According to attorney Clive Stafford Smith, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui continues to endure persistent sexual harassment at a prison facility in Fort Worth, Texas, with a recent incident involving a security guard reportedly raping her as a form of punishment.
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist, faced charges of attempted murder and assault in a New York federal district court in September 2008, stemming from an incident during an interview with US authorities in Ghazni, Afghanistan. Despite denying the charges, she was convicted in early 2010 and sentenced to 86 years in prison, where she has remained incarcerated in the US.
Smith revealed that during his recent visit with Dr. Aafia, they communicated through a malfunctioning phone, necessitating shouting to converse. He also mentioned an incident where Dr. Aafia’s sister, Dr. Fowzia, visited her and found Aafia in tears. However, the prison authorities inadvertently left Dr. Fowzia locked in a room for an extended period after taking Dr. Aafia away.
Regarding the case, Smith expressed optimism about Dr. Aafia’s potential release, stating that he will travel to Washington to meet with undisclosed officials who will brief the White House on the matter. While declining to reveal the officials’ names, Smith indicated progress in the case, affirming they are moving in the right direction.
