Alhamdolillah, I am the 15th signature. Jazak Allah khayr for this article and especially for the “SIGN PETITION” link!

Do you want to be “awwal-ul-Muslimeen?” Shaykh Waleed Basyouni told me during Ramadan that that phrase applies to those who are the “first responders.” Be a first responder. Sign the petition without delay.

subhanAllah. the Muslim should protest against injustice, and do so with the best conduct possible. this Ramadan Allah permitted me to study a section of the book mukhtasar minhaj al qasideen with a knowledgeable shaykh.

and one part of that section discussed forbidding the wrong and enjoining the good.

and in that section the topic of addressing rulers who commit injustice was discussed.

a Muslim who fears for his or her own physical safety need not even speak out loud against the ruler, but that Muslim must still have the desire to change the wrong in his or her heart. that Muslim should make lots of supplication to Allah about the problem, and should not prevent others from acting unless they would act through some transgression.

but if a Muslim does not fear reprisal, he or she should offer advice with good manners. not using foul language or a tone that would harden the ruler’s heart further. and still there should be duas.

in neither case is a subject entitled to use more than those means.

regarding the effectiveness of protest by dua and by speaking out, verily, “laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa billah.” no force for change nor power exists except (that) Allah (permits it).

so there is no doubt that dua should be made.

and groups like Amnesty International can show you that letter-writing campaigns work. and the US government, especially in its treatment of prisoners like Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and all the masses held at Guantanamo Bay, has become more and more like the despots to which AI letters have traditionally been sent.

it’s our responsibility to encourage the government to reform its behavior.

so sign the petition. and make dua.

innalhamdolillah. bismillah. as of now 102 signatures, mashaAllah.

i know that there are a lot of exciting articles that appeared on MM at about the same time as this petition like the Qur’an quiz and Eid at 6 flags, and that there are so many other articles, mashaAllah, where people can learn or voice their opinions.

but let’s make sure that there are also more signatures generated by this site.

write to your Muslim and non-Muslim friends and ask them to sign the petition to support justice. because no matter what the final outcome, there is no justice in treating her like this while she awaits trial. the link address that you can copy into your e-mails is:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/provide-humane-prison-conditions-for-dr-aafia-siddiqui/sign.html

bismillah. if you do use the text above, or write an appeal of your own to friends and family, please replace the cageprisoners link i gave with this much better link:

http://www.cageprisoners.com/prisoners.php?id=1367

this link gives the complete story in one place in an easy-to-read format. (the same link can also be followed from the petition site, but putting it in an e-mail is a good idea, too.)

jazak Allah khayr.

Come on people sign it!!!

I advise you all to read: My Guantanamo Diary – Mahvish Khan – superb book on the topic

This is a documentary i advise all to watch about the horrifc treatment os the detainees, May Allah deliver them to their families soon.

Please be warned there are some very disturbing scenes and descriptions given and nudity.

Title: Taxi to the dark side

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=taxi+to+the+dark+side&hl=en&emb=0#

Assalaamu ‘alaykum

Firstly, Aafia has been moved to a facility in Texas – please direct letters to the following address and update it on Muslim Matters. Her sister advised sending postcards as they are subject to less scrutiny and Aafia specifically has requested pictures of nature, flowers, mountains, animals and children.

AAFIA SIDDIQUI #90279-054
FMC CARSWELL
FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER
P.O. BOX 27137
FORT WORTH, TX 76127

You can read more about the facility and her sister’s reaction to the transfer here:
http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?id=26378

Finally, I wanted to suggest that the Muslims in the US get involved in this campaign: 100 Days to Close Guantanamo, organised by Witness Torture in the DC Area

100 DAYS TO CLOSE GUANTANAMO!

Witness Against Torture is excited to announce a new campaign to close Guantánamo and end torture by the U.S. Kicking off with a nine day fast, the campaign will consist of a daily, sustained, physical presence across from the White House and a weekly schedule of Executive and Congressional education, public teach-ins and film screenings, prayer and vigiling, direct action and public pressure throughout the first 100 days of the new administration.

Barack Obama and John McCain might not agree about much, but they are both in favor of closing Guantánamo.

