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Mother's Day Letter to Mrs. Obama |
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To,
The First Lady of USA,
Mrs. Michelle Obama.
The White House,
Washington, DC.
Congratulations on becoming the first lady of the United States of America, and best wishes for a very Happy Mother’s day 2010.
America is a land where freedom, equality, and justice can prevail over both momentary folly and long term prejudices. It is a land that promises to fill the heart with love and compassion, that promises both economic and intellectual opportunities, that promises any single individual the right to stand up and say "I can make things better."
Those promises brought you to the White House.
Mrs. Obama, I too am a mother with two beautiful and talented daughters. I too believe in those values that America stands for, but my dreams were shattered by a brutal reality.
I am the mother of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, who was detained and incarcerated, along with her three young children, Ahmad age 5 years, Maryam age 3 years, Suleman age 6 months only! in 2003 by agents representing the American government in the name of the war on terror.
In the summer of 2008 a group of human rights investigators located her in Bagram and began legal proceedings to force her release.
In the face of this, almost as if by magic, she appeared in Ghazni Afghanistan only to be shot by one of the American contractors sent to retrieve her when the local police objected to the handover.
She is now charged and convicted of a crime that was never committed. A charge based on hate and fear, not fact.
Her trial in New York City is a mockery of justice reflecting the legacy of the Salem witch trials. No mention, of Aafia's captivity in secret prisons, missing children, between the years 2003 and 2008 were allowed at her trial. Any evidence of this would undermine the integrity of the indictment and result in criminal charges against any number of government officials. And now a new cover-up is underway, to mask the five years of dark captivity. A new script of deception is being set up to aid in maximum sentencing by Judge Berman.
Today, as you stand with your two daughters celebrating Mother’s day, have you a second to reflect and see what could have happened? Aafia could have been anybody’s daughter.
What if one of your daughters was ambitious enough to want to make a change, and all her life studied to achieve one goal, to improve the education system by making learning more efficient. By helping handicapped children live a meaningful life. What if she decided to help those who have been wronged, what if she volunteered with autistic kids, orphans and old ladies?
What if she believed that faith is essential and mutually inclusive of all sciences and logic? What if she decided to embrace her grandfather’s faith because she thought it was logical and true? Would you be proud of her or would you ask your agencies to lock her up for the rest of her life because she is a Muslim?
Madam First Lady, I ask you to reflect and think where your country’s war on terror has taken you. How many innocent lives will it destroy?
These actions will not make America a safer place. Muslims do not hate America, but are appalled when America abandons its principles. America's actions are creating enemies from those who would normally be its strongest allies. Cases like the mistreatment of my daughter only encourage that intolerant and violent minority of extremists who are just as happy killing Muslims as anyone else. Just recently, in Pakistan these people drove a truck bomb into a volleyball match killing nearly one hundred people.
Your forefathers were bitterly wronged, which must give you a unique perspective on justice. I ask, are you ready to say enough is enough, release this innocent soul?
Too often claims of national security are misused to protect individuals in government from being embarrassed or even punished for their mistakes. Is it fair to make Aafia pay for someone else's errors?
Madam, I request you to think as a mother, to look into my daughter’s case personally and see for your self how she has been tortured and raped and video taped in New York. See for yourself how the judge has twisted justice. I ask you to meet with me, meet my family, make your own judgments, are we a terrorist family? Why has Aafia been tried for a crime she did not commit and is being sentenced as a terrorist which she is not?
My daughter stands for love, peace and justice; she is a victim of terror not a terrorist.
May God give you the courage and wisdom to do the right thing, and save yourselves and your country from setting the cornerstones of injustice, discrimination and state terrorism. Thank you.
Mrs. Ismat Siddiqui
May 09, 2010
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As Maryam comes home, Aafia is missed... |
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AAFIA, YOU ARE MISSED
by Dr Fauzia Siddiqui
Aafia My dear, Today Aafia you are missed
While the Nation celebrates, Aafia you are missed
As friends and family rejoice,
Your little daughter, I embrace
Aafia, You are missed
I hug and kiss little Maryam,
My hands and lips are numb
Aafia, You are missed
A scared, fearful little girl cries
Holding on to cousin’s friendship ties
Aafia, you are missed
Longing for mommy’s reassurance
Her woeful eyes full of innocence
Aafia, you are missed
Longing for comfort and security allied
Alas, only mother’s love can provide
Aafia, you are missed
Mubarak, Mabruk, congratulations
Soars in the air, my heart weighs tons
Aafia, you are missed
I cannot stop my tears rolling
I cannot hold my heart sinking
What can I do what can I say
I thank God Almighty for this day
Aafia, you are missed
Lord, I am both weak and sinful
You are always Kind and Merciful
As brother sister re-unite
Lord end my sisters plight
Aafia, you are missed
Missed more than ever,
Aafia, you are missed
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Girl abandoned at Dr. Aafia's house may not be her daughter... |
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Initial tests conducted by officials reveal that a teenage girl reported to be Dr Aafia's daughter may not be Maryum.
