Aafia Siddiqui – Victim or Terrorist
Peace everyone.
This blog covers all the things you don’t really know about Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani Neuro-Surgeon, and all the implications around her disappearance, iconic representation in Pakistan, re-emergence, her terrorist act (in Ghazni, Afghanistan) and consequent trial, prosecution and sentencing (In Manhattan, US). Once the facts are on the table, will give an inference, by law and logic, between the lines.
As always, the message is more important than the messenger or the celebrity in focus. This article does not advocate blind love or hatred for Aafia, but it hints awareness towards what made today’s ‘Aafia’ a possibility, and what we should learn from the incident.
Stated Facts
I. Aafias background
Father: Muhammad Salay Siddiqui, a British-trained neurosurgeon (Neurosurgery in focus)-deceased, cause of death Aafias divorce, heart attack aug 2002 (see chronology).
Mother: Ismet (Farooqi) Prominent religious, political figure. Ex. MP Pakistan.
Siblings: youngest of three. Elder brother architect in Sugarland, Texas. Sister Fauzia (middle) also Harvard trained neurologist (again, neurology), worked at Sinai hospital, Baltimore, taught at John Hopkins university before returning to Pakistan.
Summary – All amongst Pakistans elite, mostly ex-pats in the sense that they ALL spent more time ABROAD then they did in Pakistan. Common grounds include neurology, careers in UK/US, international exposure and politics.
II. Chronology
This is a brief summary of events in Aafias life. Notice the amounts of time spent abroad, missing, in Pakistan etc.
Born: Karachi, Pakistan.
age 3-8 : attended school in Zambia, Southern Africa (off-shored at an early age, despite being youngest of the family)
8-17 : primary and secondary schooling in Karachi, Pakistan (academics unknown)
18-19: Moved to her brother, Houston, Texas, 1990 on student via. Studied at Houston university, 3 semesters.
19-22: MIT-Massachusetts institute of technology – full scholarship, BS. in biology-Â triple major in Biology, anthropology, archaeology – grad 1995. Carrol Wilson award for thesis on ‘Islamization in Pakistan and effect on women’ - 1992
Worked with MSA (Muslim students association) and did fundraisers there – said that MSA students came into contact with Abdullah Azzam there (one of Bin ladens ppl, allegedly). Aafia always religious practitioner and propagator of Islamic ideology, throughout student life and beyond.
1995 - telephonic marriage to anesthesiologist (again another medical practitioner) Dr. Amjad Mohammed Khan, now dubbed involved in a plot to ‘terrorize’ a ‘gas station’ in Maryland (lol. Imagine, doctors wanting to blow up gas stations, they must be low on logic, even in terrorist capacity, its a stupid place to blow up, it serves no purpose.)
1995-98 Amjad comes over to live with Aafia in Lexington, Massachusetts- two children born, Muhammad Ahmed (1996) and Mariam Binte Muhammad (1998) (these children carry great importance as we get to the main investigation). Both these children are AMERICAN citizens.
98-2001 - Brandeis university- Cognitive Neurosciences – PHD. Name of research paper is ‘Separating the components of Imitation’. look it up and read it – it is the most important thing about Aafia, her research. No one ever talks about it. It relates to brain learning patterns, short-term, long term memory, and indirectly – information retention mind control.
The couple also moved to Boston during this time. Aafia started IIRT – Institute of Islamic Research and Teaching. Aafia presided, husband was treasurer. Also established Dawa resource center – giving free copies of Quran and Islamic reform guidance to prison inmates and rehab ppl. (Personally I consider all these actions cultural, not terrorist – threats).
9/11/2001 - allegedly, under the alias of Fahrem or Feriel Shahin, this Islam propagating neurosurgeon from Boston, Massachusetts bought $19 million worth of blood diamonds in Monrovia, Liberia (still unproven in court), while being with her family at the same time in Boston. This was brought forward 3 years LATER, in 2004 by US intelligence.
after 9/11- Siddiqui insisted on leaving the U.S., saying that it was unsafe for them and their children to remain there.
2002 - In May 2002, the FBI questioned Siddiqui and her husband regarding their purchase over the internet of $10,000 worth of night vision equipment, body armor, and military manuals including The Anarchist’s Arsenal, Fugitive, Advanced Fugitive, and How to Make C-4.Khan (husband) claimed that these were for hunting and camping expeditions. Most importantly, the FBI believed them, n on on June 26, 2002, the couple and their children returned to Pakistan. Smell a rat yet?
August 2002 - Khan heads to Aafias parents and divorces Aafia (great timing). Her father died of a heart attack, august 15, 2002. Third child Suleman (children important) born September 2002. Divorce finalized October 21 2002.
December 25, 2002 - Aafia leaves for US – saying she needs a job – returns january 3rd 2002 (job in Christmas eve season?)
2003 - Aafia working at Agha khan University Hospital – writes to Brandeis for finding a job at the University, owing to lack of options for her academic background in KHI.
