KARACHI: A film on Dr Aafia Siddiqui was launched in the new boardroom of Karachi Press Club (KPC) here Saturday. The documentary titled ‘#Aafia_ Siddiqui “The true story, made by Friends of Aafia was formally launched by Friends of Aafia.
Noted neurophysician of the country Dr Fowzia Siddiqui and Hena Zuberi, Editor in Chief of Muslim matters. org and Director Justice for All, and others shed light on various aspects of the life of Dr Aafia Siddiqui from her birth, to education to marriage to her kidnapping in Karachi and present status in a notorious US jail.
Dr Fowzia Siddiqui said that her sister Aafia was a gifted child, a bright scholar and a loving and caring person. She got a Phd degree in neurosciences from Brandies University of the US and besides she was also a Hafiza. She said revolutionizing the education system in Pakistan was the dream of Aafia Siddiqui.
Clive Stafford Smith, human rights lawyer, currently representing Dr Aafia, said a lot of people became the victims of the ‘war on terror’. He said a vast majority of the American people have no idea who Dr Aafia is and they also don’t care. He said that Aafia has suffered a lot in the US prison and braved all sorts of torture.
El-Hajj Mauri Saalakhan founding president and director of operations at The Aafia Foundation, Inc said after 9/11 the US targeted the human rights and liberties of people, especially the Muslims. He said Dr Aafia Siddiqui also fell prey to this victimization and in 2003 she was kidnapped along with her children in Karachi and disappeared on mere suspicion that her husband had ordered online to buy night vision goggles.
Umme Muhammad, President Musawemem Campaign, said for the last fifteen years she has been linked to the case of Dr Aafia Siddiqui but disappointingly nothing more could be achieved. She said Aafia was targeted only because she was a Muslim lady. Hena Zuberi recalled that at the time of her study Aafia would wear a hijab. She said Aafia was a wonderful and kindhearted person.
Yvonne Ridley was amongst the first investigative journalists who told the world that Dr Aafia was jailed in Afghanistan. Talking about the grey lady prisoner of Bigram jail, she said at that time the US administration would dehumanize the prisoners and the same was done to Aafia. She was wounded by the US soldiers and in injured condition she was brought to the US and tried by a court in a highly biased manner and jailed for 86 years, which means the rest of her life.
Zeina El-Debis, leader of Friends of Aafia Siddiqui and founder of Shade of Mercy Foundation talked about their efforts to get Dr Aafia Siddiqui repatriated on humanitarian grounds. She said this documentary is also a part of these efforts.
Dr Aafia has been languishing in the most notorious FMC Carswell prison and she has become an international icon of human rights. She is termed as the most wronged woman and still awaits justice.
