KARACHI: The family of Aafia Siddiqui, the Pakistani neuroscientist jailed in the US on terror charges, has expressed fears for her life following reports of physical and sexual abuse by prison staff.
Siddiqui, 46, was convicted in 2010 of seven counts of attempted murder and assault of US personnel in Afghanistan. She is serving an 86-year jail term at the Federal Medical Center, Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas.
Claims of abuse by prison staff surfaced in a confidential Pakistani consul-general’s report leaked to Arab News.
On May 23, Pakistan’s consul-general in Houston, Aisha Farooqui, met Siddiqui, who complained about physical and sexual abuse by prison staff.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson, Dr. Mohammed Faisal, confirmed that the Pakistan consul-general in Houston had informed Islamabad about her meeting with Siddiqui.
“Dr. Aafia Siddiqui has informed our consul-general about her oppression in jail,” he said during a press briefing in Islamabad on Thursday.
Faisal said that Pakistan had told US authorities about the “inhuman conduct” handed out to Siddiqui.
“She was constantly disturbed in her room and her privacy was consistently violated by jail staff who harassed her, threatened her and attempted to sexually abuse her on a number of occasions,” Farooqui wrote in her report, a copy of which was leaked to Arab News.
Siddiqui’s sister, Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, told Arab News: “The leaking of this report will jeopardize Aafia’s life further as the prison guards will turn more vengeful.
“No words can describe the pain this report has inflicted on our hearts. No words can describe our agony,” she said.
Farooqui said Siddiqui had claimed that staff “barged into her room, confiscated her belongings, made fun of her and even snatched her scarf off her head.”
The consul-general has recommended Islamabad seek a US Department of Justice inquiry into Siddiqui’s claims.
“We are aware of these allegations,” a US Embassy spokesperson told Arab News.
“Consistent with the protections afforded individuals under the US Constitution and other applicable US law, the United States treats all convicted prisoners humanely and in a manner that complies with our international human rights obligations,” the official said.
Family fears for jailed Pakistani’s life after leaked report of US prison abuse
Family fears for jailed Pakistani’s life after leaked report of US prison abuse
- Siddiqui’s family has urged the Pakistan government to take immediate steps for her repatriation so she can serve her remaining sentence in Pakistan
- We are aware of these allegations, a US Embassy spokesperson tells Arab News
Protesters try to attack driver after truck speeds through anti-Iran demonstration in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles police responded Sunday after somebody drove a U-Haul box truck down a street crowded with marchers demonstrating in support of the Iranian people, causing protesters to scramble out of the way and then run after the speeding vehicle to try to attack the driver.
The U-Haul truck, with its side mirrors shattered, was stopped several blocks away and surrounded by police cars. ABC7 news helicopter footage showed officers keeping the crowd at bay as demonstrators swarmed the truck, throwing punches at the driver and thrusting flagpoles through the driver’s side window.
The police department confirmed its officers were on the scene but didn’t immediately say if anyone was arrested.
Two people were evaluated by paramedics and both declined treatment, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
Several hundred people had gathered Sunday afternoon in the Westwood neighborhood to protest against the Iranian theocracy. The LA police department eventually issued a dispersal order, and by 5 p.m. only about a hundred protesters were still at the scene, ABC7 reported.
Activists say a crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran has killed more than 530 people. Protesters flooded the streets in Iran’s capital of Tehran and its second-largest city again Sunday.
