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Newsletter: Humiliation: "Routine" Strip Searches and Abuse at Dr. Aafia's Detention Center |
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Humiliation: "Routine" Strip Searches and Abuse at Dr. Aafia's Detention Center
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Free Dr. Aafia
LATEST NEWS & EVENTS |
Greetings!
Special Edition: Imagine Dealing with Solitary Confinement, Strip Searches with every visitor (including legal counsel) and being confined in a facility with a record of prisoner abuse during Ramadan!
This is the family of Dr. Aafia's official source for news, updates, action alerts and events related to Dr. Aafia Siddiqui's plight and court case.
Please FORWARD this email with your friends and family and encourage them to subscribe. We protect your privacy and your time, so we will not share our email list with anyone nor will we spam you.
May God bless you!
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IMAGINE if to meet your legal counsel, to take a phone call or go to a court hearing, you were required to undergo a strip search...
There has been some discussion recently about Dr. Aafia's hesitation in meeting with lawyers and others. Many do not know that this is due to the horrific strip searches she is made to endure.
Unfortunately, there is a lack of understanding about how severe the strip searches can be.
Fact is that all "strip searches" are not the same.
What most people think of a strip search involves visual check by a law enforcement officer of the same gender as the person being searched.
NOT NECESSARILY TRUE.
Dr Aafia has to go through invasive full cavity searches conducted in a forced restrained situation and sometimes videotaped. This happens even if she has to make a phone call to a lawyer!
To get a sense of what one of these searches can be like, please see the following videos (linked below) of an ACTUAL STRIP SEARCH released by a brave woman who wanted the world to see the FACTS as compared to a training video on how to "properly" conduct a "visual search."
The worst parts of the abused women were deleted as the video was aired on public TV. (Note this is a search of a regular, American citizen accused of a minor crime.)
We pray that Dr. Aafia, a Muslim woman accused of trying to harm US servicemen is not treated as such and we pray that she is RESPECTED and the "routine" strip searches will soon end.
PLEASE WATCH and you will understand much...
(One British viewer referred to the searches as nothing short of RAPE)
Imagine the toll this would take on a person trying to defend themselves in the very same legal system that subjects her to these routine searches.
Disclaimer: MDC does not release videotapes of its searches so the publicly posted videos are the most available references. Contrast actual forced search with the official guidelines which can be humiliating enough. WARNING GRAPHIC VIDEO:
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Conditions of Confinement:
Richard Berman, the judge in Dr. Aafia's case makes repeated assertions about the "presumption of innocence." Each time he does this, one has to question just how this concept is actually applied to Dr. Aafia's case.
Dr. Aafia's Prison Cell:
This is what a cell in the SHU looks like and where Dr Aafia spends all her days. You decide how this is for a woman exposed with zero privacy even to go to the toilet. She is "observed" every 20 minutes by a guard (male or female).
A few simple questions, if she is presumed innocent:
- Why is she denied a bail hearing?
- Why is she treated worse than CONVICTED felons?
- Why is she is held in maximum security, solitary confinement at least 23 hours a day? Especially when she has not been formally charged with anything requiring such treatment?
- Why she cannot access advice from anyone she trusts? Visitation from family is restricted and she is allowed only ONE 15 minute call every 30 days. (the only exception being an order from the judge)
- Why she cannot meet or talk with advisors or lawyers without being forcibly strip searched EVERY TIME?
- Why is she is forced to choose between her right to privacy (avoiding invasive strip searches by strangers) and her right to full representation (ability to meet with trusted advisors, lawyers, etc. in a secure environment).
Her treatment clearly reflects the assertion of a "presumption of Guilt."
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DOCUMENTED ABUSE at MDC Brooklyn where Dr. Aafia is held...
The stories sound familiar: Muslim prisoners beaten and sexually humiliated by American guards. But it happened in Brooklyn, not Baghdad.... Salon.com: The prisoner-abuse scandal at home "... A former MDC lieutenant, who was one of the lieutenants in charge of escorting the detainees to and from the ADMAX SHU (hereinafter "Lieutenant 1"), corroborated detainees' allegations of slamming. He stated that before the MDC began videotaping all detainee movements, which was on or about October 5, 2001, almost all of the detainees were slammed against walls, particularly in the sally port. He also stated he witnessed staff members "bounce" detainees against the wall. Lieutenant 1 explained that "slamming" a detainee against the wall was when officers shoved the detainee into the wall and held him there, and "bouncing" a detainee off the wall was when officers shoved the detainee into the wall and then quickly pulled him back. Lieutenant 1 said "pressing" a detainee against the wall was when officers used physical force to keep a detainee's chest against the wall. ..."
