From: <peacethrujustice@aol.com>
Date: Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 7:18 PM
Subject: [bangla-vision] A thought-provoking statement from the sister of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui
T
Addressed on the Ocassion of Pakistan Independence Day, August 14, 2010 14th August 2010 marks the 8th year of independence celebration after the abduction of Aafia and her children, and the continued captivity of Aafia and the unknown fate of Suleiman. It also marks the 9th year of torture, rendition and war-crimes committed in the name of a so called "war on Terror". Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is a Pakistani Citizen, born in Pakistan, after completing her PhD s returned to her motherland only to be rendition with her three little children... This year as I drove around the major cities of Pakistan I saw a picture of a beautiful innocent looking woman and an inset of a tortured haggard woman with the caption "Dr Aafia Siddiqui, daughter of the Nation". Banners around the country with slogans "Free Dr. Aafia Daughter of Pakistan". I realized Aafia Siddiqui has now become the symbolic daughter of this whole nation; I wondered what does that signify. Why would it be that Aafia would become that symbol? And the more I thought and researched it dawned on me that it is no accident that fate chose her to become the daughter of Pakistan. What has happened to her, it seems, is exactly what happens to her motherland. The fate of both is inescapably linked. Here are some very vivid examples: 1. For 5 years Aafia was locked away in some secret detention, betrayed by her own and manipulated by others for their own aims. During this time, Pakistan too was secretly being shackled and manipulated and betrayed by those trusted to protect it. As the daughter was treated, so was the motherland. 2. Pakistan was declared the most dangerous place in the world and its people demonized as threats. Aafia was declared the most dangerous woman in the world and demonized with fabricated proof. Again, the daughter and nation were made to share the same labels. 3. Then since 2008, we have seen open humiliation and public destruction of Aafia, and so have we seen the open and horrendous destruction of Pakistan and the terrorization of its people. As the daughter is tortured so too the nation is torn apart. 4. Just as Aafia has been betrayed by those who were supposed to defend and protect her interests, even close relations, so too has this nation been betrayed by those who are supposed to uphold its interests, even those entrusted by sworn oaths. As the daughter is betrayed, so is the nation. 5. The same people who claim to give "justice" to Aafia on their own terms are the same people who offer "aid" and "support" to Pakistan for their own aims. As the daughter is shamefully convicted, so is the nation indicted and shackled. 6. Aafia is humiliated through strip searches and denied access to family. So too now all Pakistanis are "specially searched" and access to the homeland considered suspicious. As the daughter is humiliated, so is the whole nation. 7. The injustice in the verdict against Aafia was clear, but there was silence except from the brave few. The accusations against Pakistan are just as unfair but the silence of our "friends" is deafening except for the few. Just as the daughter learns who are true [friends], so does the nation. 8. I could go on, but what I want to point out is that these things are not made up but have been witnessed by everyone. That is why intuitively the Pakistani people know that Aafia's fate is Pakistan's fate. It is not about guilt or innocence. It is the strange bond between a person and the land and people she loved. The bond of a daughter with her mother; if we fail her, we WILL fail ourselves. Aafia does not belong to Karachi or Lahore or Quetta or Peshawar. She is not of Sind or Punjab or Frontier or Baluchistan. She is and has always been a Pakistani. What happened to her and continues to happen to her is a fate shared with the whole nation. Look at what has happened to Pakistan since she was taken to America. What part of Pakistan has been spared? Those that are responsible for Aafia's misery are the same whose actions are now spreading misery across the whole nation. No wonder the whole nation recognizes this and sees in Aafia the personification of the motherland. I must add that faith too has an important role, both for the survival of Aafia and Pakistan. As we know, the religious eddicts of all major religions hold the honor of women sacred. As Aafia's honor is attacked the nation begins to disintegrate from natural calamities. It is a sad but undeniable fact It is clear that those who are against Aafia's interests cannot be for the interests of Pakistan. This sounds like a slogan, but it is becoming clearer every day. The strange link between motherland and daughter is more than just symbolic. So, do we take this and despair because there seems no way out? The answer is NO. Because it is this very link that will save both the motherland and the daughter. a. Those that seek to destroy Pakistan tried to kill Aafia. But she is still alive, and so our nation is still in one piece. b. Aafia has been tortured with the worst kind of abuse using her children. She is still standing, damaged but resilient. The nation has been battered more than any other in this