Muslim activists in Washington DC gathered outside the Pakistan Embassy on March 30, 2023, to demand the immediate release of Aafia Siddiqui on the 20th anniversary of her abduction.
The rally was attended by a diverse group of individuals, including Nadrat Siddique, a Muslim marathoner from Karachi, writer and advocate for freedom from physical and mental enslavement, Mauri Saalakhan, a writer, poet and human rights advocate, Dr. Maha Hilal, author of Innocent Until Proven Muslim, and Muslim students from the University of Maryland.
Aafia Siddiqui is a Pakistani neuroscientist who lived in the United States with her husband and three children. In 2003, she left her husband and the United States and travelled to Pakistan, where she was later considered a threat by US federal authorities. She was then abducted and imprisoned by US forces in Afghanistan on March 30, 2003, and later sentenced to 86 years in prison by a US court on charges of attempted murder of US personnel.
The case of Aafia Siddiqui has been a contentious issue for many Muslims, who believe that she was falsely accused and imprisoned. Many also believe that she was subjected to torture and inhumane treatment during her imprisonment.
At the rally, the activists demanded that the Pakistan government take immediate action to secure the release of Aafia Siddiqui and to ensure that she is treated with dignity and respect. They also called on the US government to acknowledge and address the injustices that have been perpetrated against her.
Speaking at the rally, Nadrat Siddique emphasized the importance of standing up for the rights of Muslim women and holding governments accountable for their actions. “We will not remain silent in the face of injustice,” she said. “We demand that Aafia Siddiqui be freed and that her rights and dignity be respected.”
Mauri Saalakhan echoed these sentiments, stating that the case of Aafia Siddiqui was emblematic of the broader issue of Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslims in the US and around the world. “We stand here today not only for Aafia, but for all those who have been unjustly persecuted and marginalized because of their faith,” he said.
The rally was a powerful display of solidarity and activism, and served as a reminder of the importance of speaking out against injustice and standing up for the rights of all individuals, regardless of their background or beliefs.
@MauriSaalakhan, jazz vocalist Luci Murphy, @Dr_Maha_Hilal, and Muslim students from the University of MD (one of the largest universities in Maryland) were among those who rallied at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, DC, today (March 30). pic.twitter.com/TOFz0CNBRg
— Nadrat Siddique (@NadratSiddique) March 31, 2023