Supplemental Report on September 11 Detainees' Allegations of Abuse at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York: Full report here.
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Stand for humane treatment and stand against injustice! Standing for Dr. Aafia brings light to all missing persons, victims of extraordinary rendition and people held in secret prisons. It sends the message that all human beings, especially - our sisters - Muslim women have rights!
God Bless,
The Free Dr. Aafia Campaign |
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Newsletter: Dr. Aafia Forcibly Brought to Court - Du'ah for Missing Persons |
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Dr. Aafia Forcibly Brought to Court - Du'ah for Missing Persons
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TAKE ACTION:
Donate to Dr. Aafia's support fund!
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The Government of Pakistan is now providing a legal defense for Dr. Aafia. However there is still a great need for financial support. Her case requires advocacy work, educational materials and outreach as well as investigations into the whereabouts of Dr. Aafia's missing children. Take action here! |
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Free Dr. Aafia
LATEST NEWS & EVENTS |
Greetings!
Special Edition: Imagine Dealing with Solitary Confinement, Strip Searches with every visitor (including legal counsel) and being confined in a facility with a record of prisoner abuse during Ramadan!
This is the family of Dr. Aafia's official source for news, updates, action alerts and events related to Dr. Aafia Siddiqui's plight and court case.
Please FORWARD this email with your friends and family and encourage them to subscribe. We protect your privacy and your time, so we will not share our email list with anyone nor will we spam you.
May God bless you!
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Support Dr. Aafia during her court hearing  tomorrow!
WHAT: Court hearing to determine whether the new legal team will be admitted into the case.
WHEN: Sept. 2, 2009 at 10:00AM EST
WHERE: Federal Court, 500 Pearl St. New York (Manhattan).
Dr. Aafia may be forcibly brought to court.
We encourage all supporters who can to please attend!
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Du'ah (Prayers) Requested, Fast in Solidarity with Missing Persons
To all friends and supporters:
We would like to humbly request that those who are observing Ramadan, to please offer a prayer for the safe return of Dr. Aafia, her missing children and all the other missing persons. Please ask God Almighty that they all may be happily reunited with their loved ones.
For those who do not observe Ramadan, we humbly request that they consider a private prayer or a single day of private fasting in solidarity with Dr. Aafia and all the innocent detained and missing persons around the world who spend these days away from their loved ones.
Please also say a prayer for the families who agonize daily about the fate of those they lost. |
Free Medical Clinic in Lyari District:
WHAT: Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui will hold a free medical clinic.
WHERE: The Lyari district of Karachi, Pakistan.
WHEN: Sept. 9, 2009
WHO: This event is sponsored by the International Campaign for Dr. Aafia.
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Stand for humane treatment and stand against injustice! Standing for Dr. Aafia brings light to all missing persons, victims of extraordinary rendition and people held in secret prisons. It sends the message that all human beings, especially - our sisters - Muslim women have rights!
God Bless,
The Free Dr. Aafia Campaign |
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Newsletter: Support Dr. Aafia on Defense of Pakistan Day! |
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Defense of Pakistan Day float, free medical clinic - new Aafia song released
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TAKE ACTION:
Donate to Dr. Aafia's support fund!
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The Government of Pakistan is now providing a legal defense for Dr. Aafia. However there is still a great need for financial support. Her case requires advocacy work, educational materials and outreach as well as investigations into the whereabouts of Dr. Aafia's missing children. Take action here! |
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Free Dr. Aafia
LATEST NEWS & EVENTS |
Greetings!
This is the family of Dr. Aafia's official source for news, updates, action alerts and events related to Dr. Aafia Siddiqui's plight and court case.
Please FORWARD this email with your friends and family and encourage them to subscribe. We protect your privacy and your time, so we will not share our email list with anyone nor will we spam you.
