Open Letter to Ban Ki Moon, UNO Secretary general.

(below is a transcript of letter delivered to the UN Secretary general)

February 06, 2012

Honorable Mr. Ban-Ki-Moon,
Secretary General,
United Nations Organization

Re: The Plight of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, A mother of three languishing in a US prison for a crime she did not commit.

Your Excellency,

Congratulations on being elected for a second term, as Secretary General of the esteemed United Nations Organization.

Your historic words in 2007
“I grew up in war. That experience was a big part of what led me to pursue a career in public service. As Secretary-General, I am determined to see this Organization deliver tangible, meaningful results that advance peace, development and human rights.”

And your recent statement on Dec. 10th 2011
“Human rights belong to every one of us without exception. But unless we know them, unless we demand they be respected, and unless we defend our right -- and the right of others -- to exercise them, they will be just words in a decades-old document.”

It is these words and your resolve that I am taking the liberty to introduce the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui to the United Nations. Her plight as a victim of enforced disappearance, illegal rendition, and torture, is well-known, and has touched the hearts of humanitarians around the globe. She has been convicted of a crime she did not commit, she has been sentenced to eighty-six years imprisonment in a maximum security US federal prison on Carswell military base, Fort Worth, Texas—where she is currently being held in solitary confinement and virtually incommunicado.

The charges and evidence against her were carefully crafted to avoid any of the well
documented evidence that agents of the United States, in collusion with the Pakistani military dictator, participated in kidnapping her and her three young children from the streets of Karachi in 2003, or any mention of witnesses who identified her as an inmate in secret American prisons between 2003 and 2008.
 

There are some in Pakistan who perpetuate the lie that Dr. Aafia was a dangerous terrorist in order to maintain their political viability. There are those in the United States who rely on the same narrative to avoid the embarrassment of being exposed as torturers of an innocent woman and her three small children (two of whom are American citizens).

When I began this campaign to free Dr. Aafia, I had no intention to do anything beyond bringing my sister and her children home. Now – having learned that our family is one of thousands who have suffered similarly, I have come to understand that we are far from alone.

My family, our supporters, and I have chosen to use only legal and peaceful methods in the pursuit of justice for my sister. We have consistently denounced any calls for violence and retribution in Aafia's name. We hope that our example will demonstrate that such injustices – which have become commonplace as the numbers of disappeared continues to rise – can be combated through the use and rule of law, rather than by military might or violent means.
God has answered our prayers and rewarded our efforts. Aafia has been removed from the secret prisons in which she had been held and tortured for five years and her two older children have been returned to our home. Unfortunately, this is an incomplete victory.

Unfortunately, Dr. Siddiqui’s suffering continues -- prolonged solitary confinement while imprisoned, and lack of access to sufficient medical care has left her in a severely weakened state. Conflicting reports of mistreatment and abuse, compounded by the fact that she is not allowed any contact with her family, have left us to fear the worst.

Respected Sir, as you know, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which the United Nations has sworn to uphold under all costs, sets forth the rights of all human beings. Though I am not an attorney, I believe the facts established in Aafia’s case clearly establish that the Universal Declaration has been violated. For example:

Article 1.  All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
Article 3.  Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Article 5.  No one shall be subject to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 8.  Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted by the constitution or by law.
Article 9.  No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile.
Article 10. Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s kidnapping, along with her three small children -- and their subsequent enforced disappearance, false imprisonment, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and illegal rendition -- are all facts which have now been established beyond doubt. That the United States could claim jurisdiction to try her for any crime in the face of overwhelming evidence that agencies of that government were and still are involved in criminal activity against her would also seem to violate a number of United Nations declarations concerning human rights. I have enclosed herewith a copy of an investigative report “Aafia Siddiqui: Just the Facts”, published by the International Justice Network, which sets forth some of the great deal of evidence which has been exposed to date.

