Ofcourse it is possible that Afia Siddiqui is having mental problems because of some family condition. We have Khehkeshan's diagnosis to go on there. or it could be the rape and torture that american prisons have come to be associated with, and that has been reported specifically for this woman. both are possibilities, but perhaps Khehkeshan can tell us what enables him to say it just happened like it just happens?
I can only speak for her family history as I know that much - I don't know what happened or did not happen to her in any prison or when she was really arrested.
Its COMPLETELY possible for a doctor of any sort to go loony. Medically loony.
She's not the first educated person to cross over to the dark side. A number of higher level Al Qaeda and Taliban operatives have actual degrees. These people designing these operations have to be supersmart to be evading a number of superpowers and NATO all added together.
If she was involved in crimes like 911 and what the Al Qaeda and Taliban terrorists are doing in Af-Pak border areas, then they need to be punished. They have blood on their hands - there should be no debate about this.
Torture is wrong, and for that the US currently is going through some massive introspection on recent confirmations that certain prisoners certainly have been tortured.
oh yes, since bawa mush handed her, she has to be a crazy loony bin who doesnt deserve trial and should be tortured and all, doesnt matter. Infact, lets not even call her a pakistani citizen shall we?
We don’t know if the charges against Dr Aafia are true or she is just a vicitim of the post 9/11 madness. I hope her case is resolved soon and justice is served. Whether she is innocent or guilty of the charges levelled against her, her case, unfortunately, underscores the DOs and the DONTs in the post 9/11 world. Non American Citizens in particular, living in the US, should show utmost caution.
“Siddiqui was an account holder at Fleet National Bank in Boston. According to documents obtained by Newsweek, in 2001, Siddiqui was making regular debit-card payments to an Islamic charity front, Benevolence International, which is now banned by the UN. In addition, Siddiqui was found to be active with the Al Kifah Refugee Center, another Islamic charity that was ostensibly raising funds for Bosnian orphans but which also was under federal investigation. Fleet Bank security officers began tracking a money trail from the Saudi Embassy that led to Siddiqui, resulting in more “links” that “shocked” the bank security officers”
Most of us send Zakat to Pakistan during the month of Ramadan. Use your credit card ONLY if the charity is well known internationally. Otherwise give them cash ( through a Pakistani, living in Pakistan or when you visit pakistan yourself). An uncle of my fiance got into trouble when an organisation he supported had terrorist links. When i say trouble, i mean he is awaiting trial.
Donot get unnecessarily involved in Islamic societies where you don’t personally know the members. ( if even one of them turns out to be a terrorist, you could get into trouble)
Don’t read books on ammo, bombs/ guns in a local store/ public library. A lums graduate studying at Cornell was paid a visit by the FBI after some student saw him read a book on the nuclear politics of today.
I cannot emphasize how important it is to know the background of a person, before you start exchanging numbers, sending emails to one another. Case in point : ME and my friends. We didn’t know that a guy we were sorta friends with was the son of a prominent NUCLEAR SCIENTIST in PAKISTAN. I thankfully had never hung out with him alone or ever exchanged my phone number or email with him so when the FBI decided to investigate him and his ‘team’ of friends, meree bachut ho gaee. ALL of my other friends were interrogated for hours. when these folks graduated and got jobs, ALL of them, including the nuclear scientist’s son got rejected for Employment Authorization. Their visas were also rejected :s, when their status changed and they needed to be reissued a visa
Don’t buy military equipment like Aafia’s husband did
“According to Newsweek, FBI documents also stated that Khan, Siddiqui’s husband, had purchased body armor, night-vision goggles and a variety of military manuals that were supposed to be sent to Pakistan. Fleet National Bank accounts associated with the couple also showed “major purchases” from U.S. airlines and hotels in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and North Carolina as well as an $8,000 international wire transfer on December 21, 2001, to Habib Bank”
Some people say it’s PHUTOO to be so careful and that we should stand up for our rights etc. My answer to them is that, knowing what we do about Dr Aafia’s case, it would be CRIMINALLY negligent to NOT excerise caution. Do you really wanna invite abuse on yourself and your children?
If you find it offensive to not openly donate to an islamic charity or be involved with an Islamic society, then you have every right to leave the US.
Please share your own experiences similar to the ones i did. I think it’s important people know what CAN get into trouble
Yeah but here's the thing - then NO ONE ends up socializing, NO ONE ends up working on important charity projects/or social projects that should be set up by muslims in America or anywhere else. And at the end of the day, its innocent people like us who end up having to pay.
I agree with what you're saying to some extent, you really need to watch yourself - but who really is buying night vision goggles (which for all we know, Afia jee just swiped her husband's credit card for)?? As for being on the listservs and participating in Islamic societies and charities in which someone crazy might sign up on the listserv, there is very little one can do to prevent that. But the minute you realize someone is crazy, you can cancel that person's subscription. This should be done, but I know many organizations just let people spew hatred on their listservs and don't do anything about it, because God forbid you stand up to someone. The other thing I would do, is if you're really paranoid about someone you know in your group, and you have reason to believe they're involved in weird things, then contact the FBI and let them know you're suspicious and why. You never know, you might prevent lives lost.
oh yes, since bawa mush handed her, she has to be a crazy loony bin who doesnt deserve trial and should be tortured and all, doesnt matter. Infact, lets not even call her a pakistani citizen shall we?
You misread my post. I'm saying, that its possible to be a doctor and go down such a road. Not that its ok to torture people under investigation or that Afia was definitely involved. I have a suspicion she probably was, based on news coming out on her. At least I am not letting the fact that she is a woman or a doctor cloud any ideas that she possibly could be guilty. Just like you're hoping maybe she is innocent, you have to be fair and at least give some leeway to the thought that she is a suspect for some reason and needs to be investigated. If you let every female or doctor off the hook, you could miss some serious criminal activity.