May God bless you!
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New tarana - patriotic song - released (Urdu):
The following song is one of many that are being recorded in honor of Dr. Aafia. This one is a plea for Du'a for Dr. Aafia and has been released in Pakistan on the occasion of Ramadan.
Please click here to listen. It is somber and thought provoking but also pleasant and uplifting. Urdu language lyrics are provided on the family's website here. |
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Support Dr. Aafia on Defense of Pakistan Day!
WHAT: The Free Aafia Campaign Participates in Defense of Pakistan Day Events!
WHEN: September 6, 2009
WHO: The Human Rights Network in Pakistan and The Free Aafia Campaign
The FreeAafia campaign along with the Human Rights Network in Pakistan are planning a protest on the sixth of September, The Defense of Pakistan Day.
The Human Rights Network is sponsoring a float that will feature new tarana's (patriotic songs) that have been specially recorded for the event.
In addition there will be a distribution "Ration" (raw food materials including: flour, lentils, rice, sugar, tea, milk, rooh afza, and etc.) to widows and orphans on behalf of The Free Aafia campaign. There will also be special prayers and group dua'a for Aafia's release.
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Free Medical clinic in Lyari district:
WHAT: Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui will hold a free medical clinic.
WHERE: The Lyari district of Karachi, Pakistan.
WHEN: Sept. 9, 2009
WHO: This event is sponsored by the International Campaign for Dr. Aafia.
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Stand for humane treatment and stand against injustice! Standing for Dr. Aafia brings light to all missing persons, victims of extraordinary rendition and people held in secret prisons. It sends the message that all human beings, especially - our sisters - Muslim women have rights!
God Bless,
The Free Dr. Aafia Campaign |
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Newsletter: Dr. Aafia's recent court hearing - reports and statement from legal team |
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Dr. Aafia's recent court hearing - reports and statement from legal team
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>
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TAKE ACTION:
Donate to Dr. Aafia's support fund!
|
 |
The Government of Pakistan is now providing a legal defense for Dr. Aafia. However there is still a great need for financial support. Her case requires advocacy work, educational materials and outreach as well as investigations into the whereabouts of Dr. Aafia's missing children. Take action here! |
|
|
Free Dr. Aafia
LATEST NEWS & EVENTS |
Greetings!
This is the family of Dr. Aafia's official source for news, updates, action alerts and events related to Dr. Aafia Siddiqui's plight and court case.
Please FORWARD this email with your friends and family and encourage them to subscribe. We protect your privacy and your time, so we will not share our email list with anyone nor will we spam you.
May God bless you!
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Sept. 02, 2009 - Court Hearing for Dr. Aafia
SUMMARY:
On Sept. 2, 2009 a hearing was held in New York to determine whether the lawyers retrained by the Pakistani government can represent Dr. Aafia.
Richard Berman, the presiding judge ruled that the new legal team can be admitted into the case. However, he also required that the U.S. government appointed attorneys remain in the case as the lead counsel.
Dr. Aafia rejected this development both verbally and in writing. Judge Berman ignored Dr. Aafia's wishes, even though he had recently ruled her competent to stand trial on July 06, 2009.
COMMENT: While many are viewing the outcome of the hearing as a victory, caution should be exercised in premature celebration.
Consider the following:
- By admitting the Pakistani retained legal team into the case under court appointed lawyers, Judge Berman has seriously undermined both the independence and confidentiality of an otherwise eminent team.
- It should be noted that the court appointed lawyers do not bring any special legal expertise or knowledge to the case, further they have not inspired Dr. Aafia's trust. In fact their very presence seems to have undermined Dr. Aafia's cooperation with or confidence in the new lawyers.
- It is curious why Judge Berman would continue to spend U.S. tax dollars for the defense of a person who has a funded legal team?
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U.S. judge approves new defence lawyers over Aafia's objections
NEW YORK - Over her vociferous objections, a U.S. judge on Wednesday cleared the way for a new team of lawyers to defend Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist, who is accused of trying to kill U.S. officials in Afghanistan last year.
