Pakistani neuroscientist Dr. Aafia Siddiqui has formally requested outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden to grant her a presidential pardon before the end of his tenure.
The appeal, submitted by her lawyer Clive Stafford, was accompanied by a 76,500-word dossier, which Siddiqui’s legal team asserts could help prove her innocence. Dr. Siddiqui had previously expressed hope that new evidence would eventually lead to her release, stating in a British media interview, “I have suffered from injustice and endured pain every day. It has not been easy, but Inshallah, one day I will be freed from this torment.”
Stafford echoed Dr. Siddiqui’s optimism, citing recent developments in her case that could potentially pave the way for a pardon. The timing of the request was particularly significant, as President Biden’s administration was nearing its end, with the inauguration of former President Donald Trump scheduled for January 20.
At the time of the appeal, President Biden had already granted pardons to 39 individuals, including his son.
Dr. Siddiqui, 52, has been serving an 86-year sentence since 2010, following her conviction for allegedly attempting to kill an FBI agent in Afghanistan. She was also accused of having ties to Al-Qaeda, and has been incarcerated in the U.S. since that time.