It was learned after official tests were conducted by the Pakistani authorities that the teenage girl "dropped" off at the house of Dr Aafia's family in Karachi may not be her daughter. However, further tests will be done to determine the girl's identity.
Whoever this inncoent girl turns out to be, we are dismayed and heartbroken that someone would abuse an innocent child in this manner.
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Poem Dedicated to Dr Aafia on Women's Day, March 8, 2010 |
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Aafia Siddiqui: daughter of humanity
The world has many heroes
Many great sisters, super fellows
But Dear Aafia, very unique
Strong in faith, weak physique
Her message of peace and love
Soars the skies as a white dove
Aafia Siddiqui, daughter of humanity
Guiding the world towards unity
Wars peoples have fought
For centuries people distraught
Each battle for various freedoms
New borders and new kingdoms
Countries dividing, boundaries increasing
Flags multiplying, morals decreasing
Aafia Siddiqui, daughter of humanity
Guiding the world towards unity
In this era of chaotic derail
Sorrows and injustice prevail
A weak and feeble woman
A barely live, fragile skeleton
Aafia a hero, standing for a cause
Peace! Not an enemy, never was
Aafia Siddiqui, daughter of humanity
Guiding the world towards unity
Wake up call for a sleeping nation
Reviving honor in a shameless situation
Her plight, her strength and intensity
Courage, passion and bravery
Her battle has no boundaries
Injustice her target, vanquish atrocities
Aafia Siddiqui, daughter of humanity
Guiding the world towards unity
Every victim coerced she symbolize
Humanity her army ready to rise
Her hurt, Her pain, and humiliations
Unites the hearts of several nations
One slogan one cry, STOP, STOP
Torture and rendition, STOP, STOP
Aafia Siddiqui, daughter of humanity
Guiding the world towards unity
When in court she will appear, head up high
Adorned with brutal bruises, all will sigh
Her opponent, king of all atrocity
Compelled to bow down to Her piety
Full of discord, hostility, animosity
Conceited vanity, will submit to her humility
Aafia Siddiqui, daughter of humanity
Guiding the world towards unity
Dear Lord, her trial a mockery of justice
Jury verdict of hate and prejudice
No crime proved, or evidence shown
America, Isreal’s nasty cover blown
Dear Lord, Now we see her destiny
Saintly hero! Great martyr of this century
Aafia Siddiqui, daughter of humanity
Guiding the world towards unity
Pride of Islam, love of Pakistan
Biggest threat to evils terror plan
Her freedom, imprisons terror, misery
Ends war to stability, Raises economy
Feeding on war, Her captors, go hungry
her release, enlightens their criminality
Aafia Siddiqui, daughter of humanity
Guiding the world towards unity
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Message from Dr Aafia's family on the ocassion of her birthday |
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Dr Aafia's birthday - March 2nd - to be celebrated, not mourned.
2nd March 2010 marks Aafia’s 7th birthday and approximately 2,540 days in captivity. Many supporters decided to mark the occasion by celebrating the day. True, it is odd that we will celebrate without Aafia being amongst us. In fact, Aafia was not much for celebrating birthdays. But we will celebrate to remind us that Aafia is not forgotten and remains very much among us, in spirit, even if she is physically locked up in a coffin sized US prison cell.
This day marks the first birthday when the US claims to have taken the rest of Aafia’s life (even though 7 years have already been taken away from her and her children). But we will use this to mark the first birthday of Aafia, the daughter of the Pakistani Nation. We have come to realize that Aafia is no longer just our sister and daughter or just another political prisoner from the “War of Terror”; she is the living symbol of all that has become of her nation and its honor. So, on March 2nd, we remember on behalf of the entire nation.
We use this as the beginning of a calendar and a commitment to seek not only Aafia’s restoration to her family, but also the safe return of all missing persons and, most importantly, the restoration of peace and security in the nation that stood up for its daughter when others hid in fear.
While we celebrate, we will ask all supporters to let this truly be a celebration, not a venue for anger or excuse to harm any person or property. Let it be a message to those who would like to propagate the lies that Aafia is violent or her supporters are radicals, that while we are determined to defend and fight for our honor and expose the lies, we will do so in a dignified and restrained manner. We will not let the perpetrators of the “War of Terror” be our teachers. We will show, InshaAllah, that Aafia can be brought back and the Pakistani nation can unite and act with resolve - and do so in a manner that shows the best of our Islamic and Pakistani heritage. We want to show that emotions can be channeled into action and slogans into results instead of rants.