Feb 2003 – Aafia marries Ammar Al Baluchi, nephew of Khalid Shaikh Muhammad (a major weakness in her case, cause of marriage doesn’t make sense) for no particular reason, apparently. Personally, i have serious doubts about this marriage taking place , if at all.
march 1 2003 - Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, the new ‘chief planner’ of Al Qaeda attacks ( i thought it was bin laden, but anyways) reported a ‘series’ of Al Aaeda operatives while in FBI custody. he also named Dr. Aafia (courier of blood diamonds and a financial fixer for al-Qaida), or so the case material says.
march 25 2003 - FBI issues global ‘wanted for questioning’ alert (much like a most wanted list) for Aafia and her husband (number 1).
Afraid of the FBI apprehension, on March 30, 2003, Aafia, with her three children, called a cab to get to the airport to leave for Islamabad, to her uncle. But she never made it to the other side. FBI claims they never found her in KHI, and she was not in any custody 2003-2008.
Disappearance
Aafia and her children’s whereabouts during 2003-2008 brew as many stories as you can count. Pakistans JI (jaamaat e Islami) seems to know right from 2003 that she was in US custody, they’ve been campaigning against it since forever.
Ministries and the Islamabad Airport confirmed that a woman was detained April 1 2003 for FBI questioning, but these reports were later denied. US says Pakistan ISI had her, ISI say they didnt have her, then US says she is still wanted, all the time people say US has her. The only person who can answer if she was handed over or not – is Musharraf. But he doesn’t like to talk about his mistakes.
One thing is for sure though – she left with her children, meaning she was looking for asylum, not perpetrating terrorism. and its important to see that she left with all 3 children. She didn’t get to her uncle in ISB, which means wherever she went, it was NOT her own will that got her there, she was abducted mid-way. If this wasn’t the case, she would still be with her uncle n three children in ISB.
Act of terrorism
July 17, 2008- Ghazni, Afghanistan. Outside the governors compound, with two small bags at her side, a burqa, and ONE child (her eldest son). A woman by the name of Saliha is arrested and she turns out to be our girl. She is carrying a number of documents written in Urdu and English describing the creation of explosives, chemical weapons, Ebola, dirty bombs, and radiological agents,numerous chemical substances in gel and liquid form that were sealed in bottles and glass jars and 2 kilos of sodium cyanide.
Three versions of the story
1. The American Dream- American authorities say that the following day, on July 18, two FBI agents, a U.S. Army warrant officer, a U.S. Army captain, and their U.S. military interpreters arrived in Ghazni to interview Siddiqui at the Afghan National Police facility where she was being held. the warrant officer put down his M4 on the ground. Aafia, sitting behind the curtain, but not secure, went fr the M4, shouted ‘Allah hu akbar’ and sent two shots directly towards the personnel, no one was killed, but two were injured. She was secured and taken into custody immediately, after a revolver shot to her upper shoulder disarmed her.
2. Aafias story- she related a different version of events, according to Pakistani senators who later visited her in jail. She denied touching a gun, shouting, or threatening anyone. She said she stood up to see who was on the other side of the curtain, and that after one of the startled soldiers shouted “She is loose”, she was shot. On regaining consciousness, she said someone said “We could lose our jobs”. Interestingly, no one asked her how she got to Ghazni in the first place.
3. The Afghani version(translated) – Some of the Afghan police offered a third version of the events, telling Reuters that U.S. troops had demanded that she be handed over, disarmed the Afghans when they refused, and then shot Siddiqui mistakenly thinking she was a suicide bomber.
result – Aafia taken into custody till present day, on record.
Children’s whereabouts and statements
1.Ahmed – the eldest
Afghan authorities handed the boy over to Pakistan in September 2008, and he now lives with his aunt in Karachi, who has prohibited him from talking to the press.
August 2010 Yvonne Ridley reported that she had acquired a three paragraph statement taken from Ahmed by a US officer before he was released from US custody – (interestingly – he never was in custody of the US on record, was he)
This is the only fragment of truth, among all the stories given, as it speaks of the death of the youngest child, from a 12 year old.
“Ahmed described Aafia driving a vehicle taking the family from Karachi to Islamabad, when it was overtaken by several vehicles, and he and his mother were taken into custody. He described the bloody body of his baby brother being left on the side of the road. He said that he had been too afraid to ask his interrogators who they were, but that they included both Pakistanis and Americans(ISI+ CIA). He described beatings when he was in US custody. Eventually, he said, he was sent to a conventional childrens’ prison in Pakistan.”
The timestamp for this would be Aafias travel Karachi-> Islamabad, march-apr 2003, the time when she ‘disappeared’.
2. 
Daughter- Mariam
In April 2010, Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that a 12-year-old girl who was found outside a house in Karachi was identified by a DNA test as Siddiqui’s daughter Mariyam, and that she had been returned to her family. Once again, on where she had been all this time, and where she came from – NO COMMENTS.