Repatriating Aafia to her homeland is a singularly comprehensive yet simple and unambiguous act. It is one that can lead to new respect for and confidence in the United Nations as an instrument of international peace and cooperation. Accordingly, I look forward to a favorable response and a very strong plea for Aafia's freedom on your behalf.

May we all be guided to do the right thing without fear or favor.

Sincerely,

Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui

==========================

Open Letter to Abdullah Husain Haroon, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN.

(below is a transcript of letter delivered to Amb. Haroon)

February 6, 2012

H.E. Abdullah Husain Haroon
Ambassador Extraordinary, & Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative
Of Pakistan to the United Nations
New York, USA

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Your Excellency,
As-Salam-o-Alaikom,

Re: The role of Pakistan Mission to UNO in trying to gain the release of the Daughter of the Nation, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui from USA and help regain the Honor and Dignity of Pakistan:

Dear Sir,

Congratulation on becoming a member of the United Nations as Ambassador Extraordinary, & Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations. We in Pakistan feel this will now provide you a better platform to raise the issues of Pakistani citizens.

It is very humbly and respectfully brought to your attention that a citizen of Pakistan, a daughter of the land you are representing, is locked up in the dungeons of Carswell TX for a crime that was never committed. During your visit to Pakistan and live appearance on National TV, you promised to do all in your power to help fix this wrong.

Respected Sir, One of the purposes of your mission is to highlight international human rights violations perpetrated against citizens of Pakistan, and to preserve the honor and dignity of the Nation. Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s kidnapping, along with her three small children -- and their subsequent enforced disappearance, false imprisonment, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and illegal rendition -- are all facts which have now been established beyond doubt.

For your reference, I have enclosed herewith a copy of an investigative report “Aafia Siddiqui: Just the Facts”, published by the International Justice Network, which sets forth some of the great deal of evidence which has been exposed to date.

The Prime Minister of Pakistan has declared Aafia the “Daughter of the Nation”, and the Pakistani people are justifiably outraged this grave injustice, as well as the inaction of those in a position to bring it to an end.

Aafia’s ordeal is no secret, her illegal abduction, unlawful rendition, and kangaroo trial are now matters of public record. The injustice of her plight has been recognized amongst humanitarians and people of conscious worldwide. As a result of this, Aafia’s peaceful struggle has become symbolic of the pursuit of justice dignity and freedom for many people across the globe.

Unfortunately, Dr. Siddiqui’s suffering continues -- prolonged solitary confinement while imprisoned, and lack of access to sufficient medical care has left her in a severely weakened state. Conflicting reports of mistreatment and abuse, compounded by the fact that she is not allowed any contact with her family, have left us to fear the worst.

Respected Sir, as you know, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which the United Nations has sworn to uphold under all costs, sets forth the rights of all human beings. Though I am not an attorney, I believe the facts established in Aafia’s case clearly establish that the Universal Declaration has been violated. Reproduced below are several articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which I believe should be instructive in Dr. Siddiqui’s case.

Article 1.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it is independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 5.
No one shall be subject to torture or to cruel, inhuman of degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6.
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7.
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8.
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10.
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and
impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge
against him.

Article 11.
(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defense.

(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or
correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection against such interference or attacks.

Article 13.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.

Painstaking efforts (and millions of dollars) have been spent by the US government to render Dr. Siddiqui from Afghanistan to the United States in order to put her on trial for an alleged crime in which no one was harmed except Dr. Siddiqui. In contrast, no one has attempted to hold accountable those responsible for the illegal kidnapping, abuse, and ongoing suffering of Dr. Siddiqui and her three children.

It is with great hope that I present the case to the United Nations to initiate the first step in bringing this grave injustice to an end, and in holding those responsible to account.

I look forward to a favorable response and a very strong plea for Aafia’s freedom on your behalf.

Wishing you courage and strength to do the right and honorable thing for the daughter of Pakistan and help restore our lost dignity and honor.

Sincerely,

Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui