Civil Rights

Dr. Aafia Siddiqui Press Conference Today @ 6:30 PM / Court Hearing 9.3.08

Published

August 25, 2008

Please announce and cross-post this announcement (full text below the sleeve):

There will be a press conference today, Monday 25th at 6:30PM, under the Grand Army Plaza arch in Brooklyn.

We – that is, her criminal defense team –

At the conference, Liz will:

Correct erroneous reports in the press about the 11-year-old boy arrested with Aafia in Afghanistan on July 17, 2008;

Gives updates on Aafia’s condition; and

Answer questions to the best of her ability.

Supporters can also announce some ways to help Aafia, i.e., by sending postcards, etc.

Grand Army Plaza is formed by the intersection of Flatbush Avenue, Eastern Parkway, Prospect Park West and other streets.

By Public Transportation (MTA):

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• 2 or 3 Train to Grand Army Plaza station
• Q Train to 7th Ave. Station (Flatbush Ave.)
• B-41 or B-71 Bus along Flatbush Ave. to Grand Army Plaza
• B-69 Bus along Prospect Park West .

——————————-

PROTEST – COURT HEARING FOR AAFIA SIDDIQUI

Wednesday, September 3, 2008
2:00pm

United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
500 Pearl Street
Manhattan, NY

The hearing is on 3rd September is at the United States District Court (U.S.D.C.) for the Southern District of New York (S.D.N.Y), located at 500 Pearl Street, Manhattan.

The hearing will start at 2:30pm

Abu Sabaya adds: It is open to the public, yes. Just get there early, because the seats in the courtroom get filled up rapidly (mostly by the press), in which case you won’t be let in.

THE DR. AAFIA SIDDIQUI DEFENSE COMMITTEE AND SUPPORTERS TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW CONCERING THE CONTINUED DETENTION OF DR. SIDDIQUI
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – AUGUST 24, 2008
CONTACTS:
Saleem Rizvi, Esquire, +1(917) 453-7971 rizvi@rizvilaw.com
Ryan Hancock, Esquire +1(215) 913-1749, r.a.hancock@gmail.com
PRESS CONFERENCE:Monday, 08/25/08 6:30 P.M.
Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn

New York City – The Dr. Aafia Siddiqui Defense Committee and her supporters will provide an update regarding the continued detention of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui at a press conference in Brooklyn, NY at 6:30 p.m. on Monday.

Elizabeth Fink, Esquire, Dr. Siddiqui’s criminal defense attorney, will discuss the U.S. government’s treatment of Dr. Siddiqui since July 18, 2008. Specifically, Ms. Fink correct erroneous reports in the press about the 11-year-old boy arrested with Dr. Siddiqui in Afghanistan on July 17, 2008, address the U.S. government’s failure to provide adequate medical care and her continued subjection to invasive strip searches in violation of international law, the U.S. Constitution, international human rights norms and standards of decency. Further, Ms. Fink will discuss what is expected to happen next in her criminal case and will entertain questions from the press.

On August 21, 2008, Pakistan’s National Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution demanding that Dr. Siddiqui be repatriated back to Pakistan. The resolution passed stating, “The National Assembly calls upon the federal government to take up the matter with the United States authorities to urgently provide necessary medical assistance, including hospitalization to her, make provision of female doctor for her medical examination as well as treatment, give full respect to her religious beliefs and provide regular consular access as well as for regular family visits to Dr Aafia.”

In line with Pakistan’s National Assembly resolution, leading members of the Pakistani-American community request that all people of conscience demand the U.S. government transfer Dr. Siddiqui to Bellevue for immediate medical and psychological treatment and repatriate her back to Pakistan.

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17 Comments

Amad

August 25, 2008 at 11:55 AM

If anyone attends the Press Conference, please let us know what transpired. You can email the information or post it as a comment here.

Reply
Hidaya

August 25, 2008 at 2:14 PM

I am going with my family inshAllah

Reply
Amad

August 25, 2008 at 4:00 PM

Sr. Hidaya, are you going to the press conference or the court hearing.

Either way, can you write something on on it /both? Email us if you are able to.

jak

Reply
Yaser Birjas

August 25, 2008 at 4:35 PM

I would like to encourage all those who are capable to go there and show their support to Dr. Aafia. May Allah bring ease to her situation, and grant her quick release.
Please do so and may Allah bring ease to you from hardships as you make the effort to bring ease to her’s.

Reply
Amad

August 25, 2008 at 4:44 PM

jazakAllahkhair Shaykh Yaser for the encouragement.

Reply
Abu Sabaya

August 25, 2008 at 6:15 PM

Jazak Allah khayr, Shaykh Yasir.

It brings much joy to see this encouragement, as this is exactly what we need from our scholars!

May Allah preserve you and strengthen this Ummah through you.

Reply
Muslim

August 25, 2008 at 9:19 PM

Assalamu alaikum,

May Allah free our Sister, her children and other Muslims from the captivity of these barbarians.

This endeavor to raise awareness and to release Muslim prisoners is most important, as freeing these Muslims held captive by disbelievers, is one of the highest duties for the Muslims.

Reply
Amad

August 25, 2008 at 10:02 PM

Anyone go to the conference?

