Aafia Siddiqui: 'Victim of all victims' | Part II | Centre Stage
Summary
TLDRThe transcript details the case of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani woman serving an 86-year sentence in the US. Accused of being an Al-Qaeda operative, her lawyer, Clive Stafford Smith, disputes this and describes her as a victim of the US 'war on terror.' The narrative includes her alleged torture, a failed attempt to frame her as a suicide bomber, and her eventual conviction based on dubious evidence. The lawyer also discusses the horrendous conditions of her imprisonment and the fight for her release, highlighting the political and diplomatic challenges involved.
Takeaways
- 😣 Aria Sadiki, an American-Pakistani woman, was subjected to rendition and torture by the U.S. post-9/11.
- 🏢 She was serving an 86-year prison sentence, which was seen as a result of the U.S.'s war on terror.
- 👥 Her case was taken up by civil rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith, who highlighted her plight.
- 👥 Her sister FIA's activism made Aria the most famous woman in Pakistan, despite global obscurity.
- 🚫 Aria was a 'ghost prisoner' until her release in 2008, which was not a simple liberation but part of a deeper conspiracy.
- 👶 Aria was reunited with her traumatized son, who was led to believe he was someone else.
- 🚌 A conspiracy theory suggests Aria was set up to be killed as a suicide bomber in Gazni.
- 👮♂️ A local man's intervention saved Aria from being shot by Afghan National Police, who suspected her of terrorism.
- 🔍 The FBI's involvement after her detention in Gazni led to her arrest and an unjust trial based on fabricated evidence.
- 🔒 Aria was sentenced to 86 years in FMC Carswell, a facility with a worse reputation than Guantanamo, where she continues to suffer.
- 💔 Aria's case exemplifies the injustices and abuses within the U.S. justice system, particularly towards those perceived as terrorists.
Q & A
Who is Aafia Siddiqui and what is her significance?
-Aafia Siddiqui is an American-Pakistani woman who was subjected to rendition and torture by the US after the September 11 attacks. She is serving an 86-year prison sentence and is considered a high-profile figure in Pakistan, with her case becoming a point of tension between Pakistan and the US.
What happened to Aafia Siddiqui after her release in 2008?
-After her release in 2008, Aafia Siddiqui was allegedly set up to be killed as a suicide bomber in Afghanistan. However, due to the intervention of a local tailor named Muhammad Azal Muhammadi, she was not killed and was instead detained by the Afghan National Police.
Why was Aafia Siddiqui shot in the stomach?
-Aafia Siddiqui was shot in the stomach by an American soldier who claimed she had grabbed an M4 submachine gun and started shooting at the Americans. However, the evidence presented at her trial, including the lack of gunshot residue and shell casings, suggests that this did not happen as claimed.
What is the current situation of Aafia Siddiqui in FMC Carswell?
-Aafia Siddiqui is currently held in FMC Carswell, a federal medical center that has a reputation worse than Guantanamo Bay. She has been subjected to solitary confinement, sexual abuse, and has received inadequate medical care for the trauma she has suffered.
What are the allegations of abuse Aafia Siddiqui has faced in FMC Carswell?
-Aafia Siddiqui has alleged that she has been raped twice and subjected to various forms of sexual misconduct while in FMC Carswell. She has also reported receiving inadequate medical care and being kept in solitary confinement for over 14 years.
What is the role of Clive Stafford Smith in Aafia Siddiqui's case?
-Clive Stafford Smith is a civil rights lawyer who has taken on Aafia Siddiqui's case. He has been investigating her claims, representing her in court, and advocating for her release and proper medical care.
What are the prospects for Aafia Siddiqui's release?
-The prospects for Aafia Siddiqui's release involve a combination of legal challenges to her conviction and sentence, as well as political and diplomatic negotiations. Possible options include compassionate release, or a prisoner swap involving Shakil Afridi.
