Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s Release Expected Soon, Says Dr. Zaidi
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist held in a US prison, could be released in the coming days, according to Prof Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Afridi. Dr. Afridi, part of a delegation that visited the US to advocate for her release, spoke to The Express Tribune about Dr. Aafia’s poor health and the hope that outgoing US President Joe Biden would reduce her sentence before leaving office on January 20.
Dr. Aafia, who has been imprisoned for 16 years, is suffering from serious medical conditions. She was convicted for attempting to murder US officers, but received an unusually long 86-year sentence. Her sentence was far beyond the 10-year maximum punishment under US law for the charge. Dr. Zaidi, a psychiatrist who examined her, described her as mentally distressed and physically unwell.
A three-member delegation from Pakistan recently traveled to the US to push for Dr. Aafia’s release. While they were unable to meet with President Biden due to visa issues, they held talks with US senators and State Department officials. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also wrote to Biden, urging her release on humanitarian grounds.
Dr. Aafia was arrested in Karachi in 2003 while traveling with her children. She disappeared for five years, only to be revealed as being held in Afghanistan before being transferred to the US. Two of her children were released, but her son’s whereabouts remain unknown.
Dr. Zaidi emphasized that Dr. Aafia’s release would help improve the image of the US in Pakistan and the Muslim world. He expressed hope that her health would improve if she were sent back to Pakistan.
Disclaimer: This information has been gathered from various reports and newspapers for information purpose only.