3. Youngest – Suleman(son)
Nowhere to be found. And how so – He died a bloody death at the age of less than a year, on the street during Aafia’s Capture – mar-apr 2003 (refer to Muhammad Ahmeds statement).
Trial and sentencing
Ironically, for an ‘unproven’ offense that took place in the jurisdiction of Ghazni, Afghanistan, on July 17, 2008 - the trial was held at New York City, US on January 19, 2010, 1.6 years worth of detention, torture and harassment later (not counting the off-record 5 year detention before that).
Aafias trial is the biggest mockery of the law, as literally nothing was proved , and the sentence was declared ‘as ordered’ by pressure groups. As none of the terrorist activities against aafia have been proven with substantial direct evidence, she was only charged on assaulting US officials at ghazni (the M4 story - refer to act of terrorism section, the American dream). Despite the fact that they never got her prints on the M4 even, the jury still gave a guilty verdict, and Aafia has been sent to prison for another 86 (eighty six) years for ‘terrorizing armed military officials’ who shot her, with as much as her voice. No trial however will take place for the injustices committed against her, her family and the merciless ‘collateral’ death of her youngest in 2003 - despite the fact that NONE of the accusations against her have any proof whatsoever.
Aafia’s statements included boycott of the proceedings as she believed they were rigged. She also said post trial – that all Muslims should display self control and not resort to violence following this decision.
The untold elements (must read)
This is the part for which you have been reading. What I infer is not necessarily true – it is just the most logical inference I can make with the data I’ve collected. so, here goes.
1. Not a Terrorist – But a victim of Terrorism
Aafia is not a terrorist – she is just someone who believes in standing up for Islam, and fellow Muslims. she has never taken a life, and she has never influenced someone to do something against their will,and she will continue to be the way she is. She might have associated with people who might have, in turn become ‘terrorists’ or extremist Muslims, but that doesn’t make her a terrorist. Just because someone loves Islam, believes in the occupation of Afghanistan n Iraq to be unjustified, and wishes to help Muslim brethren by non violent methods, like protest, medical expertise or proper legal process, there is nothing ‘terror-istic’ about it. Last time I checked, self defense for a community in general is not terrorism, unjustified occupation is.
2. One of Many
She is one of the 1200 + people taken under suspicion needlessly by the FBI following 9/11. Her exposure in media is due to her being a Pakistani elite – if she was me n you, you wouldn’t even notice. Her trial, and refusal of acquittal is a way of saving face - both for Pakistani as well as American authorities. They know she didn’t do anything wrong, n that grabbing her was a false alarm in the first place – but saying ‘hey we all messed up, sry aafia’ is gonna be the biggest mockery of government and intelligence procedure, both for US and Pakistan. So a cause needs to be created through which she can be labelled red – and prosecuted with legal right after. Hence the staged act in Ghazni, 2008 – as it proves she was not in US custody 2003-2008- and it also proves she is Al Qaida – indirectly.
3. Why did Aafia do it?
Simple. One child killed in front of her eyes, 2 left. Notice the timestamps on Mariam’s appearance / disappearance, and compare them with the Ghazni event, n the trial. She was missing all this time – I infer that Mariam was used as bargain collateral. Aafia , while in custody- was ‘forced’ to stage the ghazni act, in exchange for her daughter’s acquittal - as soon as her trial began and the deal for her boycott/not winning the case was finalized, her daughter was released back to Pakistan. Her son was kept with her on-site to make it look more real and deliberate on her part.
So Aafia decides to do as shes told in exchange for her daughters life, the daughter is released to Pakistani govt. after Aafia gets caught in the act – everyone’s happy. Now US intelligence agencies can say ‘ hey we finally caught someone, n gave them a fair trial even, see’ and hope to improve their competence image/foreign relations. I’d like to know who’s heading their think tanks – my piss has more working brain cells, literally, pshh.
4. Neurology
Another possibility for prosecution/detention could be a forced demand for her neurological expertise. Its a long shot, but mind-related tech work and related abductions are not unheard of. FBI reports show that she had possible involvement in mind-control related tech (‘with Al Qaeda’) – so it can also be true the other way round – i.e. US looking for human resource in that area.
Why prosecute Aafia?
Why? because she is a symbol of Islam – a modern, educated, Islamic woman, one of the best at her trade, and a success story for all Muslim women in terms of her social status (pre-terrorism charges) – and by prosecuting her, you are indirectly prosecuting Islam, its culture, and its woman’s role in society. Aafia has been made an example, so that none can follow in her wake. Its not the terrorism that she didn’t commit, its her propagation of Islam and her commitment to right and wrong that hurt those in power.
