Judge Richard Burman has sentenced Dr. Aafia Siddiqui to 86 years in prison. According to the report in Dawn, Dr. Siddiqui said to the audience after hearing the sentence, “Don’t get angry. Forgive Judge Berman.” Judge Berman repartee, apparently in scorn and sarcasm, was, “I wish more defendants would feel the way that you do.”
Nobody can say what implications this sentence carries for the world, US or Pakistan. A few things may be stated without fear of being contradicted though.
Before the common people in Pakistan and US even became aware of the existence of Aafia, she had already become well-known to human rights activists across the world as victim of abduction, rape and torture, whose minor children had also got abducted along with her. Pakistani, Afghan and US authorities were the accused in this case.
This was the world opinion in general. Since August 2008, the American media has been considerably successful in giving a different color to the story, alleging that Aafia had ties with al-Qaeda (a charge that was never brought up in the court at any point).
The power of mass media is itself its limitation: the news of tomorrow is bound to wipe out the news of today. Therefore with the passage of time, the world opinion viewing Aafia as a victim is likely to prevail over the perception created by the American media.
For US, the consequences could be disastrous in the long-term because nobody can say how its legal system is likely to be judged once the world opinion about Aafia prevails over the American media version.
For Pakistan, two implications have already been carved in stone. The heyday of liberal and progressive human rights activists like Aasma Jahangir is over and it is unlikely that they will ever regain the prestige they used to enjoy in the past. Their credibility as well as integrity has received a serious blow since it is perceived by many that these activists didn’t do as much as they should have done in this case, and that this was not procrastination but selfish interest on their part.
The same goes for the government of Pakistan. This government seems to be overlooking that the last round of troubles began for President Pervez Musharraf over the issue of “missing persons” and the demand for his impeachment gained support in the wake of the discovery of Aafia in July 2008. The present regime may have made a mistake by failing to behave any differently than Musharraf in this matter.
Last, but not the least, there is an implication for Muslims in general. In Verses 84-85 of Surah Baqarah (Chapter 2), God criticizes certain people because they banish some among themselves from homes and assist the enemies against them in transgression. The question likely to haunt Muslims, especially in Pakistan, is whether their own behavior in the case of Aafia in particular and the missing persons in general is any different from those whom God has cursed.
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In lust to save the filthy lap, government is trying hard to cover up the deficits ground. Zardari saga is almost in shatters. But to secure nation from more punishment, we have to moderate our own attitudes towards life. Because, to the extent corruption is in the veins of governing body, this fact is quite known but these days, which still we are compelled to live under this grimy shelter is no more than our own character and results of our failures to follow laws of nature and humanity.
This is height of shamelessness with which the government playing with democracy and hopes of people. Although, character, personality and private life of president and his officials are so much disgusting that no country, person is taking out risk to trust them for flood funds.
Meanwhile, the imbecile attitude and negotiations of Zardari panel, has given birth to 86 years old sentence to daughter of a nation. Nothing can bring so much disgrace to regime as this case. But, the dynamic feature of the present rule to assassinate wives, sell daughters , displace and remove people in a jiffy to keep once era secure is its mark of identity.
The overall attitude of Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s mother and her sister Dr fauzia Siddiqui is highly amazing. Their tolerance and maintenance of religious value is appreciable.
This nation has survived bitterest moments in its history, grave tortures by ruling bodies and non-democratic officials. But the indecency, vice and impudent behavior that has been showed by the practice of this management is really of its own kind. But, this era has proved itself ruled by all known figure, “MR. TEN PERCENT”.
Thanx, Dr. Hena and cogent Khurram Ali Shafique Sahib for both of your commentaries.
I have put through my family through a lot while researching Dr. Aafia's case -- and now they need a bit of a break. So I have not had the time since sentencing which I sorely want and need to respond with an Op Ed and to comment on this and other items properly.
However, I am in full unity with your understanding and reactions as before.
We must find the best possible ways to show that this sentencing and all that led to the same is without any alibis.
I will be back.
Some sites to keep watching for more on this case along with reaction to the sentencing to be added here...
Here's one:
Look for ondelette's helpful analysis
and hopefully add your own comments here on oneheartforpeace or on ondelette's site
http://seminal.firedoglake.com
We've lost our souls for the gain. Period.
Yet we can't give up because following us, given the world doesn't blow itself up, Allah so far forbidding, we have a legacy to leave behind and while we continue to ask for Aafia's release and for truth on this and other cases, we have Christians, Muslims and other groups to help understand one another...
And not least, we have people to help save from the results of the flood.
You, dear and brilliant Komal, are sorely needed in this vital effort.
And I feel deeply that you especially have the wholistic strength and integrity to make a world of difference to the universe, seen and unseen.
Be sure to get the balance you need to help the rest of us fight this battle of the Light and murkiness. Perhaps include the Film and Spirituality series provided by your scholar-mentor, Shafique Sahib, a rare and rewarding opportunity.
Then return and tell us far away how such a series might apply to equanimity and understanding in the "united humanity"?
It was perhaps during World Ware II, Britain was defeating. A journalist asked Churchill if the England will remain independent after the war. Churchill replied that no one can harm England because people get justice from the courts of England...
Reportedly, Dr. Afia Siddiqui, during her arrest opened fire on a US personnel. The common sense question was why she was under arrest there? Without bringing it on case record, this simply implies that the decision of the US court is not based on justice.
Now, let us relate the second Para with the first, and as poet Anwar Masood says: Tu Washington say Kabul per hua he hamlazan, ye tere anjam-e-ibrat naak ka Aaghaz he.
Muhammad Numan Chishti
The obvious answer is there was no justice - not from any point of view except the most superficial facade. She was claimed to be arrested for "suspicious activity" and alleged to have bag with many items suspected of her intentions to do harm to US. The most obvious explanation for these items is certain persons with activity to hide wanted to make her appear suspect and planted these. This came out in court where although the judge allowed these allegations and physical evidence to be shown in the court, these were irrelevant to the trial. Go to my site and you will see more detailed explanation.
Time for the international community to get involved to repatriate Dr. Aafia, to make sure she's properly treated in meantime in both US and later in Pakistan upon her hoped for return, to call for the return or explanation re. her youngest child. To check on whereabouts of others disappeared and detained - including children. And to make clear that she and her family are calling for dignified and non-violent action.
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