Shamraz Khan

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/wo...detain.html?hp


Pakistani Suspected of Qaeda Ties Is Held

By ERIC SCHMITT
Published: August 5, 2008

WASHINGTON — An American-trained Pakistani neuroscientist with ties to operatives of Al Qaeda has been charged with trying to kill American soldiers and F.B.I. agents in a police station in Afghanistan last month, the Justice Department said Monday night.


The scientist, Aafia Siddiqui, who studied at Brandeis University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was transferred to New York on Monday, and is to be arraigned Tuesday in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, the department said in a statement.

Ms. Siddiqui, 36, disappeared with her three children while visiting her parents’ home in Karachi, Pakistan, in March 2003, leading human rights groups and her family to believe she had been secretly detained. But in interviews Monday and in a criminal complaint made public later Monday, American officials said they had no knowledge of Ms. Siddiqui’s location for the past five years until July 17, when Ms. Siddiqui and a teenage boy were detained in Ghazni, Afghanistan, after local authorities became suspicious of their loitering outside the provincial governor’s compound.

When they searched Ms. Siddiqui’s handbag, the Afghan police found documents describing the creation of explosives as well as excerpts from the “Anarchist’s Arsenal.” She also carried sealed bottles and glass jars filled with liquids and gels.

The day after she was detained, an American team, including two F.B.I. agents, two American soldiers and interpreters, went to the police station to talk to her. The F.B.I. has wanted her for questioning since May 2004, a Justice Department spokesman said.

The complaint gave the following account of what happened next. Americans entered a room in the police station, unaware that Ms. Siddiqui was being held there, unsecured, behind a curtain. One of the soldiers, a warrant officer, sat down and placed his M-4 rifle on the floor next to the curtain.

Shortly after the meeting began, the other soldier, a captain, heard a woman yelling from the curtain. He turned to see Ms. Siddiqui pointing the warrant officer’s rifle at him.

The interpreter sitting closest to Ms. Siddiqui lunged at her and pushed the rifle away as she pulled the trigger and shouted, “God is Great.” She fired at least two shots, but no one was hit. The warrant officer returned fire with his 9mm pistol, hitting Ms. Siddiqui at least once in the torso.

Ms. Siddiqui struggled when officers tried to subdue her, shouting in English that she wanted to kill Americans. After she was subdued, the complaint said, she “temporarily lost consciousness.”

Ms. Siddiqui was charged Monday with one count of trying to kill American officers and employees and one count of assaulting them, the Justice Department said. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each count.

The wild scene in the police station is the latest chapter in one of the strangest episodes in the American campaign against terrorism.

Human rights groups and a lawyer for Ms. Siddiqui, Elaine Whitfield Sharp, said they believed that Ms. Siddiqui had been secretly detained since 2003, much of the time at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.

“We believe Aafia has been in custody ever since she disappeared,” Ms. Sharp said in an interview on Monday before the complaint was made public, “and we’re not willing to believe that the discovery of Aafia in Afghanistan is coincidence.”

But American military and intelligence officials said Ms. Siddiqui was in Pakistan until she was detained by Afghan authorities.

“She was not in U.S. custody,” said a senior American intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the pending legal action.

United States intelligence agencies have said that Ms. Siddiqui has links to at least 2 of the 14 men suspected of being high-level members of Al Qaeda who were moved to Guantánamo in September 2006.

A government statement said that Ms. Siddiqui helped Majid Khan, a former Baltimore resident and terrorism suspect held in Guantánamo, get documents to re-enter the United States. The statement said Mr. Khan was directed by Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the chief organizer of the Sept. 11 attacks, to conduct research on poisoning reservoirs and blowing up gas stations in the United States. The statement also said he had delivered money for terrorist attacks to another operative and discussed a plan to smuggle explosives.

The government said that Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali, known as Ammar al-Baluchi, a nephew of Mr. Mohammed’s, ordered Ms. Siddiqui to help get Mr. Khan’s paperwork. The statement said Mr. Baluchi and Ms. Siddiqui married shortly before his capture.

Mark Mazzetti and Eric Lichtblau contributed reporting from Washington, and William K. Rashbaum
from New York.

Faisal

^ At least they admit they have her. This was on the front page of CNN.com this evening. First they kept her for 5 years (God knows what happened to her young sons). After Yvonne Ridley news conference and the uproar, they finally admit they have her, but have also come up with this unbelievable story that she took a rifle from the (well trained) FBI field officers and then fired two shots at them, while in custody. Good God! The least they could have done was to come up with a more plausible story. If what Yvonne had said is true, poor lady has probably already lost her mental balance with all the torture she was subjected to. Shame on all those who let it happen, without any due process.

