Aafia Siddiqui refuses to appear in court in protest
* Lawyer says Siddiqui strip searched every time she is visited
By Khalid Hasan
WASHINGTON: Dr Aafia Siddiqui refused to appear in a New York court on Thursday in protest against the humiliating treatment to which she is being subjected and because of her traumatised physical, mental and emotional condition.
The next date of hearing at which she would be charged for attempted murder is September 22. Her lawyer, Elizabeth Fink, gave Judge Richard M Breman of the US district court for the southern district of New York, a harrowing description of her client's physical and mental condition, while urging that Siddiqui be immediately shifted to a hospital. She said her present condition was not such as to make her competent to stand trial. She said her client had spent years in confinement and she was deeply worried about her three children.
Strip search: Fink gave the court a chilling description of the strip searches that Siddiqui is being made to endure every time she is visited, even by her lawyer. She refused to appear in court because she did not want to be subjected to the torture and humiliation of another strip search. Fink explained in graphic detail what a strip search involved. She said her client was made to take off all her clothes and stand with her legs apart. She was subjected to an anal examination and ordered to bend over and cough to ensure that she was not hiding anything. Fink said Siddiqui not only needed to be immediately hospitalised but she needed a gynaecologist and she required a psychiatric evaluation. The judge does not have the power to stop the strip search because it is part of prison regulations. The Pakistani-Americans present at the hearing, including Pakistan Consulate officials, were shocked at the description provided by Siddiqui's lawyer and told journalists that they felt utterly disgusted and angered by what they had heard.
By Khalid Hasan
WASHINGTON: Dr Aafia Siddiqui refused to appear in a New York court on Thursday in protest against the humiliating treatment to which she is being subjected and because of her traumatised physical, mental and emotional condition.
The next date of hearing at which she would be charged for attempted murder is September 22. Her lawyer, Elizabeth Fink, gave Judge Richard M Breman of the US district court for the southern district of New York, a harrowing description of her client's physical and mental condition, while urging that Siddiqui be immediately shifted to a hospital. She said her present condition was not such as to make her competent to stand trial. She said her client had spent years in confinement and she was deeply worried about her three children.
Strip search: Fink gave the court a chilling description of the strip searches that Siddiqui is being made to endure every time she is visited, even by her lawyer. She refused to appear in court because she did not want to be subjected to the torture and humiliation of another strip search. Fink explained in graphic detail what a strip search involved. She said her client was made to take off all her clothes and stand with her legs apart. She was subjected to an anal examination and ordered to bend over and cough to ensure that she was not hiding anything. Fink said Siddiqui not only needed to be immediately hospitalised but she needed a gynaecologist and she required a psychiatric evaluation. The judge does not have the power to stop the strip search because it is part of prison regulations. The Pakistani-Americans present at the hearing, including Pakistan Consulate officials, were shocked at the description provided by Siddiqui's lawyer and told journalists that they felt utterly disgusted and angered by what they had heard.
Pak-born US scientist's hearing deferred
Press Trust of India
Friday, September 05, 2008, (New York)
The indictment hearing of Pakistan-born US scientist Aafia Siddiqui, with suspected links to Al-Qaida, was postponed as she refused to be strip searched.
The 36-year-old neuroscientist has been charged with trying to kill the American interrogators after her arrest in Afghanistan. She was expected to plead innocence to the charges. But Aafia could not be brought to court as she refused to be strip searched, which is mandatory while moving prisoners
from lock up to court.
US District Judge Richard Berman, on Thursday, postponed the arrangement proceedings until September 22 to give time to the defense lawyers to sort out the issue with the authorities.
If she continues to refuse search, the defense has two options either to persuade the authorities to forego the procedure or allow her to enter plea from the prison on a closed circuit television.
Berman also asked the defense to make suggestions on evaluating her ability to stand trial as her lawyers contended that she had been tortured during the time she was secretly detained by either Pakistani or American authorities.
In the court, her lawyer Elizabeth Fink said Aafia did not want to go through the humiliation of being strip searched and that she should be treated as victims of torture.
Aafia, 36, was reported missing since March, 2003 when she left her parents home in Karachi to visit her uncle in Islamabad, until she mysteriously reappeared in Afghanistan and her lawyers contend that she was secretly detained either by Pakistani or American authorities.
The 36-year-old neuroscientist has been charged with trying to kill the American interrogators after her arrest in Afghanistan. She was expected to plead innocence to the charges. But Aafia could not be brought to court as she refused to be strip searched, which is mandatory while moving prisoners
from lock up to court.
US District Judge Richard Berman, on Thursday, postponed the arrangement proceedings until September 22 to give time to the defense lawyers to sort out the issue with the authorities.
If she continues to refuse search, the defense has two options either to persuade the authorities to forego the procedure or allow her to enter plea from the prison on a closed circuit television.
Berman also asked the defense to make suggestions on evaluating her ability to stand trial as her lawyers contended that she had been tortured during the time she was secretly detained by either Pakistani or American authorities.
In the court, her lawyer Elizabeth Fink said Aafia did not want to go through the humiliation of being strip searched and that she should be treated as victims of torture.
Aafia, 36, was reported missing since March, 2003 when she left her parents home in Karachi to visit her uncle in Islamabad, until she mysteriously reappeared in Afghanistan and her lawyers contend that she was secretly detained either by Pakistani or American authorities.
Aafia Siddiqui refuses to appear in court in protest
Daily Times, Pakistan - 11 hours ago
By Khalid Hasan WASHINGTON: Dr Aafia Siddiqui refused to appear in a New York court on Thursday in protest against the humiliating treatment to which she is ...
Pak-born US scientist's hearing deferred NDTV.com
Pak 'terror suspect' Dr Aafia frequently strip searched with her ... Newstrack India
Dr Aafia's arraignment postponed over her refusal to go through ... The Nation, Pakistan
Associated Press of Pakistan - Radio Netherlands
all 207 news articles »
Daily Times, Pakistan - 11 hours ago
By Khalid Hasan WASHINGTON: Dr Aafia Siddiqui refused to appear in a New York court on Thursday in protest against the humiliating treatment to which she is ...
Pak-born US scientist's hearing deferred NDTV.com
Pak 'terror suspect' Dr Aafia frequently strip searched with her ... Newstrack India
Dr Aafia's arraignment postponed over her refusal to go through ... The Nation, Pakistan
Associated Press of Pakistan - Radio Netherlands
all 207 news articles »
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