Her prosecution is a public stunt to save face, and prevent the public form realizing the kind of racism being dished out at Muslims in the name of terrorism. If she is set free, it puts a black mark on the credibility of the FBI, the CIA, and all other state institutions that are so rampantly making a mockery of Justice in the US and the world over. It also nullifies the decade long campaign against maligning Islam and its followers. so, no fair trial pls – cant afford it.
As its far easier to blame an innocent person than to admit that the US system is messed up, opinionated, and severely biased against Muslims.
The objective is to send out a message – ‘Hey, This is an Islamic woman, a terrorist’. But that objective will not be achieved. Aafia is innocent, and the world will know it – the only propaganda this event will bring is further loss of credibility to those pulling the strings of US power . People in the US and the world over should condemn this act, speak against it. Muslims should support Islam, its propagation, and its culture as much as they can. Musims should shun terrorism and aggression being committed in the name of Islam. Because that is what Aafia’s life is all about – not terrorism. Not blowing up in peoples faces, not killing others and grabbing their land to ensure ones own safety. Not mercilessly killing, torturing and detaining women and children as collateral for the sake of fictitious national security.
The objective of this decision, is to widen the east west rift further, and escalate it to full scale war.
What to do about this?
Don’t help achieve that objective. Don’t resort to violence. Develop might, but keep it defensive in nature. Improve internal security. Most importantly, stop selling out, at all levels. Go by right and wrong, not by ‘whats in it for me’.
The world and all its resources are subject to cultural influence, not modern warfare. Stop absorbing western culture blindly. Accept positive elements, reject negative ones. Remember who you are, live by it and die by it. Stand for the values that Aafia represents. Be more Islamic, and be proud of it. Excel at what you do. Realize that as Muslims, we need to watch out for ourselves. Protect each other n those around you. Don’t be a sell-out – stand up for what is right.
In the stream of events in this story – not one person in power, US or Pakistan alike, had the integrity to come forward and say ‘No – we will not be a part of this’. During our everyday lives, there are several situations , where we can take a stand, and we refuse to do so – that is where we are wrong. This is our country, our values and our nation and our women n children. We have to protect them.
Don’t hate non-Muslims – inspire them to Islam by being true Muslims, (not sold-out entertainment addicts) as Aafia has done all her life. Even in standing trial, she has laid bare the true nature of those in power in the US – their own people are turning against Islamic racism. Most importantly – get rid of your sell-out leadership ASAP, both in civil and military/intelligence ranks.
Do share with people, so that they know the real Aafia Siddiqui, esp. non Muslims. Comments and related material appreciated.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aafia_Siddiqui
http://mindhacks.com/2008/08/13/fbis-most-wanted-neuroscientist-on-imitation/
This is probably the one reason why I would never want Musharraf to come back. Until and unless the families of those over 300 people forgive him, who went missing without any justification just to please the United States Government. Also i’d like to correct you, there’s an error when you quoted her jail sentence, i believe its a typo, she’s been sentenced to 86 years in prison, not 8.
corrected. Thanks for pointing it out, was a typo. Its ironic how the people that we bring to power for the sake of protecting our people are the ones who sell us out.
If , for a second, I were to assume that she is a terrorist (which she is not) – a simple detainment/arrest in Pakistan, and consequent transparent and public trial would have served the same purpose just as well, without the BS that has happened on the way, including her childs death, physical and mental torture for 7 years, and ruining the lives of her other 2 children in the process.
The hand-over (and the consequent camoflauge around it)does not make sense at all – it actually proves that it was something fishy to being with, else why all that secrecy and denial of custody for 5 years?
I don’t think any country of the world has the right to demand any citizen of state for hand-over, unless the crime is first proved in the national justice system first.
z
I’d like to really appreciate your intentions towards finding the ‘truth’ with your sensational research over a specific subject. You have really gain permanent readers of your blog…
I’ve read every single word of this blog-post and I’d like to know a few things,
1. “In May 2002, the FBI questioned Siddiqui and her husband regarding their purchase over the internet of $10,000 …..ost importantly, the FBI believed them……”
Whether or not FBI believed, this is quite stupid on Siddiqui’s end that $10 grand worth stuff were only for hunting expeditions? Give me a break….there is assuredly something wrong with it…
2. “Aafia marries Ammar Al Baluchi, nephew of Khalid Shaikh Muhammad ……”
I ran a search over the internet and found that on western media as well as local news reported the same story all over the internet and only her family in denial …. (Lets not indulge into the purported picture of media because you also seem to take some resources from there)
I found this….
“She claimed to be married to Ammar al-Baluchi a nephew of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed when FBI agents questioned her in Afghanistan, according to court records.[10] Siddiqui’s marriage to al-Baluchi has been denied by her family but confirmed by Pakistani intelligence, FBI and according to court records by Siddiqui herself.[6] A defense psychologist also confirmed the marriage[11] and BBC confirmed it from security sources and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s family.”
Source: http://ja-jp.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=290714393837&topic=13516
What’s interesting is, whether or not she married, her suspicious linkage towards (even potentially) Al-Qayeda group leaves so many unrequited queries for which I’m sure only intelligence agencies know the truth.