war of terror. But it is still standing and resilient and we finally see hope of unity. c. Aafia's children were taken away from her. So too, this nation has lost a whole generation due to lack of education and hope. But we now have Aafia's son back and he will recover. So we now realize the value of our youth, and the next generation shall recover. d. Aafia is in a physical American prison supposedly for life. The nation is in an economic and political American made prison seemingly for life. Only the same resolve and national loyalty that can free Aafia from her physical prison can free the nation from its mental and economic prison. I believe that people finally recognize this fact. e. This is why we have hope because, in Aafia, God has shown us a simple way to judge our national resolve. We now have a simple case where success or failure is easy to measure, where performance of everyone involved can be clearly evaluated and where loyalty can be tested. IT IS AMAZING THAT THE SUFFERING OF THE DAUGHTER HAS PROVIDED HER NATION WITH A SIMPLE LITMUS TEST TO SEE WHO IS FOR PAKISTAN AND WHO STANDS FOR SOMETHING ELSE. Aafia only has meaning for PAKISTAN as a whole, for ALL its people and she cannot be freed unless the entire nation unites. It cannot be Partisan or regional or ethnic or class based. She has no independent flag or politics. Her flag is the Pakistani star and crescent and her politics is the vision of Quaid-e-Azam. I would like to summarize by saying that Aafia has brought home to us the true value of the motto that Quaid-e-Azam gave us: FAITH, UNITY DISCIPLINE. Her situation and suffering and that of the nation has shown us what happens when we lose these elements. To restore her freedom and our dignity, we must have FAITH in God and ourselves, we MUST be UNITED as Pakistanis and we must act with DISCIPLINE to achieve goals that are in OUR interests – Goals that solve OUR economic problems, provide security for PAKISTANIS, and eliminate OUR inferiority complex. Finally, to end, I would like to add a fourth component that Aafia strongly believed in: OPPORTUNITY. Aafia dedicated her life to education because she believed that the best legacy a society can leave its future generations is not wealth but better opportunities. So, this August 14th let us resolve to have FAITH in ourselves, UNITE for a common cause to free Aafia and her children and to act with DISCIPLINE to save Pakistan so that we can create a nation where our children will have abundant OPPORTUNITY and will not have to stand in humiliating lines for foreign visas.
Aafia, The Daughter; Pakistan, The Motherland
by Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui
August 14th and Pakistan's Independence Day. This day is supposed to mark the rule of the will of the people of Pakistan – that we freely choose our rulers and they do our bidding for the People's best interests. It is supposed to mark the fact that we are a free nation where we can live in peace and harmony, follow our religious beliefs as we will, our children can get the best of education without discrimination of race and creed. We are Pakistanis and that is enough. This day also signifies that our daughters and sisters, wives and mothers, will be protected and kept safe from harm. That we stand proud of our ideology as a sovereign Islamic Nation.
From: news@freeaafia.org
To: peacethrujustice@aol.com
Sent: 8/27/2010 1:56:02 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: Dr Aafia's Son's Shocking Statement; Maryam's First Fast; Passing of Faraj Alsaadi; Messages; New Videos
Having trouble viewing this email? Click here
In This Issue: How to Participate Maryam's First Fast Ahmed's Shocking Statementafia Messages Campaign for Suleman Send Cards to Dr Aafia Flood Relief
Rallies and Seminars across Pakistan
- Karachi, Islamabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sukkur-
Foreign delegations to visit Pakistan in support of Dr Aafia
Sep 2-13
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Sun Aug 29 @13:30 - 02:00PM
JFAC Presentation, Tooting Islamic Centre
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Sun Aug 29 @16:00 - 08:30PM
London: 5th Annual Belmarsh Iftar
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Fri Sep 17 @19:00
JFAC Leicester - Justice for Aafia
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Sat Sep 18 @14:00 - 07:30PM
JFAC London: Eid Without Aafia
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Wed Sep 22 @17:00 - 08:00PM
JFAC London - Vigil For Aafia
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Dr. Aafia Siddiqui's Sentencing Hearing
Attend public forums to correct the many misconceptions about this case that still persist
PETITIONS:
Free Dr AAFIA
Sign Here
Justice for Aafia:
Sign Here
Support organizations that seek to further public advocacy for Dr. Aafia
Donate for Dr. Aafia's legal
defense and investigation!
The search also continues for her youngest child, Suleman who is still missing.
Greetings!
Dr.Aafia's daughter Maryam will celebrate her first Ramadan Fast this week-end (August 28-29).
Maryam, who went missing in March 2003 along with her mother and two brothers, was mysteriously dropped off near her grandmother's house after being held in captivity for over 7 years. She has only recently begun a process of rehabilitation and normalization. This fast of Ramadan is another milestone in that development.
