A Brilliant Mind Behind Bars
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is a name that still echoes with sadness across Pakistan. Once a top student and neuroscience graduate from the prestigious Harvard University, she was also a Hafiza of the Qur’an and known for her intelligence and ambition to bring change to society through knowledge.
But today, she is not celebrated for her achievements. Instead, she remains imprisoned in a U.S. jail, far from her homeland.
Disappearance and Arrest
In 2003, Aafia suddenly went missing. For five years, no one knew where she was. Then in 2008, she was found in Ghazni, Afghanistan, where she was shown as arrested. She was later accused of trying to attack U.S. soldiers and was sentenced to 86 years in prison by an American court.
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Questions Around the Trial
Many people believe that Aafia did not receive fair justice. The court’s decision and the real-life events had big differences. Some say she was punished not for any crime, but for being a Muslim woman and a scientist during a sensitive political time.
She is now remembered not as a scientist, but as a prisoner, while her children still wait for their mother’s return.
Government’s Declaration and Strong Words
Recently, at a gathering of Pakistani expats in New York, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar made a powerful statement:
“ডাক্তার আফিয়া সিদ্দিকী আমাদের জাতির কন্যা। তার মুক্তি এখনো আমাদের জাতীয় অগ্রাধিকার।”
“Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is our daughter of the nation. Her release is still a national priority for us.”
He also said that the government is working with full commitment to bring her back home.
Symbol of Struggle and Human Rights
Political experts say that while Ishaq Dar’s statement might not lead to her release immediately, it shows Pakistan’s commitment to justice and humanity.
Aafia’s story is not just one woman’s tale — it is the story of a mother, a daughter, and a Muslim woman seeking justice. It reflects a nation’s conscience and the global fight for human rights and fairness in international law.
A Nation Still Waiting
Today, people across Pakistan—and even many from the Muslim world—continue to pray for Aafia Siddiqui. They hope justice will be served, and that she will finally return home.
Source:Daily Janakantha