3. Her return to the US in Christmas season….what did she actually do there?
4. Is she an US citizen? That’s really an important question…
My only intention to comment is to connote that she can’t be crystal clear in my opinion. There are always some speculations and unanswered questions left behind over which we can only give speculative opinions….I’ll also like to criticize your post in some different manner …
I’m strongly skeptical about your conclusion of this post. Earlier in your post, gives reader an idea that it would be just factual/speculative based on incidents… however later it appears to be conspiracy minded conclusion. It seems that you are pre-occupied while writing this post.
You wrote,
“and by prosecuting her, you are indirectly prosecuting Islam, its culture, and its woman’s role in society. Aafia has been made an example, so that none can follow in her wake. Its not the terrorism that she didn’t commit, its her propagation of Islam and her commitment to right and wrong that hurt those in power.”
I strongly oppose the notion that she is charged and it has to do anything with Islam…I humbly, in my capacity, opine that as terrorism involves Muslims however not religion, similarly, the US is not charging religion but poeple! If representatives of some faith are guilty, they have to be charged(rightly or wrongly is another matter), not religion directly or indirectly.
Conspiracy minded theories always have some sensation but it has cost us alot since the Renaissance as we are still in an sphere of our old-time-glory……(referring to the law of downfall of a nation). We may discuss it some time
I know its your blog and you are the boss and king and you have full liberty to whatever extent you may want to say… just my 2 cents of criticism
Love to read such things, they always interest me and usually I have a question: why?
salaam farhan
good to see that you further analyzed the data. I admit i have left some parts unanswered, it took me around 6 hours to compile this, some things were left un-addressed – and there are some things which i still don’t understand – but here’s what i do infer about your questions:
1. Purchase of 10k weaponry – Two possiblities.
One – done by her husband on account of his own endeavors, or on behalf of someone else. This may prove that they indirectly helped some plot towards terrorism, if true. Indirect because they were never involved in any terrorist act directly. You don’t buy such stuff including c4 just to hunt animals or keep it lying around, definitely. More importantly, if the FBI knows you did something like this, they don’t let you get off the hook that easy for it, and its not traced 4 years in the background. Why don’t you try buying some c4 in Boston or any other state, being a Muslim, that too post 9/11 – the story just doesn’t sell.
two – its Fake evidence- if you read between the lines, you will find that aafias first husband is one of the main witnesses against her- everything built around her has been done using her husbands ‘statements’ in focus. It is a major possibility that he (and all his admittances) are the result of a sell-out, and that he has a major part to play in her framing. (i would personally go for #2).
2. Marriage to baluchi – again- i think its planted evidence, as almost everyone denies it. aafia accepting something doesn’t count, really, not after 7 years of remand and torture. Her family does not concur to it. Most importantly, the marriage takes place just a few weeks before FBI announces that she is ‘most wanted’. Also pre-marraige arrangements are made while she is near her ninth month of pregnancy? again – there is a major gap there – as the cause of the marriage doesnt make sense. Aafia is working at AKUH, and she is from a well to do, elite family of Pakistan. She doesnt need to marry a terrorist to make ends meet.
3. Her return to US – this is one of the points i don’t understand. It is clear that it was to meet someone – though it cant be ascertained who it was. perhaps it relates to her research – or perhaps she went there to have a party :S. cant go with the second , as again she is in the 6th month of her pregnancy. But this is definitely a point worthy of further investigation.
4.US citizen – I dont think she is – just someone on some kind of VISA. her children are US citizens (2) being born there. She originally has a Pakistani nationality. it remains to be known if she went for a US nationality after their birth. Considering her conservative opinion post 9/11, i doubt she would.
5. you didn’t really mention this, but her early schooling took place in Zambia, South africa. This part doesn’t make sense to me at all, but you missed it
. This, plus her visit to states in Christmas season. Answering the conclusion related comments in next post.
z
“and by prosecuting her, you are indirectly prosecuting Islam, its culture, and its woman’s role in society. Aafia has been made an example, so that none can follow in her wake. Its not the terrorism that she didn’t commit, its her propagation of Islam and her commitment to right and wrong that hurt those in power.â€
I’ll admit that its kind of over-zealous – but there is little reason for prosecuting aafia otherwise. it took me less than 12 hours to see that she is not a terrorist, i observe it would take an intelligence agent/resource even less time. Then why the prosecution, why the trial, and most importantly, why 86 years in prison. She has not been proved a terrorist, her prints are not on the M4 used to shoot. by law, there is no breach. Still she gets convicted. which shows that there is bias of some kind.
Knowing that aafia is a strong supporter of Islam, i would naturally be inclined to believe that the ‘islam = terrorism’ phobia of the west has caught up in this case. The jury in an American court needs at least 80% majority to come to a decision – in some cases it has to be a full 100%. Here, getting such a strong conviction without hardcore evidence clearly shows bias, or manipulation. And the only purpose it serves is to present to the world another ‘Islamic’ terrorist. What else is achieved from this decision, if not this?
