Petition for the Immediate Release and Justice for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui

Paragraph 1: Who is affected?
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, Federal Bureau of Prisons #90279-054, a Pakistani neuroscientist and mother of three, is enduring unimaginable suffering while serving an 86-year sentence at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas. Arrested in 2008 in Afghanistan under controversial circumstances, she was convicted in 2010 of attempting to murder U.S. soldiers—a trial many argue was marred by inconsistencies and lack of evidence. Beyond her imprisonment, Dr. Siddiqui has faced severe physical and psychological torment. Reports from her legal team and supporters allege she has been subjected to repeated sexual assaults by prison guards, including male officers, under the guise of routine searches. She has also reportedly endured physical beatings, retaliatory attacks—like being doused with a burning acidic substance after reporting abuse—and denial of basic medical care for ailments stemming from years of alleged torture. Her children were torn from her during her 2003 disappearance, with one son released years later, another returned under mysterious circumstances, and her youngest, Suleman, presumed dead or still missing. Dr. Siddiqui’s family, alongside countless advocates, are also deeply affected, fighting tirelessly for her release amid fears for her fragile mental and physical state.

Paragraph 2: What is at stake?
If Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s plight remains unaddressed, the consequences are dire—not just for her, but for the broader principles of justice and human rights. Her continued detention under such brutal conditions, including allegations of sexual assault, religious discrimination (such as being denied access to an Imam and forced to strip in front of male guards), and medical neglect, risks her life. Her lawyers have warned she may take her own life, a desperate act born from years of trauma that began with alleged torture at Bagram prison in Afghanistan, where she was known as the “Gray Lady.” If nothing changes, her story will stand as a haunting symbol of unchecked abuse within the U.S. prison system, particularly against women and foreign nationals. Conversely, if action is taken to investigate these claims and secure her release or repatriation to Pakistan, it could signal a commitment to rectifying past wrongs, restoring dignity to Dr. Siddiqui, and reuniting her with her surviving family. The stakes extend beyond one woman—they touch on the integrity of legal systems and the treatment of the vulnerable worldwide.

Paragraph 3: Why is now the time to act?
The urgency to act for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, #90279-054, has never been greater. On March 29, 2025, she remains in a facility notorious for its documented history of inmate abuse, her health deteriorating with each passing day. A 2024 lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas details ongoing sexual assaults, physical violence, and violations of her religious rights—claims echoed by her sister, Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, and human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith after recent visits. The Pakistani government, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a letter to President Joe Biden, has pleaded for her release, citing humanitarian grounds. Her case, tied to the excesses of the post-9/11 “war on terror,” demands immediate scrutiny as global attention shifts toward prison reform and accountability. Every moment of inaction prolongs her suffering and risks a tragic end to a story already steeped in brutality. Now is the time to demand justice, to amplify her cries, and to free Dr. Aafia Siddiqui from a nightmare that has lasted over two decades.