From: WVNS <ummyakoub@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, Sep 25, 2010 at 2:37 AM
Subject: [wvns] Aafia Siddiqui sentenced 86 years
To: wvns@yahoogroups.com
Aafia Siddiqui sentenced for 86 years
9/23/10
cageprisoners.com
PRESS RELEASE: Aafia Siddiqui Sentenced, 86 years – Cageprisoners disgusted by the actions of the US and Pakistani governments
The case should have been thrown out of court, but it went ahead and she was found guilty. On the afternoon of Thursday, 23 September 2010, she has been sentenced to 86 years on five charges by Judge Richard Berman in a Manhattan courtroom.
Cageprisoners rejects the guilty verdict and rejects the 86 sentence of incarceration. Evidence of her abduction, rendition and torment faced at the hands of the Pakistani and United States government, crushing to the prosecution case, was thrown out by the Judge and thus undermines the very premise of her trial.
Cageprisoners Director, Moazzam Begg, commented:
"I just returned from Pakistan where Cageprisoners were trying to make final diplomatic efforts to intervene on behalf of Aafia Siddiqui. The sentiment of the general public makes it clear that the entirety of Pakistan want her back in the country. This case had the opportunity for the Obama administration to show that it had some semblance of humanity in its foreign policy, and yet they once again shown that they have no compassion and have no understanding of the repercussions of their actions in Pakistan."
The dignity with which she faced the court only serves to highlight the gross injustice that has been carried out against her.
Cageprisoners will continue to fight for the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui.
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The Verdict on Dr. Aafia Siddiquiþ
El-Hajj Mauri' Saalakhan <SSaala@aol.com>
Fri, Sep 24, 2010 - SHAWWAL 1431 A.H.
THE PEACE Thru JUSTICE FOUNDATION
Assalaamu Alaikum (Greetings of Peace):
I have been receiving back-to-back inquiries on yesterday's proceedings re: Aafia. A brother out of Chicago also requested a one paragraph statement on my opinion of the outcome. I am forwarding that statement to our listserv, FYI. I will release a longer and more detailed analysis later, insha'Allah. - MS
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui received a brutally unfair sentence in federal court today (as we expected would be the case); 86 years. But what she had to say to the court (and to her fellow Muslims), and how she said it, made us all feel proud and inspired. The depth of her iman, her absolute trust in ALLAH's Qadr, her courage and grace under fire was on full display - and, in the opinion of many onlookers, she shamed those who presumed to lord over her in judgment.
Those fortunate observers who were present at the courthouse today witnessed something very, very special. And with that said, the struggle for Aafia's freedom will now proceed to the next level; but the struggle will definitely continue, insha'Allah!
El-Hajj Mauri' Saalakhan
===
Aafia does not need your sympathy or your tears
Yvonne Ridley
Thursday, 23 September 2010
http://www.cageprisoners.com/our-work/opinion-editorial/item/616-aafia-does-not-need-your-sympathy-or-your-tears
America should do the right thing now and repatriate Dr Aafia Siddiqui with immediate effect. And the Pakistan leadership should also exert real pressure to bring back the Daughter of Pakistan.
When Judge Richard Berman delivered his verdict it came as no surprise - had he the ability to put this brilliant neuro scientist on Death Row he would have do so.
You see Dr Aafia Siddiqui's very existence is a constant reminder of all that is wrong with America's War on Terror ... Obama might have changed the name but it still represents kidnap, rendition, torture and injustice. These were once the trademarks of despots and dictatorships but now they are synonymous with the US.
The US Justice Department, US intelligence and even the US President are mistaken if they believe that out of sight is out of mind - we heard Dr Aafia Siddiqui screaming in the hell hole of Bagram in Afghanistan where she was held in secret for years and we came running.
We will rally to her plight again and will not rest until she is free.This is certainly not the end of the campaign for the family of Dr Aafia Siddiqui nor for her many friends and supporters around the world including those of us at Cageprisoners. The fight back for justice starts here and now and will take many shapes and forms over the coming months.
America should do the right thing now and repatriate Dr Aafia Siddiqui with immediate effect. And the Pakistan leadership should also exert real pressure to bring back the Daughter of Pakistan.
We, her supporters, have so far proved powerless to prevent this great injustice but rest assured, we will never give up fighting to set Aafia free by any legitimate means necessary. And if that means direct actions like blocking the NATO supply lines into Afghanistan and making life as difficult as possible for the US to conduct its imperialistic ambitions, then so be it.
Aafia does not need your sympathy or your tears - she needs your continued support.
*Yvonne Ridley is a patron of Cageprisoners
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