On the contrary, aafia is one of the few Muslim women who have proven to be the best at what they do, and follow islamic practices in society at the same time. Her lifestyle refutes all claims about Islam prosecuting women, and reducing their social rights. Her work on Islamic propagation and her Establishment of IIRT and Islamic dawah centre in Boston is not a conspiracy theory my friend, its a fact.
I’m personally very liberal in terms of religion/opinion, but i have to call a spade a spade when i see it. The only strong evidence about her conviction is her religion, ethnicity, her opinion about the illegal occupation of Muslim states. Even her court proceedings show that she burst into an outrage more than once against US society and its military practices – which i believe strongly helped in her conviction. The court has forgotten that it has to persecute based on actions of person, not their opinion on a subject.
Finally, i think her abduction has little to do with her being a terrorist – it was due to
a) her research or
b) possibility of her knowing something about 9/11- much like 1200 + ther muslims taken into custody the world over.
Much like all the rest, once FBI found out she has nothing on the subject- US intelligence cant just come out n say ‘sorry we messed up’ – esp. in case of someone who has become a national issue in Pakistan. To save face, you must prove that she is a terrorist – else both US and Pakistani governments become scams in the eyes of both nations.
Thanks again for the feedback. it has helped improve the research on the topic. looking forward to hearing more. salam to all at EP.
z
Zohaib,
On your first reply, I agree with your 1st and 2nd point. However linkage to some potentially extremist cannot be denied right away.
US Citizen: Yes she is
Source: http://express.com.pk/images/NP_KHI/20100929/Sub_Images/1101062749-1.gif
Source: http://www.draafia.org/2010/04/10/dr-aafia%E2%80%99s-12-year-old-daughter-liberated-from-us-bagram-airbase/
However, you may be skeptical about it…
On #5, yeah things seem not be straight forward and you cannot assert to have any clear position, that was my point in first place.
[b]“I’ll admit that its kind of over-zealous – but there is little reason for prosecuting aafia otherwise. it took me less than 12 hours to see that she is not a terrorist, i observe it would take an intelligence agent/resource even less time. Then why the prosecution, why the trial, and most importantly, why 86 years in prison. She has not been proved a terrorist, her prints are not on the M4 used to shoot. by law, there is no breach. Still she gets convicted. which shows that there is bias of some kind.”[/b]
I agree this is assuredly a case study of US being prejudice. This is the first time, we have already seen the case with Iraq…..
[b]“Knowing that aafia is a strong supporter of Islam, i would naturally be inclined to believe that the ‘islam = terrorism’ phobia of the west has caught up in this case. The jury in an American court needs at l…….” [/b]
I still do not opine to the notion that it has to do anything with Islam per se. I agree as you wrote, this is the case of ‘sorry we messed up’ at all but not the religion itself. US and Pakistani intelligence scams have been questionable since the post 9/11 situation all over the world so this is not new.
[b]“Her work on Islamic propagation and her Establishment of IIRT and Islamic dawah centre in Boston is not a conspiracy theory my friend, its a fact…..”[/b]
Surely its not conspiracy theory, may be i’m not clarifying myself pertaining that it is not the case of prosecuting Islam and when you bases of reasoning about her lifestyle being ‘true spirit’ of islam, is just another resonating factor of your pro-burton bias that would act like a prejudice. Why I say this? because her thoughts are ‘supposedly’ more prone towards Jamat-e-Islami and one can have a difference of opinion over her’s or Jamat’s dogmatic belief. I reckon you agree, no?
I missed something from your first reply, let me quote,
[b]“aafia accepting something doesn’t count, really, not after 7 years of remand and torture…”[/b]
I may have agreement over that but on the other hand you dont have to base your reasoning over her any statement like this…”he denied touching a gun, shouting, or threatening anyone. She said she stood up to see who was on the other side of the curtain, and that after one of the startled soldiers shouted “She is looseâ€, she was shot….”
Conclusion,
1. You and I both are uncertain about some key factors of her case and lets have an agreement on a degree of speculation on such cases, though I really appreciate your efforts towards getting inclination to reality…
2. If you eliminate ‘Islam’, ‘prosecuting religion’, ‘US against Islam’ sort of ‘Zaid Hamidism’ from your post of thoughts, the post would be more accurate in my opinion. Call a spade a spade or getting sorted out with a ‘trump’ is only a matter of ones perception
roswell,
1. everyone knows 9/11 was an inside job – still there are no court proceedings/investigations into the real people behind it. All the proceedings taking place are against Muslims one way or the other. It is bias. IMHO, though a vast majority of the west may not share this prejudice, but those in power certainly do, against Islam. If aafia is Jamaat e Islami minded, she has every right to be, just like you and i have every right to be party-minded.