This is also the month of Rabi-ul-Awal, the month in which our blessed prophet Muhammad (SAAW) both entered and also departed from this world. And so, it is an opportunity to not only celebrate life but also reflect on what one makes of it. In the end we enter and exit alone. We enter with nothing and leave with nothing except the account of how we lived. The day to day trials and triumphs, the joys and sorrow, the wealth and poverty, the arrogance of power and the burden of oppression - these are all transient conditions that never stay the same. In the end it is only how a person reacts to these that matters and is remembered.
Our lives are testimony to this. What we learn from this is to maintain perspective. Not easy nor always successful, but essential to maintaining sanity. When this is attempted, it is surprising how the blessings of God become evident even in the worst of circumstances and humility becomes essential in each success. This is how we come to find reason to celebrate at a time when the world would have us mourn.
Yes, an American court, out of fear, condemned Aafia, but through that trial it also exposed the total lack of any evidence against Aafia and the naked cover up of all that was done to her. Yet, this very act of condemnation also raised her status in the entire Muslim world from a victim to a heroine. She went from being a name to a symbol, from a mother’s daughter to the daughter of a nation. Yet, we know labels are also transient. We remember when she was a pariah, the most dangerous woman in the world and to some she still is. But, then, as now, to us she remains a simple human being - a sister, a daughter, a mother.
So, whether people celebrate a national symbol, the rise of a heroine, the face of all missing persons or the memory of a terror victim, we hope they will also remember that underneath all that is a tortured human being named Aafia Siddiqui and it is for her living memory that we celebrate - in joy and not in sorrow.
May God Bless You
Message from Dr Aafia's family on the ocassion of her birthday
Dr Aafia's birthday - March 2nd - to be celebrated, not mourned.
2nd March 2010 marks Aafia’s 7th birthday and approximately 2,540 days in captivity. Many supporters decided to mark the occasion by celebrating the day. True, it is odd that we will celebrate without Aafia being amongst us. In fact, Aafia was not much for celebrating birthdays. But we will celebrate to remind us that Aafia is not forgotten and remains very much among us, in spirit, even if she is physically locked up in a coffin sized US prison cell.
This day marks the first birthday when the US claims to have taken the rest of Aafia’s life (even though 7 years have already been taken away from her and her children). But we will use this to mark the first birthday of Aafia, the daughter of the Pakistani Nation. We have come to realize that Aafia is no longer just our sister and daughter or just another political prisoner from the “War of Terror”; she is the living symbol of all that has become of her nation and its honor. So, on March 2nd, we remember on behalf of the entire nation.
We use this as the beginning of a calendar and a commitment to seek not only Aafia’s restoration to her family, but also the safe return of all missing persons and, most importantly, the restoration of peace and security in the nation that stood up for its daughter when others hid in fear.
While we celebrate, we will ask all supporters to let this truly be a celebration, not a venue for anger or excuse to harm any person or property. Let it be a message to those who would like to propagate the lies that Aafia is violent or her supporters are radicals, that while we are determined to defend and fight for our honor and expose the lies, we will do so in a dignified and restrained manner. We will not let the perpetrators of the “War of Terror” be our teachers. We will show, InshaAllah, that Aafia can be brought back and the Pakistani nation can unite and act with resolve - and do so in a manner that shows the best of our Islamic and Pakistani heritage. We want to show that emotions can be channeled into action and slogans into results instead of rants.
This is also the month of Rabi-ul-Awal, the month in which our blessed prophet Muhammad (SAAW) both entered and also departed from this world. And so, it is an opportunity to not only celebrate life but also reflect on what one makes of it. In the end we enter and exit alone. We enter with nothing and leave with nothing except the account of how we lived. The day to day trials and triumphs, the joys and sorrow, the wealth and poverty, the arrogance of power and the burden of oppression - these are all transient conditions that never stay the same. In the end it is only how a person reacts to these that matters and is remembered.
Our lives are testimony to this. What we learn from this is to maintain perspective. Not easy nor always successful, but essential to maintaining sanity. When this is attempted, it is surprising how the blessings of God become evident even in the worst of circumstances and humility becomes essential in each success. This is how we come to find reason to celebrate at a time when the world would have us mourn.
Yes, an American court, out of fear, condemned Aafia, but through that trial it also exposed the total lack of any evidence against Aafia and the naked cover up of all that was done to her. Yet, this very act of condemnation also raised her status in the entire Muslim world from a victim to a heroine. She went from being a name to a symbol, from a mother’s daughter to the daughter of a nation. Yet, we know labels are also transient. We remember when she was a pariah, the most dangerous woman in the world and to some she still is. But, then, as now, to us she remains a simple human being - a sister, a daughter, a mother.
So, whether people celebrate a national symbol, the rise of a heroine, the face of all missing persons or the memory of a terror victim, we hope they will also remember that underneath all that is a tortured human being named Aafia Siddiqui and it is for her living memory that we celebrate - in joy and not in sorrow.
May God Bless You
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