Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a neuroscientist currently serving an 86-year sentence at the Federal Medical Centre in Texas, has made a heartfelt plea for a presidential pardon, describing her incarceration as a “blatant miscarriage of justice.” After spending over 14 years behind bars, Siddiqui’s lawyer has highlighted new evidence that may suggest her innocence, igniting hope for her release. Siddiqui has steadfastly maintained her innocence, describing her daily life in prison as “torture” and expressing hope that “the tide could now be turning.”
This request comes just a few months after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also wrote to the US president, urging the release of Aafia Siddiqui. In this letter, the PM not only sought the president’s intervention but also appealed for compassion, urging President Biden to use his authority to grant Dr. Siddiqui a pardon.
This letter was not just his personal appeal but also the voice of entire Pakistani nation that is deeply perturbed by Dr. Siddiqui’s prolonged detention. Under US law, the president has the authority to grant pardons, and in this case, it is within President Joe Biden’s power to reconsider Siddiqui’s case. Given the longstanding concerns over fairness of her trial, the Pakistani nation expects the US president to exercise this power and rightfully release Aafia Siddiqui.
`While a pardon cannot undo the years, she has spent in detention, it would offer some solace to Siddiqui, who has endured sentence for far too long. It would also provide much-needed relief to her family, who have long campaigned for her release. This case is not only a matter of justice for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui but also a call for the international community to stand up for human rights. International human rights organisations should also raise voice in support of her pardon.