"I do not remember the date but it seems a long time ago. I remember we were going to Islamabad in a car when we were stopped by different cars and high roof ones. My mother was screaming and I was screaming as they took me away. I looked around and saw my baby brother on the ground and there was blood. My mother was crying and screaming. Then they put something on my face. And I don't remember anything.
When I woke up I was in a room....
.... The American Consular, who came to me in Kabul jail, said, 'Your name is Ahmed. You are American. Your mother's name is Aafia Siddiqui and your younger brother is dead....
more here
See the video here
Yvonne Ridley's interview with the documents she obtained
MESSAGES & STATEMENTS
Aafia, The Daughter; Pakistan, The Motherland
August 14th and Pakistan's Independence Day....This day also signifies that our daughters and sisters, wives and mothers, will be protected and kept safe from harm....
... 14th August 2010 marks the 8th year of independence celebration after the abduction of Aafia and her children and the continued captivity of Aafia and the unknown fate of Suleiman... This year as I drove around the major cities of Pakistan I saw a picture of a beautiful innocent looking woman and an inset of a tortured haggard woman with the caption "Dr Aafia Siddiqui, daughter of the Nation". Banners around the country with slogans "Free Dr. Aafia Daughter of Pakistan". I realized; Aafia Siddiqui has now become the symbolic daughter of this whole nation; I wandered what does that signify.
Why would it be that Aafia would become that symbol? And the more I thought and researched it dawned on me that it is no accident that fate chose her to become the daughter of Pakistan. What has happened to her, it seems, is exactly what happens to her motherland. The fate of both is inescapably linked....
Full text here
A selfless supporter who died in a tragic accident
We are saddened by the death of a person who dedicated himself selflessly to illuminating the plight and suffering of others including Dr. Aafia.
It is with the utmost sadness that we share the heartbreaking news that former detainee Faraj Hassan Alsaadi died in a tragic motorcycle accident on August 16th at 9am. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon - "to God we belong and to Him we return". His last night in this world was spent in defence of his Muslim sister, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, speaking to a crowd of 300 in her support at the 'Aafia - the Last Stand' rally and supplicating for her in an unprecedented act, leading 90 people in qiyaam and qunut outside the US embassy, London.
for more about Faraj and his memory, see here
We would like to first of all thank God for His mercy, even in these trying times. One manifestation of this is the support of the many people like you worldwide who are continuing to support Aafia's case. We are grateful to each and every sincere person who has chosen to stand up for Aafia. Too much time has already passed since the disappearance of Aafia and her children in 2003 and we must ask that enough is enough. It is our humble request and a sincere prayer to have Aafia reunited with her children.
We appeal to the conscience and humanity of those who have the power and position to effect Aafia's return to her home.
We also ask that the baby Suleman be returned to his family. We do not know who has kept him all these years but they know who they are. Surely, this child, who was only 6 months old when taken, can be of no use or danger to anyone.
Over the past months, much has been done to raise the consciousness of this case. But it seems that much more will have to be done and we have faith that it will be done. We are proud that all sincere efforts have been done in a peaceful, dignified and positive manner. We have not supported, nor will we support any effort that seeks a path that brings pain or harm to any person or property. Aafia dedicated her life to education and peaceful pursuits. We wish nothing less to be done in her name.
Again, we thank the people who have taken the courage to stand for Aafia.
May God Bless you all.
The family of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui
Suleman Fatih Muhammad was last seen in March 2003. Six month oldbaby Suleman was in the company of his two siblings and his mother, Aafia Siddiqui, en route to go to Islamabad, never to reach their destination. His whereabouts have been unknown for the past seven plus years. Suleman's brother and sister were eventually recovered in 2008 and 2010 respectively, released from custody in Afghanistan.
Groups in the UK and Pakistan are launching a campaign to get information about the fate of Suleman. For more information see here.
While Dr. Aafia is still not allowed to write to anyone and is not allowed visitation with family or friends, she is able to receive Post Cards.
We ask that supporters and well wishers please send post cards to Dr. Aafia.
For information on how to write to Dr. Aafia, please go to www.freeaafia.org
or click here
Customized cards and information can be found here
The Floods in Pakistan continue and now almost all the farm land is under water. Almost 20 million people are affected.
FreeAafia campaign supporters have been actively providing relief goods and medicines to the victims.
We ask all concerned people to learn more and contribute useful materials.
--
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/
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