Shamraz Khan

^^^ they must have had something on her to hold her for this long. I think we should find out as more and more info comes out & especially now that she will go on trial...

vroom

this is barbaric

and theres cover up in full swing



i urge the new government to get her back - at all costs

Faisal

^ May be. May be not. US is not exactly known for admitting mistakes. Majority of folks they are holding in Gitmo have pretty much nothing serious against them (except charges that they were fighting US forces in Afghanistan). Once someone is caught, they get into the system; and this system has virtually no way of completely exonerating anyone. Result, ppl are kept in detention way after every possible investigator has determined they have nothing of value, but no one is willing to take the risk of being the one to release them.

Makes you wonder, what kinda asinine US investigator released Baitullah Meshud from Gitmo. Dude got out, and came straight back into Pakistan and has made our lives a misery ever since. Seriously. Govt of Pakistan should file a lawsuit against US government for releasing him.

Iconoclast

I agree with yoy Faisal, this is all lies, its known for fact that she was picked up in Pakistan by agencies and Faisal Saleh Hayat acknowledged it.

Its teh courage of one woman Yvone Ridley that her plight has come to be known to the world.

And shame for all of Pakistani authorities for being accompalice to all this.

NaMaan

Extremely heart wrenching story. May Allah help her. Ameen.

uzma226

latest about dr aafia is that she has been shifted to newyork for producing her in court.

yazdi

I doubt it...every subsequent Pakistani government instead of looking after the interest of Pakistani people is more concerned with pleasing Americans at any cost....and even it is not in American interest if the war on terror is being fought from such a low moral ground..

This kind of unbelievable cover ups....and no regard to human sufferings....and kidnappings of young children....with no report of their whereabouts or fate....Mush/Bush should be held responsible for these illegal brutalities and should be tried for war crimes....

As long as people in west will continue to justify these barbaric actions as war against terror....I am afraid the world will be plunged in to a deeper problem....the only way to eliminate the extremsit jihadi mentality is to fight it through legal means from a moral high ground...

As far as our country is concerned we have a history of opportunist like Musharraf who are ready to sell their soul for petty personal gains....This is the most besharam dictator ever existed in the world....even Hitler had some distorted patriotism....but this man is the worse example of somebody who calls himself a human being...it is absolutely essential for our nation to get rid of this guy....

Ambassador1

The above sounds exactly like what I heard from someone who was made to live in some UAE jail without a crime. Except for she was referring to UAE system of jails instead of US's. So it seems like every where it is the same except for US being unfair only to muslims (cz of their hate for them). Whereas in UAE jails, they hate everyone but if you can speak arabic, you do manage to get some attanetion.

Every new Pak govt. gets busy enjoying the few moments of good life while they can until it's taken away from them again. That's why they come into power. Who cares about Pakistan? Those who have no power. They can give nothing but only their lives if to help save Pakistan.

ehtasab

Pakistan demands access to al Qaeda suspect in U.S. | Reuters

Pakistan demands access to al Qaeda suspect in U.S.

By Aftab Borka

KARACHI, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Pakistan has demanded consular access to a Pakistani woman with suspected links to al Qaeda who is due to be arraigned in New York on Tuesday on charges of attempting to murder U.S. troops and FBI agents in Afghanistan.

The New York Times newspaper said Aafia Siddiqui, a U.S.-trained neuroscientist, has links to at least two of 14 suspected high-level al Qaeda members held at Guantanamo Bay.

The story of her arrest is one of the strangest to emerge since the Sept. 11, 2001 al Qaeda attacks on the United States.

Siddiqui was brought to the United States on Monday and is due to be formally accused before a New York court of trying to kill U.S. soldiers and FBI agents at an Afghan police station last month, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Pakistan's ambassador to Washington made the request for consular access on Monday, Pakistan's state-run news agency said.

Afghan police arrested Siddiqui after becoming suspicious of her behaviour outside the provincial governor's compound in the city of Ghazni on July 17, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Police found documents describing bomb-making and excerpts from the book, Anarchist's Arsenal, as well as papers describing U.S. landmarks and substances sealed in bottles and jars.

The next day, U.S. soldiers and two FBI agents arrived at the Afghan police station where Siddiqui was being held.

"The personnel entered a second floor meeting room, unaware that Siddiqui was being held there, unsecured, behind a curtain," the department said on its Web site. A U.S. warrant officer placed his rifle on the ground, next to the curtain.