2. as for the gun incident, even if we don’t consider aafias statements(i never did, btw, i favor her sons statement, not hers), it don’t mater, as the prints are still not there, and even the afghan police is giving a different statement of events.
3. zaid hamid is a fanatic promoting hatred for the west and wanting a state of open war between both societies. I’m a guy who believes that Muslims should behave constitutionally and get back their social integrity by positive, non – violent methods, and effectively remove the bias against them by inspiration, bringing to trial those trying to malign islam in the process – its a big difference.
But to solve a problem – you need to admit it exists first. If you stay under the assumption ‘no there is no bias against Muslims’ – you are wrong. if you say ‘yes there is bias, but it is not endorsed by those in power’ you are wrong again, because Muslims haven’t done anything yet, they’re just being blamed for stuff. Another example is that of strip search initiation at international airports (removed recently). specifically for Muslims, my friend. Get it yet? I think its more a case of ‘not wanting to accept that there is bias’ on your part- then being a case of ‘no bias’ – maybe its because there is one zohaibhisam.com and a million express.com’s saying otherwise.
In conclusion, as i said at the start of the article, this is my inference on the subject. It could be wrong, but its mostly based on facts, not assumptions. if you want to refute ‘bias against islam’ do it with facts, not popular media statements like ‘zaid hamidism’.
thanks for the reply. keep it coming. helps elaborate the point more.
z
Salaam Zohaib,
Well, its getting personal I guess, getting argument for sake of argument and discussion is going off-topic, I’d be done after this. (I also observed that you ddin’t use my name
)
1. I never claimed that there is NO bias per se. There are two things, bias against Muslims, bias against ISLAM. Both are different. When you say they are biased against Muslim, I have no problem, see my above comments. However bias against Islam do have a different ‘mind-set’ to which I have problem with. When you believe that ‘bias against Islam’ then you can’t really do anything just to rant about it which we have been doing since the Renaissance….neither you can’t have any positive to ‘remove bias’ this is so unpractical. ok Lets suppose there is bias against Islam, where does it come from? Is it divine in western ‘religion’ or power people belief or is it us made the opportunity for them?
Another question, suppose you are one of the power people of this world, you are one of the leader….and you are threaten by small ‘group’ of fanatics? What would you do naturally?
You must have observed that I have only problem when you bring ‘Islam’ in this matter, as a question of being prosecuted, in danger. This is the typical mind set from which we overreact negatively and we have been doing it. There is no danger to Islam or anyone ‘prosecuting’ it or even have bias (even if there is some potential bias of power players). I have faith that nothing can damage Islam as a religion, even if there are no single Muslim or practitioner left on earth, Islam would still be there !!
It’ll be oxymoron on your side if you believe bias against ISLAM and yet you want to remove it and say some beautiful words, no you really can’t, you will just overreact and rant about it.
When you say, “Muslims haven’t done anything yet, they’re just being blamed for stuff”(in a context i know) dude you really need to learn about the divine law of downfall of a nation.
Muslims have achieved no positive gain due to the fact that they are drowned into negative reaction on a colossal scale. They keep ranting about stuff rather than doing something good. They keep shouting oh Islam is in danger, there is bias, they are doing this and that against ISLAM(however they MAY not be doing against islam, but against mislead followers).
You have to realize that Muslims are not ‘thekedaar’ of Islam.
Bias against islam has no connotation whatsoever, it ain’t a problem, the problem lies in its followers, you need to start from Muslims, not Islam. Muslims are problem, not ‘bias against Islam’
2. Please do not defend yourself, I never really meant to target your personality, rather the mindset. If I gave impression otherwise, I apologize.
3. Trial of those who criticize Islam is utter useless, unpractical and against the Sunnah of Prophet(pbuh). You remove bias against islam with a trial? You must be patiance enough …thats why I say keeep focussing yourselves, rather rant about bias or conspiracy theories against ISLAM(not that i’m concerned about Islam here..)
4. Thus, I dont have to come up with ‘facts’ to refute ‘no bias against Islam’ if you really know where am I coming from.
Yes indeed, you put some facts however an speculative conclusion ‘inferred’
Do stop by at office and lets have a discussion
Peace,
Roswell,
1. Perhaps you’re not reading what im writing, you’re actually commenting on what you ‘think’ i have in my mindset while writing. Where does the article say that Muslims are not responsible for their present position? As for the bias against Islam – it does exist, it always has. it doesnt hurt islam in the least, but it does hurt those practicing islam – it has been doing so since the time of the Prophet. It is also a part of the divine scheme of things, and a test of faith.
Nowadays, most of us refute its existence, because it helps us sleep better at night, and shirk our responsibility towards removing that bias from society constructively. Bias against Muslims also exists, but that is mostly because of unjustified actions in terms of social interaction by a ‘majority’ of Muslims (not talking about terrorism or extremism, talking about hypocrisy). and it is justified to a great extent.