Why is it difficult to get justice for Aafia Siddiqui in the US?
-It is difficult to get justice for Aafia Siddiqui in the US due to the post-9/11 legal environment, which makes it challenging for prisoners to be heard. Additionally, there are elements within Pakistan that may not want her released, fearing it could implicate them in her original rendition and torture.
What is the significance of the public opinion in Pakistan regarding Aafia Siddiqui's case?
-The public opinion in Pakistan is significant because Aafia Siddiqui is considered a national figure and her case has become a symbol of resistance against perceived US injustice. This public sentiment could potentially influence diplomatic efforts for her release.
What is the role of Aafia Siddiqui's sister, FOWAD, in her case?
-FOWAD, Aafia Siddiqui's sister, has been instrumental in raising awareness about her sister's case in Pakistan. She has led a movement that garnered significant public support, which could potentially play a role in diplomatic efforts for Aafia's release.
Outlines
🌎 Aria Sadiki: The Forgotten Ghost Prisoner
The paragraph discusses the case of Aria Sadiki, an American-Pakistani woman who was subjected to a rendition and torture program by the US post-9/11. Despite her ordeal, she was never charged with terrorism. Her story gained attention due to her sister's activism in Pakistan, leading to her release in 2008. However, her freedom was short-lived as she was handed over to a woman in Kabul, with the promise of reuniting with her son, but instead, she was set up to be killed as a suicide bomber. The paragraph highlights the conspiracy behind her situation, implicating Pakistani intelligence and the US's role in her ongoing detention.
🚔 The Rescue and Subsequent Arrest
This paragraph narrates Aria's near-death experience in Afghanistan, where she was mistaken for a suicide bomber due to the circumstances and her attire. A local tailor named Muhammad Azal Muhammadi intervened, preventing her from being killed by the Afghan National Police. Despite the chaos, the FBI arrived to arrest her, believing her to be an Al-Qaeda operative. Aria was shot in the stomach during an altercation, which led to her conviction and an 86-year prison sentence. The paragraph also disputes the official account of her arrest, suggesting it was a cover-up for the unjustified shooting of an unarmed woman.
🏥 Injustice and Abuse at FMC Carwell
The paragraph describes the harsh conditions Aria faced at FMC Carwell, a federal medical center that is effectively a prison. Her lawyer, Clive Stafford Smith, details the physical and sexual abuse Aria endured, including allegations of rape. The medical care she received was inadequate, and her claims of torture and trauma were dismissed. The lawyer's account of his visits to the facility paints a grim picture, comparing it unfavorably even to Guantanamo Bay. The paragraph emphasizes the need for independent medical attention and the urgency of addressing the injustices Aria has suffered.
📜 The Struggle for Justice and Release
The final paragraph addresses the challenges in securing Aria's release and providing her with the psychological care she needs. It discusses the possibility of her returning to Pakistan, where she might receive better care, but also the diplomatic and political hurdles that must be overcome. The paragraph also touches on the broader issues of justice in America post-9/11, the stigmatization of Muslims and criminals, and the systemic barriers to justice for those in prison. The lawyer's commitment to Aria's case is evident, as he seeks not only her release but also accountability and reform of the institutions responsible for her suffering.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Rendition
💡War on Terror
💡Ghost Prisoner
💡Imran Khan
💡Conspiracy
💡Suicide Bomber
💡Afghan National Police
💡FMC Carwell
💡Solitary Confinement
💡Compassionate Release
💡Diplomatic Efforts
Highlights
Aria Sadiki, an American-Pakistani woman, was subjected to rendition and torture by the U.S. post-9/11.
Despite never being charged with terrorism, Aria faced an 86-year prison sentence.
Aria's case was taken up by civil rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith, who details her ordeal.
Aria was released in 2008 but faced a new set of challenges and threats.
FIA, Aria's sister, created a significant movement in Pakistan advocating for Aria's release.
