The American attorney, Clive Stafford Smith, representing Dr Aafia Siddiqui, reported ongoing sexual harassment against her in a Fort Worth, Texas, prison. He revealed a disturbing incident where a security guard allegedly raped her two weeks prior as a form of punishment.
Dr. Aafia, a Pakistani neuroscientist, faced charges of attempted murder and assault in a New York federal district court in September 2008. These charges, which she has consistently denied, originated from an altercation during an interview with U.S. authorities in Ghazni, Afghanistan.
Convicted in early 2010 after 18 months of detention, Dr. Aafia was sentenced to 86 years and has been incarcerated in the U.S. since. “Sexual abuse of Dr. Aafia has not stopped so far,” Stafford Smith stated in a phone interview with Geo News following a visit to see her.
During his visit, he described the conditions of their communication, noting challenges with the prison phone system that forced them to shout to be heard. After complaining, the authorities provided a replacement phone two days later.
During Sunday’s visit by Dr. Aafia’s sister, Dr. Fowzia, emotional distress was evident as Aafia was seen crying. Compounding the situation, Dr. Fowzia was inadvertently locked in a separate room for an hour and a half due to an oversight by the prison staff.
In discussing the legal aspects of Dr. Aafia’s case, Stafford Smith expressed cautious optimism about her potential release. He mentioned his immediate travel plans to Washington, D.C., to discuss the case with influential contacts who will brief the White House, though he did not specify with whom he would meet. He indicated significant progress in the case and believed they were moving in the right direction.
