On May 31, 2023, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, the Pakistani neuroscientist and Al-Qaeda suspect serving an 86-year jail term for trying to kill U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan, met her visiting sister Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, at the Federal Medical Center, in Carswell, Texas. Her lawyer Clive Stafford Smith was also present. Two more meetings took place between the two sisters on subsequent days in which Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan was also present.
Pakistani media has always alleged that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui was abducted from Karachi in a joint operation by the CIA and the Pakistani military's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and subsequently taken to Afghanistan where she was arrested. After returning from the meetings with her sister, Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui has not spoken publicly, possibly as a result of governmental pressure. However, some of her conversations alleging torture against her sister in the U.S. prison have been reported without giving many specific details.
Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui met Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in a Texas prison in May 2023
Following the meetings between the two sisters, Roznama Jasarat – an Urdu-language daily published by Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan – published two articles. In one article, titled "Dr. Aafia's Captivity And The Jewish Mentality," the author Javed Ahmad Khan made antisemitic observations, blaming "the same prejudice of the Jews against Muslims [that] has been prevailing for centuries" and noting that the judge who delivered the verdict was a Jew.
In an article titled "The Release Of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui – A Debt To The Nation," the author Inamul Haq Awan accused successive prime ministers of Pakistan, including Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan, of failing to work for the release of Siddiqui from the U.S. prison. Inamul Haq Awan also called on youths to call on social media for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, whose supporters appear to be Islamist groups. For example, British Islamic cleric Anjem Choudary, a public supporter of the Islamic State (ISIS), has called for freeing her "physically or by ransom."[1]
Following are excerpts from Javed Ahmad Khan's article:[2]
"When The Prophet [Muhammad] Migrated From Mecca To Medina, There Were Three Jewish Tribes Living In Medina At That Time; These Tribes Were Banu Nazir, Banu Qurayza, And Banu Qaynuqa"
"When the Prophet [Muhammad] migrated from Mecca to Medina, there were three Jewish tribes living in Medina at that time. These tribes were Banu Nazir, Banu Qurayza, and Banu Qaynuqa. These tribes were under the protection of Aws and Khazraj, the major tribes of Medina. Bani Nazir and Bani Qurayza were under the protection of Aws while the third Jewish tribe was under the protection of Khazraj.
"The Ghassani tribe and the people of Saba lived in the Arabian Peninsula. Then in 450 CE there was a great flood in Yemen. As a result, these tribes moved to different nearby areas and some of these tribes came to Yathrib [Medina], where people from these tribes were already living.
The article by Javed Ahmad Khan
"There are three stages of the arrival of Jews in the Arabian Peninsula. The first stage is that Sayyidna Moses (peace be upon him) sent an army in his last days to destroy the people of Amalaka and to not leave any Amalekite alive. The army sent by Sayyidna Moses this, except for one Amalekite who was very beautiful was captured alive and they took him with them. But Sayyidna Moses died there and the people who were in power removed this army from their place due to the disobedience of the Prophet [Moses, that is, by not killing every last Amalekite]. They [i.e., the army of Jews] returned to Arabia. So, the Jews claim that they have been residing there for 1,200 years before Christ.
"The second stage is in 587 BC, when the Babylonian King Bakht Nasar [Nebuchadnezzar II] destroyed Jerusalem and forced the Jews to scatter around the world; many Jewish tribes took refuge in Hijaz. There, they discovered springs of water and fertile places. That is where they settled.
"The third stage is 70 CE, when the Romans massacred the Jews in Palestine; many Jews came and settled in Arabia. The Jews who came to Arabia forgot their Hebrew language, culture, and script. And in its place, they adopted the Arabic language and calligraphy. The Jewish community in Medina seized control of the springs, lush gardens, and fertile lands. They established a network of enchanters and spread the web of trade and business.
"In this way, they took the old Arab tribes under their pressure; the barren lands became part of the Arab tribes; fed up with this cruelty of the Jews, the Ghassani and Saba tribes in Medina and other tribes went to Yemen. And from there, they [the Ghassani and Saba tribes] brought a group of warrior people and engaged in battles with the Jews, resulting in the expulsion of the Banu Nadir and Banu Qurayza tribes from Medina."