Also, it seems that the US has confirmed that he is holding a child in custody for 5 years!

US authorities admitted that the teenage son of a Pakistani scientist held in the United States on charges of trying to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan is in their custody, her family said Sunday, dpa reported

“We received a letter from the office of US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Michael J Gracia late Friday in which he acknowledged of having in custody Aafia Siddiqui’s eldest son, Ahmed, who will turn 12 years old in November,” her sister Fauzia told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Siddiqui disappeared in 2003 along with her three children in southern port city Karachi after her name appeared on a US list of suspects linked to Al-Qaeda. Her family alleged she was arrested by Pakistan intelligence agencies and handed over to US troops.

She resurfaced early this month when the US authorities indicted her on charges of attempted murder in New York, where she was sent following her arrest on July 17 outside a government compound in Ghazni province.

Siddiqui’s case has stirred public anger in Pakistan.

Both of Pakistan’s legislative houses adopted unanimous resolutions demanding an immediate repatriation of Siddiqui, who holds a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

A group of Pakistani parliamentarians will travel to the US next week to press for her release and seek information about her other two children, one girl who may be now 9 years old and a 5-year-old son, who was just seven months when the family disappeared missing, according to relatives.

US officials had previously denied holding any of her children.

“The disclosure that Ahmed is in US custody is a great development,” Fauzia said. “I have a feeling that Dr Afia may be repatriated to Pakistan very soon, possibly before September 3 or soon afterwards.

“This might be a wishful thinking but at least this hope is what is keeping our whole family on our feet,” she added.

[Courtesy Cageprisoners.com]

Reply
Not so happy

August 26, 2008 at 12:42 AM

What happened at the press conference? Could some one please post it here?
Thank you for keeping up with her tragic situation. May Allah bless you for your sincere efforts.

Reply
AbuZakariyya

August 26, 2008 at 12:57 AM

Jazak Allahu Khairan ya shaykhana. Your words of support means a LOT to us.

for regular updates:

http://aafiasiddiqui.org/

wassalam

Reply
sisterindeen

August 26, 2008 at 2:39 AM

Breaking news (about her son maybe):

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/08/26/ST2008082600195.html

Reply
Sahira

August 27, 2008 at 4:18 PM

Assalamalikum,

I attended the press conference with a couple of friends on Monday August 25th.

Comment turned into post. Click here. -Jazakillahkhair

Reply
Abu Sabaya

August 27, 2008 at 4:43 PM

‘Alayki as-Salam wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh, sister Sahirah;

Thank you for the useful information.

If people are hesitant to directly send Aafia mail, I am collecting online messages of support here to send to her through her lawyers.

Please send her something one way or another!

Reply
Amad

August 27, 2008 at 5:27 PM

jazakillahkhair Sr. Sahira…

In the last year, we have had campaigns to send post-cards and letters to Muslim prisoners. There is nothing to fear or be afraid of in sending mail to prisoners of any kind. This is our right. I think Dr. Aafia would be much more appreciative of mail sent directly to her inshallah… and now since we have the mailing information, let’s please make a point to do so.

In fact, with Ramadan coming, how about sending a Ramadan mubarak card to her? That will be be awesome I think. Inshallah, I hope we can all do that. You can find Ramadan cards at Hallmark, or just choose a plain vanilla greeting card, and add a short message.

May Allah make this Ramadan a time for her release.

P.S. If we cannot do the card or direct mail, please at least send the message as Br. Abu Sabaya recommended. If you are not a member or don’t want to post on that forum, you can post it here, and Br. Abu Sabaya can pick it up inshallah.

Reply
Hassan

August 27, 2008 at 6:02 PM

Just to clarify, if I send money to sister Afia, (legally fine), but would it cause some issues here and there (just asking to get mentally prepared for outcome).

Reply
Sahira

August 27, 2008 at 7:58 PM

Asalamalaikum,

I can only give my humble opinion on this point, that if we transfer money to Aafia Siddiqui’s jail account or send her books through Barnes&Noble or somother website, then would it cause some problems for us.

Why would it? We will be showing compassion for a fellow muslim in distress through completely legal ways and doing it in open.
Why would that cause problems? Aafia Siddiqui has not been found guilty by any court as yet. We read her story and felt compassion for her and wanted to show her that we care. So what is wrong with that. If there was anytihng wrong her lawyer would not have distributed that handout at the press conference.

I sent Aafia some money through my credit card today and I also purchased a book on flowers at Barnes&Noble and sent it to the PO Box address given. Inshallah I am not afriad of any negative repurcussions. The reason I am sharing this thing with others here is to say that please don’t be unnecessarily afraid.

I hope I do not sound pompous or self righteous saying the above.

Reply
Not so happy

August 28, 2008 at 12:30 PM

I did sent the money as well through western union. I was hesitant and had the same concern, but then I felt embarrass to think like that and reached the same conclusion as the previous poster.
I feel like I am helping a fellow human being, I would have done the same even if she was not a muslim or pakistani. I believe that it is my “effort’ that matter, I hope and pray that she be treated humanely during her incarceration and receive a fair trial, if we can call it a trial.

Reply