Aria's case became a point of tension between Pakistan and the U.S., highlighting international relations complexities.
Aria was moved to various locations and was at risk of being framed as a suicide bomber.
Aria and her son were put on a bus with a plan to eliminate her, possibly orchestrated by Pakistani intelligence.
A local tailor named Muhammad azal muhammadi saved Aria from being killed by Afghan police.
The FBI's involvement led to Aria's arrest and subsequent conviction based on dubious evidence.
Aria was shot and injured by American soldiers under questionable circumstances.
The trial against Aria was one-sided, with no witnesses除了 the U.S. government's.
Judge Burman sentenced Aria to 86 years, largely based on unverified claims.
FMC Carwell, where Aria is held, has a worse reputation than Guantanamo, with allegations of abuse and rape.
Aria has been subjected to solitary confinement and poor medical care, exacerbating her trauma.
Clive Stafford Smith is advocating for Aria's release and better treatment, facing significant challenges.
Efforts are being made to get Aria compassionate release and potentially swap her for Shaquille afredi.
Aria's survival is uncertain given the harsh conditions she endures, emphasizing the urgency of her case.
The case highlights the need for justice and compassion in the post-9/11 era's legal and political landscape.
Transcripts
previously on Center Stage Aria's
dragged out of the car herself and put
in another car she's the only person we
have a detailed history of who was put
through the whole rendition to torture
program by the Americans who was a woman
but the terrorism charges were never
actually brought against so she's never
been charged with
[Music]
anything in part one of this
conversation civil rights lawyer Clive
Stafford Smith recounts how the events
following the September 11 attacks on
the US and the so-called war on terror
eventually led him to take on the
shocking case of apia sadiki in part two
Stafford Smith resumes the story of Aria
sadiki the American Pakistani woman
serving in 86-year prison sentence a
victim he says of the United States
global war on
terror now we go to 2008 she is a ghost
prisoner but suddenly she is released
this happened to so many people now
normally they would just be released
somewhere um but ironically the massive
problem for Rafia was her brilliant
sister FIA FIA deeply concerned about
where her sister and her two nephews and
niece were had created such a movement
in Pakistan faia had a million people
march on this so many people around the
world world have not heard of AIA sadiki
but she is the most famous woman in
pakist in Pakistan absolutely I think
you got Imran Khan is the most famous
man and AIA sadik is the most famous and
of course she is being held in the
United States so it could be a point of
tension between Pakistan and America no
way you're totally right you put your
finger on it this is the greatest
dissonance that I've ever experienced
between the public opinion in Pakistan
where everyone knows and America where
no one knows what happens to gazin this
is this is where it's it's absolutely
bizarre and there is someone that then
comes to her rescue they move her from
bam to gazni Province think she'd
already been moved to Kabul to this
woman's prison in cabul and now I
genuinely don't believe in conspiracy
theories 99% of the time it's just some
person doing something stupid it's not a
conspiracy this is a conspiracy and I'm
convinced of it and it has the Isis
fingerprints all over it it's a
Pakistani thing so what happens is she's
let go from where she's being held and
she's told that if she goes to GNE she
can have Marian back and they nor will
go back to Pakistan she's given this boy
whose name is isan Ali um who is
actually her son Ahmed but he's five
years old that he's deeply traumatized
and doesn't admit to his own mom that
he's Ahmed she she's deeply traumatized
and is not sure if he is but they're put
on this bus and one thing I've only
recently discovered is on this bus was
someone who is obviously Pakistani I got
a photograph of the guy this is a very
important element is it a discovery
you've made recently that could be very
important in this case you've got two
hypothesis one is that they're being
true to their word and she's actually
being released and she can go get Mariam
and go back to Pakistan that's what she
thinks that's what she is going to
happen that that is total nonsense um it
turns out on the other hand the second
theory is that people need to get rid of
her because she's such a political
liability I'm convinced of it already
from everything I've learned is that and
it has the Pakistani fingerprints all
over it um that she was going to go to
gazy on this bus she was going to be
tired as a suicide bomber and she was