"There Was Intense Hatred Against The Jews In The Hearts Of These Arab Tribes [Who Took Loans From Them], And The Jews Also Understood It – Just Like Nowadays, We Are Trapped In The Web Of IMF, Which Also Generates Intense Hatred"
"Afterward, the Jews reconciled with the Arab tribes and both tribes began to seek refuge in the fortress of Aws outside Medina. The third tribe, Bani Qaynuqa, was fewer in number, and they were allowed to stay in Medina. They took shelter with the Khazraj tribe. In this tribe, blacksmiths, potters, and iron workers were employed. The Jewish mentality was that they would not allow the Arab tribes to meet with each other because if these tribes met, then the supremacy of the Jews would terminate, and the web of the usury system would end.
"The sheikhs and chiefs and businesspeople of Arabia were up to their necks in the trap of the Jewish usurers. These chiefs of the Arab tribes took usurious loans to maintain their royal estates apart from business. Due to this reason, there was an intense hatred against the Jews in the hearts of these Arab tribes, and the Jews also understood it – just like nowadays, we are trapped in the web of the International Monetary Fund, which also generates intense hatred, but work cannot be done without entering its network.
"Therefore, they would make efforts to prevent these Arab tribes from uniting by plotting conspiracies among them, creating an atmosphere of war, and even engaging themselves in war. They would also participate in wars alongside their allied Arab tribes, while engaging in regular war with the opposing Arab tribes, who were allies of the Jewish tribes.
Protesters in Pakistan demand Aafia Siddiqui's release (image courtesy: Dawn.com)
"For example, a famous battle known as the Battle of Bu'ath [617 CE] took place between the Arab tribes of Aus and Khazraj shortly before the declaration of Prophethood [by Muhammad]. In this battle, the Jewish tribes of Banu Qurayza and Banu Nazir allied themselves with the tribe of Aus and engaged in war not only against the tribe of Khazraj but also against their Jewish allies, the tribe of Banu Qaynuqa.
"When the Prophet (PBUH) migrated to Medina, he made a formal written agreement with all the Jewish tribes that were in Medina by combining the emigrants of Mecca with the Khazraj and other believers of Medina. When and how did the Jews break this agreement, which resulted in the Battle of Uhud followed by the Battle of Khazraj, the background of [Quran's chapter] Surah Al-Hashr is this battle."
"The Head Of The State Of Medina [Muhammad] Did Not Desist From Waging War [Against The Jewish Tribe Of Banu Qaynuqa] In Revenge For The Disrespect To A Woman Of His Own Community"
"But our topic is slightly different. Since the time the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) arrived in Medina and united the ansar [supporters] and muhajirun [emigrants] into one community, the Jewish residents of Medina, including their leaders and people of faith, bore a lot of animosity toward them. They began to see their own security in danger; the conspiracies they used to fight against the Arab tribes now turned toward the Muslims. Seeing this conspiratorial mind of the Jews, the Holy Prophet made a written agreement with them.
"When the Battle of Badr took place, there were 313 Muslims against a force of 1,000 mushrikeen [polytheists] from Mecca. The Jewish residents of Medina, outwardly silent, were inwardly delighted, knowing that this new calamity was about to come to an end. But when the Muslims won the Battle of Badr, the anger and hatred of the Jewish residents of Medina intensified. The leader of the Khazraj tribe, who was a Jew, openly and persistently expressed animosity toward Allah's Messenger, spreading malicious rumors and insults.
"Then this hatred and anger spread among the Jewish community such that when Muslims went to buy from the market of the Jewish tribe of Banu Qaynuqa, Jewish shopkeepers would harass Muslim women, hurl abusive language at them, and make derogatory remarks. One day, in the same market, a group of Jews displayed extreme insolence toward a Muslim woman, tearing her clothes. This led to a heated argument and altercation in the market, resulting in the martyrdom of a Muslim and the death of a Jew.
"After this tragedy, the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave notice to this tribe to leave Medina in one week. The [Banu Qaynuqa] tribe answered: You were able to crush the Quraysh, now you will be faced with real men. Then [the Prophet] besieged this tribe. On the sixth day, they agreed not to fight, but to leave Medina. Then they were asked to leave behind their weapons, grain, and fruit trees. The Head of the State of Medina [Muhammad] did not desist from waging war to have revenge for the disrespecting of a woman from his community."