When i say that Muslims have not done anything as yet, i am talking in the context of terrorism, not all the other BS they’ve been doing, most importantly, the things they are NOT doing, and are supposed to do. As for those who have committed terrorism, they automatically oust themselves from Islam, or any other religion. Blame the guy who does it, not the religion he claims to follow.
The main bias against Islam is ‘Islam=terrorism’. No one takes ownership of that bias, but all media activity, prosecution and the like is centered around it. You my friend, also have developed that bias sub-consciously to a certain extent (as have most urban people including myself), against so called ‘extremists’to an extent, as is visible in your writings/opinion, which makes it hard for anyone to accept that aafia is actually blameless.
Those in power consider Islam a threat because by Islam, most of their actions are unjustified. Also, Islam preaches equality in punishment, so it is natural for even a king who terrorizes any country to be ‘skeptical’ of the ramifications of his actions. When you analyze further, the problem is not Islam, its the action that causes the ‘equality in punishment’ rule to come into effect. This rule is a major part of US/European law as well. No other religion imposes this criterion for justice at state level – therefore anyone who wishes to take over the world is directly threatened by Islam and those following it (in theory).
That being said, harming innocents, suicide bombing and destruction in civilian areas is not endorsed by Islam, it is as much an act of terrorism for Islam as for any other school of thought, even more so. as even in war, Islam does not allow harming the leaf of a tree.
2.You’re free to target anything and everything, i take full responsibility for what i write, my personality and my school of thought. You don’t have to apologize. The best conversations are ones where people don’t hide behind words like ‘personal’ and ‘political’ . everything you believe in is personal, n there’s no harm in discussing it even if it is, unless you don’t really mean what you say most of the time (which is lying).
3, trial – yes. of those who criticize Islam? no – of those who perpetrate unjustified acts on the basis of bias against it – yes. means trial is not against the bias, it is against the actions that you do while in that state of bias. You have every right to be biased abut Islam – as long as you don’t put it to effect.
Focusing ourselves is important – but it is not half as important as saving another Muslim whos being persecuted for nothing. Just answer this question and you’ll understand -if all Muslims on the earth start ‘focusing themselves’ and become really nice people – will that make the US leave Afghanistan, Iraq and acquit aafia and several hundred other innocent people? i don’t think so. Self improvement – yes- but this is another context, which requires counter action, constructive protest and legal followup.
‘being a good Muslim’ doesn’t win you an argument, being a good conversationalist does.
4. You’re drifting off-topic my friend, and the discussion is turning into an exercise of winning an argument rather than discussing it. If that is the case, you win, you don’t have to prove anything. You are free to believe in whatever you wish to believe. The conclusion may be right or wrong, the article says it, but it is based on the facts given above. You are free to derive n share a better conclusion than the one i have posted, and do share that as well. Yes there are some elements in aafias story which don’t add up, but their weight-age is very low compared to the allegations against her.
For the sake of argument (i don’t believe this is so, but still) – lets take the worst possible scenario. Aafia did it all. bombed 9/11- got Iraq WMD (not yet found) got the Taliban started in Afghanistan, leads a pack of terrorists against the NSA. Now what should be done about this – staying within the legal code of the US?
1. Custody- need to acquire the terrorist. If on US soil, can be done immediately. Being a US citizen (as you yourself pointed out)she would have the right of information of acquisition to her peers, a lawyer, and her basic human rights would be granted. if on non US soil- acquisition, following trial int he same country prior to hand-over (you need to prove that she is actually a terrorist to request handover)- never done like this BTW. abduction is not justified, even for a terrorist. Nor is the killing of her third child during that abduction( this is the part that should be brought to court – a life is a life, young or whatever) the action qualifies for murder, negligence, assault, battery, abduction and several other offenses.
2. trial – period between trial and custody should not exceed an year (8 years in this case, what exactly was being done here). facts need to be produced that prove beyond reasonable doubt that her presence was there at the terrorist act. being a part of the plan (solid facts like proper res. videos, credible witnesses, tapes need to be produced)implies a lesser sentence. Speculations and opinions do not count – the only facts on the table are that she went to zambia for schooling, doesn’t appreciate US invasion of Muslim countries, favors islam and its propagation, and went to the US on 25 dec to 1 jan 2003 for unknown reasons. apart from the trip and the zambia schooling, even i fit those facts. so can i be subjected to abduction, 8 year remand, consequent trial and imprisonment for shooting two officers (who shot me, actually, despite that i wasn’t carrying any weapon or threat), with a gun that doesn’t even have my prints on it? i don’t think so. (Infact, the ease with which they shot an unarmed woman is also a result of premeditated bias infused within US officials against her).
That’s the worst case scenario, and still its unjustified. thats all judge roswell
as for me addressing each of your replies, i have to do it, as i wrote the article in the first place. salam to all at ep.
z