going to be killed there and the
indicators of that is first on the bus
is heran isan Ali ammed it's July hot
summer in Afghanistan he's got a coat on
with four big Pockets with bits of fruit
in it clearly meant to look like he's a
suicide bomber she's got a full shador
on you can't see what's underneath it
and she's told to go sit outside this
mosque for Mariam to be delivered to her
that's never going to happen so she goes
goes to the mosque in GNE she's sitting
there and someone calls in a suicide
bomber uh warning and the Afghan
National Police show up 50 of them with
their AK-47s they do what they do when
there's a suicide bomb thing they're 100
feet away surrounding her she doesn't
speak FY they don't speak eru they would
have just shot her and then what would
have happened is the headline evil
Al-Qaeda woman suicide bomber she's
dumped outside this mosque someone puts
in a call to the Afghans or the
Americans saying she is about to plant a
bomb in this place and so they surround
her and the idea is that you know
probably she would be killed exactly
there's only one reason that didn't
happen and this is I went to GNE on a
cold uh winter day in November and I
found this guy Muhammad azal muhammadi
he was a tailor who was across the
street from the HED bin W mosque and he
saw this woman out there and there were
people trying to talk to her she didn't
speak FY so they couldn't talk so in the
end he goes out there as it's getting
dark and he says you know this is war
zone it's 2008 in GNE you can't stay
here my aunt lives around the corner why
don't you go stay there for the night
she's saying no no no I'm waiting for
they're talking talking heru and um
she's saying no I'm waiting for someone
to be delivered to me and at that moment
that's when the police show up with all
the G guns so muhamedi when they said
start start pointing guns and saying
they're going to shoot her and they're
all screaming and FY and she's terrified
Muhammed stands between her and the guns
and says she's not a suicide bomber and
they get furious with him um but then
one of them goes up and rips off her
shador and sure enough she's not wearing
a suicide vest um Muhammed is incredibly
offended that they pulled her shador off
um so he puts it back on her then they
rip it off her again he's really angry
at this point and so they drag him off
um but then they can't kill her because
by this time lots of people are watching
and they all know that they're not a
suicide bomber and now what do they do
with her so now what happens is she's
taken to the Afghan National Police
Headquarters and they're talking to her
and you know now the Afghans they
weren't in on this plot right they were
just being used and the Afghans are now
talking to this woman she's not a
suicide bomber she says she's just
waiting to take her kids home to
Pakistan they say fine but then the FBI
hears that apia sadiki has been detained
in GNE and so they're all excited
because they haven't known where she's
been for the last five years they think
she's a Al-Qaeda person on the run so
they come swooping into gazy to come and
arrest her so so at any rate they all
come into town meanwhile AIA is in the
ANP headquarters she's on a bed behind a
curtain in a room
now at that point the Americans come in
because they want to interrogate her but
she doesn't know about this but she
hears American voices and what she says
is I heard American voices I'm terrified
I'm going back to more torture so I peek
around the curtain and one of the
soldiers says she's on the loose and
shoots her twice in the stomach and this
is where the events happen which the
charges that she has been convicted on
this is this moment now is why she has
been in prison for 86 years now I'll
tell you what the Americans say the
Americans say that they came into that
room not knowing she was behind the
curtain and they were just having a nice
chat with their Afghan counterparts one
of the American soldiers allegedly puts
his M4 submachine gun on the ground he
left it just like that it just never
happened the rifle is unattended on the
ground and and the allegedly Aria grabs
the gun flips the safety catch off she
starts shooting at the Americans she
doesn't hit them but the heroic American
pulls his pistol and shoots her um and
as part of the trial evidence they show
these two holes in the top of the wall
uh and say you know that's where the
bullets must have gone that she fired
few small flaws with their Theory which
is that there was earlier that day a
press conference in that very same room
which we have the video of and those two
holes were in the wall there before all
of this allegedly happened so clearly
that's not true they tested have a
gunshot residue there's no gunshot
residue on it there are no shell casings