"Every Pakistani Bears The Responsibility For Dr. Aafia Siddiqui's Captivity, And Her Redemption Can Only Be Achieved If In Future Elections, Every Pakistani Declares Their Intention To Vote For The Political Party That Promises To Bring Dr. Aafia Siddiqui Back To Pakistan"
"The same prejudice of the Jews against Muslims has been prevailing for centuries. Even the judge who sentenced Dr. Aafia Siddiqui was of Jewish descent. Recently, Dr. Fauzia, the sister of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, along with Senator Mushahid Hussain of the Jamaat-e-Islami, visited her in an American prison.
"During the meeting, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui asked, are there no Muslims left in the world? She revealed that the Noble Quran is torn and thrown away, and she is told to follow it, and when she doesn't comply, violence is inflicted upon her, even involving nudity.
"Although the 20-year tale of agony [of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui] cannot be told in a two-hour meeting [that took place with her sister Fowzia Siddiqui], I want to emphasize that even the proponents of the [second] State of Medina [being established in Pakistan] did nothing for the release of Aafia Siddiqui during their tenure. We are all responsible for the captivity and torture of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.
"As followers of the prophet whose name we invoke, he had issued a great war [against Banu Qaynuqa] to avenge the humiliation of a believing daughter. In the past 20 years, all the rulers in Pakistan have failed to take meaningful action. Every Pakistani bears responsibility for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui's captivity, and her redemption can only be achieved if in future elections, every Pakistani declares their intention to vote for the political party that promises to bring Dr. Aafia Siddiqui back to Pakistan."
Following are excerpts from Inamul Haq Awan's article:[3]
"Do We Get Sleep If Our Real Sister Or Daughter Is In The Captivity Of A Beast? Of What Sort Of Nation Are These Rulers The Fathers That Pakistan's Daughter Is Experiencing New Torture Every Day In An American Jail?"
"Do we get sleep if our real sister or daughter is in the captivity of a beast? Of what sort of nation are these rulers the fathers that Pakistan's daughter is experiencing new torture every day in an American jail? But those who sat in power such as Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and Shehbaz Sharif did not take any effective measures to get Aafia released.
"For political purposes and to save their own skin and wealth, all of them knock on the doors of national and international institutions, hiring different [lobbying] agencies and narrating their stories of oppression before global forums. But did it ever happen that the Nawaz League [Pakistan Muslim League of Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shehbaz Sharif], the Tehreek-e-Insaf Party, or the Pakistan People's Party use their strong voice for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui as much as they raise for themselves and their interests?
Inamul Haq Awan's article
"Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, the parliamentary leader of Jamaat-e-Islami in the Senate, has done his duty on behalf of the nation. Before it, the leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Syed Munawar Hasan, and Sirajul Haq, made every possible effort within their sphere of influence [regarding Aafia Siddiqui]. We also see an obscure elder of Jamaat-e-Islami who has been fighting the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in front of the media for years. Whether in a court, in a seminar, or at every protest, this senior youth Shahid Shamsi is seen coordinating at every moment.
"Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui, Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, and Clive Stafford Smith recently reached the United States. They held meetings with Dr. Aafia Siddiqui... Only a few pages of the story of Aafia's torture have reached us, which are painful for the entire nation. A roaring lion like Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan shed tears in anguish at night. The laws of international human rights organizations show little movement when it comes to the rights of Muslims. The international community, which creates a storm in a teacup for its interests, has been a silent spectator of false cases filed against Aafia Siddiqui...
"Nobody will try for the release of Aafia Siddiqui. Every conscious citizen of Pakistan must fulfill their responsibility but shedding a few tears will not do this; practical steps must be taken. Pakistani rulers must be reminded of their responsibilities every moment to hold serious and viable negotiations with the U.S. for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.
"Pakistani citizens have to knock at the international doors of justice and take their case to countries and human rights organizations around the world. The youths must raise the stakes by attracting the rulers and the international community through an effective social media campaign. Do not waste a single moment; every person with a heart, including people with a pen, must contribute to this cause."