The lawyers, hired by the govt of Pakistan, are Linda Moreno, Elaine Sharp and Charles Swift. Another lawyer Chad Hadgar will assist the team as will be the court-appointed defense attorney Dawn Cardi. Judge Richard Berman described the new team of lawyers as a 'strong defense panel' while allowing them to represent Ms. Siddiqui when her trial begins on Nov. 2, 2009.
Her trial was originally scheduled to begin on Oct 19, 2009.
Ahead of Ms. Siddiqui's trial, a pre-trial conference will take place on Sept. 17, 2009 involving Judge Berman, the prosecutors and defense lawyers at which they will go over the procedures to be followed.
Siddiqui, who was in blue prison clothes with a white shawl covering her head and part of her face, spoke out repeatedly during the proceedings objecting to the appointment of her new lawyers on the ground that she has no confidence in the system of justice.
"I am out of this, I never gave any permission to anybody," she declared, waving a yellow pad paper inscribed with the word "no." She said that she wanted to make peace and that would help everybody, without explaining how.
Judge Berman said she would be making a "big mistake" if she does not have a defense lawyer. He assured her that she is presumed innocent until proven otherwise by the court.
Aafia vigorously protested against her aggressive strip searches before coming to the court, saying the humiliating treatment adversely affects her state of mind. Her defense lawyers also reinforced her argument against strip searches, saying it violates her religious and personal sensibilities.
Judge Berman agreed with Aafia's objections and directed that the matter should be taken up with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Why was a strip search necessary when she is all alone in a high security prison and her cell monitored, he asked. He also asked, if she could meet people in a Texas medical facility, why couldn't it be done here?
The judge directed that the matter be resolved as soon as possible. At one point, Siddiqui said she would like to meet FBI people, to which the judge said that won't be good for you.
Afterwards, Swift (one of Dr. Aafia's new lawyers) pledged to put up a strong defense for Ms. Sidduiqui. He said he full understood that she does not have confidence in the justice system. Swift stated, "Our job will be to defend her within this system."
Story adopted from The Nation, originally published here.
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Eyewitness account of the Sept 02, 2009 hearing
This report is from one of the ladies who attended, identified as "A Muslimah."
"They brought sister Aafia out in front of the judge, subhan'Allah she was sinking in her seat which looked like it was due to malnutrition. Physically, she looked very weak and small. Even with this condition, she veiled herself with a white fabric and also made a niqab out of it. She turned around to look and wave at all of us, she was especially happy to see her brother.
The Pakistani government appointed 3 more attorneys along with her usual attorneys.
The whole time judge Berman was speaking, she kept shaking her head 'no'. She wrote on a paper, "No". She spoke out and said I don't want the appointed council, how can you allow me to appoint when you keep me locked up like this all the time. Judge Berman kept telling her to be quiet and speak through her attorneys.
Our sister, Aafia kept saying "I refuse to participate in this. I want to talk directly with the prosecutor and agents so that I can resolve this, make peace. The torture you put me through, I am half senile, how can I choose a lawyer when I am always in my cell.
"Her attorneys spoke out about the humiliating strip searches she has to endure, each time she comes to court. The judge said this should be made flexible since he did not see the necessity because she is under 24/7 surveillance, what weapon could she possibly hide?
The next hearing is scheduled to September 23, at 1:30 PM but is subject to change due to the instability of the government.
Before they took her away, she turned around to us and said "Thank you for coming. Pray for me because they are torturing me and I cannot handle it. Pray for me that I make peace with myself." We told her to stay strong and that we love her fillah.
Even the non-muslim women kept saying, "Free Aafia, stay strong!"
Then they took our sister away.
"Honestly...how much ghayrah do we really feel for this sister...
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First statement from Dr. Aafia's new legal team's
PRESS STATEMENT
by Linda Moreno, Elaine Sharp and Charles Swift
"... We are confident that the evidence in this case will show that Dr. Siddiqui harmed no one. To the contrary, this 90 lb. mother of three was shot and wounded herself, the alleged circumstances of which are not supported by the evidence."
For full statement click here. |
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Stand for humane treatment and stand against injustice! Standing for Dr. Aafia brings light to all missing persons, victims of extraordinary rendition and people held in secret prisons. It sends the message that all human beings, especially - our sisters - Muslim women have rights!
God Bless,
The Free Dr. Aafia Campaign |
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