U.S. says Pakistani suspect may be unfit for trial
By Edith Honan
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. judge entered a plea of innocent on Tuesday on behalf of a Pakistani woman suspected of links to al Qaeda who prosecutors say may be unfit to face charges of trying to kill U.S. interrogators in Afghanistan.
 |
| Lawyers chant anti-U.S slogans during a protest to show solidarity with U.S.-trained neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui, in Karachi September 23, 2008. (REUTERS/Stringer) |
Aafia Siddiqui, 36, a U.S.-trained neuroscientist who was shot in the abdomen by an officer after allegedly grabbing a U.S. soldier's gun during questioning in July, was brought to the United States on charges of attempted murder and assault.
Siddiqui's Sept. 4 arraignment at Manhattan federal court was delayed after Siddiqui, a practicing Muslim, refused to submit to a strip search, a security procedure requiring inmates to undress and squat in front of guards.
Without the search, she cannot be brought to court.
At a hearing on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Richard Berman entered the not guilty plea after finding that Siddiqui had refused to attend court to enter a plea herself. Siddiqui's lawyer, Elizabeth Fink, said she did not object.
Berman also ordered a psychiatric evaluation of Siddiqui, and, depending on its findings, set a tentative trial date of March 9.
On Monday, a U.S. prosecutor asked the judge to order a psychiatric evaluation of Siddiqui to determine if she is fit to stand trial. Its findings will be discussed at a Dec. 17 hearing.
In a letter to Berman, U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said that there was reason to believe Siddiqui, who has refused to cooperate with prison doctors, is suffering from a mental disease and is unfit to stand trial.
Garcia asked the court to find that "there is a reasonable cause to believe that the defendant may be suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering her incompetent to enter a plea or stand trial."
VICTIM OF TORTURE?
Fink asked that her client be placed in a hospital for medical and psychological care and be treated as someone who may have been the victim of torture.
"There is every reason to believe that her mental state is related to five years when she was kept in captivity," she told Berman.
Human rights groups had declared Siddiqui missing for five years before the incident in July, when she was arrested outside the governor's office in Afghanistan's Ghazni province. Her lawyers have said they believe she was secretly detained in Afghanistan's Bagram air base by U.S. authorities.
U.S. officials say police found documents in her handbag on making explosives, excerpts from the book "Anarchist's Arsenal" and descriptions of New York City landmarks.
The federal indictment says Siddiqui, while detained for questioning, grabbed a U.S. warrant officer's rifle and fired it at the interrogation team, which included two FBI agents in the room. The warrant officer then shot her with his pistol.
Prosecutors said Siddiqui had refused care and that strict security was needed given the serious charges against her.
In 2004, the FBI called Siddiqui an "al Qaeda operative and facilitator who posed a clear and present danger to America." U.S. intelligence says she was married to a nephew of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who helped plan the Sept. 11 attacks.
Daily Times, Pakistan - 4 hours ago
NEW YORK: A United States prosecutor has asked a federal judge to order a psychiatric evaluation of Aafia Siddiqui, who is charged with trying to kill her ...
Pakistani defendant must undergo NY psych tests The Associated Press
US says Pakistani suspect may be unfit for trial Reuters
Psychiatric Hearing Is Sought for Terror Defendant New York Times
amNewYork
all 59 news articles »
Thaindian.com, Thailand - Sep 20, 2008
Karachi , Sep 20 (ANI): One day is enough to bring American educated Pakistani neuroscientist and terror suspect, Dr Aafia Siddiqui, back to Pakistan if the ...
- Afghanistan frees son of alleged ally of Al Qaeda
Los Angeles Times - Sep 16, 2008 - Afghans Repatriate Son, 12, of Pakistani Indicted in US
New York Times - Sep 15, 2008 - Aafia's son freed by Kabul, flown to Islamabad
Pakistan Dawn - Sep 15, 2008
 BBC   News | Aafia's son freed by Kabul, flown to Islamabad Pakistan Dawn, Pakistan - Sep 15, 2008 By Syed Irfan Raza ISLAMABAD, Sept 15: A 12-year-old son of neuroscientist Dr Aafia Siddiqui was handed over to his aunt Fauzia Siddiqui here on Monday ... Full security for Dr. Aafia's son: interior ministry sources The News International Afghanistan frees young son of al-Qaida suspect The Associated Press Aafia Siddiqui's Son Released to His Aunt OhmyNews International New York Times - Online - International News Network all 371 news articles » |
[* Moderator's Note - CHOTTALA is a non-profit, non-religious, non-political and non-discriminatory organization.
* Disclaimer: Any posting to the CHOTTALA are the opinion of the author. Authors of the messages to the CHOTTALA are responsible for the accuracy of their information and the conformance of their material with applicable copyright and other laws. Many people will read your post, and it will be archived for a very long time. The act of posting to the CHOTTALA indicates the subscriber's agreement to accept the adjudications of the moderator]
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe
__,_._,___
