Geo TV said that Dr Aafia has not killed any person, and the way she was produced before the American court was also condemnable. "On the other hand Davis has killed three people in broad daylight, yet immunity is being sought for the killer," the lawyer said. He mentioned that Aafia has been sentenced for 86 years, which was again cruel whereas America wants a killer to be free. An SMS campaign to exchange Aafia for Davis has already started, and cyber groups, like OSAPK, have launched campaigns for Davis for Aafia. ========================  Altaf Hussain of MQM Asks US to Release Dr. Aafia     LONDON: Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement Mr Altaf Hussain has asked the US Government to explain its position regarding the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui. He said this in the backdrop of demand by US government to release Raymond Davis seeking diplomatic immunity. "It is for the government of Pakistan to look into the legal and constitutional issues involved but I Altaf Hussain s/o Nazeer Hussain wanted to know as a citizen of Pakistan the position of the US government about releasing Dr Aafia Siddiqui immediately." ========================  Aga Khan University Students Win Debate Championship Arguing for Aafia's Repatriation  Express Tribune, Feb 01, 2011  The final debate among the universities was a contest between three teams from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and one from the AKU. The topic was: Granting diplomatic immunity to Raymond Davis. Participants from LUMS argued over Davis's trial in Pakistan. They said, "Under the law, he is a prisoner of Pakistan. His trial should be held in Pakistan. The US government would never let a foreigner accused of murder go. Why should we?" The AKU participants said, "We have an ideal tool for bargain. We should ask for Dr Afia Siddiqi's release in exchange of Raymond Davis. This should be proposed to get the most out of this traumatic episode." The AKU were judged winners. URDU  RECENT COLUMNS Discussing Aafia  (Click on images for Full Articles)   ==============================   =============================   ============================   =========================== ape=rect target=_blank track="on">  ========================= HYaLeh9Qf-1odg==" shape=rect target=_blank track="on">  =========================   RECENT NEWS FEATURES  Discussing Aafia  EXPRESS news,Feb 03, 2011 ===== Nawa-e-Waqt Editorials  ===== New Aafia Movement Website Coming Soon...  ========================================================================= Stand for humane treatment and stand against injustice! Standing for Dr. Aafia brings light to all missing persons, victims of extraordinary rendition and people held in secret prisons. It sends the message that all human beings, especially - our sisters - Muslim women have rights! God Bless, The Free Aafia Campaign global Aafia Movement

 

 

 

SOCIAL JUSTICE 101

 

A SOCIAL JUSTICE WORKSHOP ON SOME OF THE MAJOR POLITICAL ISSUES OF THE DAY

 

HOSTED BY

 

THE COMMUNITY MOSQUE OF WINSTON-SALEM

1419 WAUGHTOWN STREET

WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27107

 

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2011

 

This one day workshop will begin at 10 am, and is free and open to all

 

__._,_.___

--
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/