"Shortly after the meeting began, the captain heard a woman yell from the curtain and, when he turned, saw Siddiqui holding the warrant officer's rifle and pointing it directly at the captain," the Justice Department statement said.

"The interpreter seated closest to Siddiqui lunged at her and pushed the rifle away as Siddiqui pulled the trigger. Siddiqui fired at least two shots but no one was hit. The warrant officer returned fire with a 9 mm service pistol and fired approximately two rounds at Siddiqui's torso, hitting her at least once."

Despite being shot, Siddiqui continued to struggle and struck and kicked the officer while shouting in English that she wanted to kill all Americans and then passed out, the statement said.

:
:
"Dr. Aafia's case is a reminder of the grave injustice done to God knows how many Pakistanis in U.S. detention facilities in Bagram in Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay and elsewhere, who have been listed as missing" an HRCP statement said. (Additional reporting by Imtiaz Shah in Karachi and Sher Ahmad in Ghazni; Writing by Jon Hemming; Editing by Paul Tait)
************************************************** ******

what lies! She was picked up by agencies and now she is about to be indicted for attempting to kill US soldiers, she is being reported to be "roaming" in Afghanistan.

This is what brains can come up to keep someone in jails as long as they want it, cook the stories, indict them!

krash

This is a really strange story!

A terrorist who has been successfully hiding for the last 5 years suddenly shows up in front of the governor's residence, carrying incrimanating papers in her handbag!

Ambassador1

Agreed... this is where media can play a role... dig the facts, present to the world and put the liars to shame.

ehtasab

and that after media reports of her missing for so long

Iconoclast

Its been reported that she is being produced in a court in newyork tomorrow, it seems after media reports some Paki officials did talk to USA.

aminas

Extremely heart breaking, her older sister was having press confrence with senator Iqbal haider this morning and I had tears in my eyes when she was telling the whole thing--How can someone sell the daughters of a country for some dollars, I hope and pray everyone who have been involved in this get the same treatment that she is been getting for last 5 years

Ambassador1

^ Yes for all the daughters from around the world. May the daughters / sisters of those behind such crimes and cruelty suffer the same and worse. Only then they'll start respecting others daughters too.

Faisal

^ Kuch khuda ka khauf karo... what kinda insane prayers are you posting. How can you possibly justify punishing the family members of a person to revenge a bad deed. This sounds exactly like the time of jahaliya, and there is specific prohibition for this in the Quran.

I mean, its clear all are upset about this, but lets not completely loose our sense of right and wrong.

ehtasab

Thank you for translating my thoughts into words

Submission To Peace

The following news contains her photograph after she was brought to USA. It is evident from her appearance that she cannot attack anyone is such a painful condition. May Allah punish the people who are responsible for bringing her to this condition. May Allah (s.w.t) bless her and make her this life and hereafter easier.

BBC NEWS | Americas | Mystery of Siddiqui disappearance

Ambassador1

Thanks for bringing that to my attention.

But what kind of prayer is one supposed to make for those who enjoy cruelty on others? Yes, I have seen such sadists in life. I know our prophet never made bad prayers even for the most cruel enemies but what kind of prayers, we, as muslims, as normal humans instructed to make (by Quran)?

Can you please also provide the reference from Quran about which you mentioned in your post?

Faisal

You can curse all you want those who committed such cruelty. Ask for punishment for those. Don't involve their family members who have no part in this whole episode.

Shamraz Khan

Well, whatever happened to her one thing is clear. Pakistani govt is equally responsible if not more for her plight. The woman was arrested from Karachi while on her way to the airport & in all probability she was arrested by our own terror agencies & handed over to the Americans along with her kids. I wonder how many millions of $$$ did the dictator & other corrupt generals got from the US for her?

Spock

^ Exactly, since this is PA, our beef mainly involves the Pakistani Govt headed by Musharraf who sold their people for some moolah. And where are the people who were arrogantly (and ignorantly) saying how no Pakistani citizens were ever shipped over.

Shamraz Khan

Ajju

The story (and pictures) of a Pakistani woman with a kid getting arrested near Afghan governor's house had come out in the news a couple of months ago, before Yvonne Riddley press conference and the following press attention on Dr. Afia.

There is also the evidence that she did come back to US and try to facilitate an AlQaeda plot by making travel arrangements and renting a P.O. Box for an Al Qaeda terrorist. She was apparently named by KSM himslef as an AlQaeda agent.

Now, it has also come out that she had actually married KSM's nephew