“We’re going to close Guantánamo. And we’re going to restore habeas corpus. We’re going to lead by example by not just word but by deed. That’s our vision for the future.” – Barak Obama, June 2007

“I believe we should close Guantánamo and work with our allies to forge a new international understanding on the disposition of dangerous detainees under our control.” – John McCain, March 2008

We know that these proclamations are little more than words without sustained, visible and effective pressure. So, starting with inauguration day 2009, Witness Against Torture is launching a 100 Day Campaign to pressure the new administration to close Guantánamo.

Along with campaign partners like the Center for Constitutional Rights and September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, we demand:

* Close the U.S. detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba within the first 100 days of the new administration. Prisoners currently held at Guantánamo should either be charged with a crime and prosecuted in U.S. Federal Court, or released with a repatriation plan that permits the detainee either to return to his home country or to receive asylum in a third country.
* Close other U.S. detention centers worldwide that do not comply with international human rights standards, including: Bagram Airforce Base in Afghanistan, Abu Ghraib in Iraq, and the so-called CIA “black sites” around the world.

Get Involved with the 100 Day Campaign!
There’s tons you can do!

* Organize a group to Come to DC: Sign up for a day, a weekend or a whole week. Demonstrate, fast, pray, visit your Congressional representatives, seek a meeting with the new president or their staff. We’ll help you plan your time.
* Participate in our Nine Day Public Fast: From Jan. 11 (the 7-year anniversary of the first prisoners being taken to Guantánamo) through Jan. 20 (inauguration day) to kick off the 100 Day Campaign.
* Join one of the Working Groups: Media, Outreach Logistics, Action Support, Public Events or Lobbying
* Organize a Solidarity Action in Your Own Community: Screen a film, write letters to the President, lobby your local representative, hold a march or vigil. We can help with resources and materials.
* Invite a Speaker: Think you want to bring a group to Washington, we’ll send someone to your community to talk about the campaign, answer questions, and motivate more people to join the work
* Buy and wear orange “Shut Down Guantánamo” t-shirts. Tell a friend about our website and encourage them to get involved, too!

Donate!
Housing, food, transportation, signs and leaflets all cost money. Help us out if you can. Donate on-line or send your check to: Witness Against Torture, c/o Mary House Catholic Worker, 55 E. Third St., New York, NY 10003. If you can offer housing, food, photocopying or other in-kind contributions, contact us.

Check back often since we’ll be adding more and more details and the campaign progresses.
http://www.witnesstorture.org/100days

innalhamdolillah! alhamdolillah, wa Howas-Samee-ud-dua — all praise is for Allah, and He is the One Who Hears Prayers.

bismillah. mashaAllah, there are 250 signatures on the petition as i write this. and Allah is the One Who Hears Prayers. laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa billah. no force for change nor power can act except as Allah permits. i believe that Allah answered the prayers of all those people who want relief and justice for Dr. Aafia, and that He softened the hearts of the officials who had held back just care from her.

now that she has been moved, can anyone who has knowledge comment on the primary issues from the petition?

1. what is the state of medical and psychiatric care that Dr. Aafia is now receiving? the Bureau of Prisons description of FMC Carswell gives hope that she can receive the care she needs in this facility. but obviously there are no descriptions of the actual treatment she has been afforded.

note: to anyone in the DFW area, the same page linked above has a link describing visiting regulations.

2. aside from care facilities and opportunities, what best describes her current physical and mental condition?

3. has there been any easing of the abusive strip search-procedures? is she at least now permitted the relative decency of being searched by female guards?

bismillah. may Allah guide all of us, inshaAlllah, and strengthen us in working to end the injustices against prisoners like Dr. Aafia, like the masses at Gitmo, and like those hidden by the authorities as though they had already been buried long ago.

regarding one aspect of the 100 day campaign, the nine day public fast. fasting is an act of worship. and acts of worship are for Allah alone. does anyone with knowledge know whether or how best a Muslim may participate in this aspect of the campaign?

and i ask not to discourage anyone, but only to avert later regret for having remained silent.

bismillah. is the best way to coordinate efforts to secure just treatment for Dr. Aafia to get in touch with the petition contacts? jazak Allah khayr for the response.