from an M4 there's no bullets from an M4
honestly honestly it didn't happen but
you know you got to understand where
they're coming from if they shot an
unarmed woman in that room there had
been a number of trials in Afghanistan
where soldiers had been put on trial for
using for like that and prosecuted
criminally so they're protecting they
protect each other their soldiers but so
in the in the meantime you have Aria who
is traumatized she's already spent five
years in prison where she has been
tortured she is missing the
psychological pain of not having her
children so she was the one that was
shot and now they have to explain this
and so the trial takes place for attempt
first they take her back to Bagram
everything that she feared but take her
to give them credit they take her to
hospital and she she comes very close to
death but doesn't at that point they
then two weeks later fly in New York to
put her on trial and unfortunately 2008
now we're now 2008 July the 18th 2008
this happened August the 4th she goes to
America your problem from a defense
perspective is there's a war in
Afghanistan and so there are no
Witnesses who come to the trial who are
not the witnesses the American
government brought and as a result you
know she really just doesn't have a
prayer you I was the first American who
got to go do a full investigation what
happens to her now so she goes through
this whole thing No One Believes her
when she says she was in American
custody for five years you know and
actually it's interesting the the
defense tries to get a hold of the CIA
records and the CIA just lies and says
we don't have any um so she's convicted
and she's sent to FMC Coswell but when
she's being sentenced by judge Burman
you know he's been told all this stuff
about how she's a terrorist and this
that and the other so she he gives her a
big enhancement and under the sentencing
regime they can use stuff against you
that you've not been charged with so the
judge goes through all the stuff um that
has been said about
uh and enhances it and you know I'm not
really blaming the judge this is what he
had been told at the time but it's all
nonsense and I'm I've WR written so far
26,000 words about everything that the
judge had wrong so he enhances it from
say you know 10 to 15 years to 86 years
which means she dies in prison maybe we
could touch on the institution where AIA
is being held FMC cwell so meaning it's
a Federal Medical Center but it's really
a prison tell us what it's like inside
this place you know I was genuinely
horrified when I went there I've been to
most of the maximum security prisons in
America I've been to Guantanamo 42 times
I thought I'd seen it all um but I went
to FMC Carwell and it's worse than
Guantanamo oh it's way worse than
Guantanamo I me in Guantanamo I get
contact visits with my clients I can sit
there and eat food with them you know
they trust me I'm not going to Spring
someone out of prison I'm there to
represent them and Carwell getting in
there is hard enough I am wearing just
in honor of coming on your program the
very jeans that I had to buy because
they wouldn't let me in the prison
because I was wearing cocky trousers why
were you but they prefer jeans no no the
women prisoners have khi uniforms and
somehow I was meant to take my trousers
off and give them to I don't know what
it's about but it's very hard to set
things up in cwell and the prison has a
shocking reputation of rape in the last
few years rape of the female prisoners
one of them was a Christian minister for
goodness sake and so what's going on
there Aria told me on the very first
visit about all the abuse that was going
on she alleges she's been raped twice
herself that she's subjected to all
sorts of um sexual misconduct and then
you know there are other things you know
the strip searching is bad enough there
broader issues with the practices and
the abuse that takes place inside this
facility that applies to all the women
there not just AIA yeah but I think a
lot more applies to Aria because I've
got 1,089 pages of her medical records
there and nowhere do they accept that
she's been tortured there is no mention
that her children were K were taken and
kidnapped and they think all of this is
some fantasy of hers that she made made
up and everything she does is a result
of this incredible trauma that she's
gone through they put down to her just
being a bad person whereas in fact she
is the victim of all victims so she's
getting no real medical care she's had
her teeth knocked out of her mouth she's
deaf in her right here where they HIIT
her enough times and I've been trying to
get independent doctors in to see her
female Muslim women doctors which is
what we need and they won't let them in
she's in solitary confinement of
effectively in admin segregation she's
