Aafia's ex-husband

Words from the ex-husband of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui started pouring into the media some time back (and a little before the recent hearing). We can't be the best judges on the truth behind the grievances of Aafia's husband and the issue of the legal custody of their child(ren), but let's not get distracted from the central moral issue involved: the supremacy of law.

Aafia's guilt or otherwise ought to be determined on the basis of charges against her in a court of law and on no other grounds, and the same goes for any issues between her, her family and her ex-husband.

Unfortunately Aafia's ex-husband seems to be following the bad precedent set by American authorities, i.e. indulging in media trial instead of bringing up issues before a proper court of justice. He is in a good position to correct this bad precedent by taking his grievances to a court of law, and I'm sure that doing that will earn him a great deal of respect which, I hope, he deserves very much.

Custody of children is a legal matter and if this has been denied to Aafia's ex-husband in a wrongful manner then that should be set right by a competent court. Someone needs to restore the prestige of courts as arbiters independent of the media. Aafia's ex-husband is in a good position to take that initiative too.