been there every day for the last 14
years that's more than any of the other
women in federal prison 10,250 she's
been treated worse than any of them when
I went there I was just so horrified I
mean I'm now for now it's become a
crusade for me and we're going to close
that place down if it's the last thing I
do because AIA is the victim of all
victims but there's a lot of other
victims of a dreadful institution in
terms of Aria now what what is the what
is the best case scenario for her
because this is a woman who's been
through a great deal she's been
convicted she's stuck in this terrible
institution she's been tortured
physically abused sexually abused what
are the prospects for her release she
clearly suffers from PTSD post-traumatic
stress disorder because she's been
tortured now the one thing you know I'd
never really thought about it until I
was in Guantanamo you can't get therapy
from the people who are torturing you
and so she's getting no care for this
incredible trauma that she's gone
through uh and there's only one place
she can get that from and that's from a
loving environment with her family so
she's got to get back to her family how
is that going to be managed though and
how and psychologically to go to the
country where all this began the
government in a country she may feel as
deeply betrayed her well and they have
deep betrayed her and this is a big
problem does this go some way to
explaining why despite multiple
diplomatic efforts and actually know
relationship between the governments of
Pakistan and the United States nothing
has been done for Aria sadiki because
there are those elements inside Pakistan
that don't want her release because then
it could implicate them I mean if you
think about what happened in 2008 um a
sheriff was still in power then and so
this whole effort to kill AIA was by the
very people who had originally
originated the the the whole thing there
are still people who are afraid of that
now you know to them I tell them you got
two choices you either do the right
thing and do the decent thing we're not
interested in making movies in Aria when
she gets out this woman needs real care
and love but you know if the people who
are behind this stuff don't get out of
the way
then you know I've got no option except
to expose them and I know who some of
them are and I haven't named them in
public uh and I'm not going to if they
get out of the way but I will if they
don't but I think we have to explore
Alternatives we really really need help
the Afghans would take her in an instant
but the Americans are probably going to
be a bit loath to do business with the
people they just lost to organs um but
you know we got to find some way so this
this wouldn't be the legal grout it
would be a political diplomatic
negotiation to remove her from this
facility politics and law I mean I'm
going to follow this thing in New York
um that's basically challenging her
conviction and her sentence but also
seeking compassionate release so the
judge could order her release now if the
judge does that she's got to go
somewhere and there are all sorts of
different possibilities that we could
sort out including swapping of Shaquille
afredi who the pakistanis have who
helped the Americans kill Bin Laden so
there there are officials looking at
these options now in Pakistan and
Washington is that right well I'm trying
to make them look at and that you know
look representative chairman from
California is obsessed with Shaquille a
Frey coming back to America or coming to
America um and so we have political
support but this is not an easy thing to
to solve do you think she can survive
much longer in that facility which
you've said is worse than Guantanamo ban
she's already been through so
much uh the conditions psychological
physical emotional I mean the survival
and survival right she's a very strong
willed person um her biggest issue I
think at some level has been thinking
that she was forgotten and Abandoned and
one project I've had is to get people to
write letters to her through me because
then I can send them in to her as legal
male and she can read about the people
who care about her and I think that's
really important it's really important
to get her sister back in there um so
that she has human contact and so forth
why is it so difficult to get Justice in
America we love to hate people and it's
the qlux clan did it with black people
we do it with Muslims and um
people we call criminals and it's a very
sad element of human nature and then we
set up rules that make it very difficult
for someone in prison to get Justice we
lost our way post 911 I hope to goodness
we're going to find it again Clive
Stafford Smith thank you for joining us
on Center Stage it's really been a
pleasure thank you
[Music]
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