Latest Updates:Aafia Siddiqui (born March 2, 1972, in Karachi, Pakistan) is an American-educated Pakistani cognitive neuroscientist[8] who has been convicted after a jury trial in a U.S. federal court, of assault with intent to murder her U.S. interrogators in Afghanistan. She is incarcerated in New York and is awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for September 23, 2010.[9] The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.[10][11][12]
A devout Muslim who had engaged in Islamic charity work and proselytizing in the U.S.,[3] Siddiqui moved back to Pakistan in 2002. She disappeared with her three young children in March 2003, shortly after the arrest of her second husband’s uncle, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. (Mohammed is the alleged chief planner of the September 11 attacks.)[1][2][6] Siddiqui was added to the FBI Seeking Information – War on Terrorism list in 2003, which stated that although the Bureau had no specific information connecting Siddiqui to terrorism, it wanted to locate and question her.[1][13] In May 2004, however, the FBI named Siddiqui as one of seven FBI Most Wanted Terrorists.[1] Her whereabouts remained unknown for more than five years. In July 2008, she was arrested in Afghanistan outside the compound of the governor of Ghazni Province, on suspicion of being a suicide bomber.[2] The Afghan police said she was carrying in her handbag handwritten notes on how to make C-4 explosives, gunpowder, deadly viruses, and machines to shoot down U.S. drones.[14] She was also said to be carrying two pounds of deadly poison, a computer thumb drive,[14] and descriptions of New York City landmarks, including the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty.[15]
Siddiqui was shot and severely wounded at the police compound the day after her arrest after she allegedly grabbed the unattended rifle of one of her American interrogators and began shooting at them.[16] She received medical attention for her wounds at Bagram Air Base and was flown to the U.S. 17 days later.[17] She was charged in a New York City federal court with two counts of attempted murder, armed assault, using and carrying a firearm, and three counts of assault on U.S. officers and employees.[6][18] She denied the charges and said the interrogators fired on her when she attempted to flee.[19] After receiving psychological exams and therapy, the federal judge declared her mentally fit to stand trial, although there was a dissenting medical opinion.[20][21] Amnesty International monitored the trial “to assess the fairness of the proceedings, given many unresolved questions surrounding the case.”[22] She was tried and convicted by a jury on all counts in February 2010 in Manhattan federal district court,[6][10][11][16] and faces a minimum sentence of 30 years and maximum of life in prison. The prosecution has argued for “terrorism enhancement” of the charges and that would require a life term under the sentencing guidelines.[9] The probation office has recommended a life sentence, but Siddiqui’s lawyers have requested a 12-year sentence, arguing that she has been mentally ill, and that she has been the principal victim of her own irrational behavior.[12][12][23] The charges against her stemmed solely from the shooting, and Siddiqui has not to date been charged with, or prosecuted for, any terrorism-related offenses.[24][25]
Many of Siddiqui’s supporters, including international human rights organizations, have claimed that Siddiqui was not an extremist and that she and her young children were illegally detained and interrogated by Pakistani intelligence during her five year disappearance, likely at the behest of the U.S. Siddiqui’s family has said she was abducted and tortured by U.S. intelligence.[2] The U.S. and Pakistan governments have denied all such claims.[14][26]
Facial composite, created by FBI for a wanted poster[1]
Born March 2, 1972 (1972-03-02) (age 38)
Karachi, Pakistan
Other names Fahrem; Saliha; Feriel Shahin[1]
Citizenship Pakistani
Alma mater M.I.T., B.S. (1995)
Brandeis, Ph.D. (2001)
Occupation Neuroscientist[2]
Height 5′ 4″[3]
Weight 90 pounds (at time of arraignment)[3]
Board member of Institute of Islamic Research and Teaching (President)[4][5]
Religion Islam
Criminal charge Assault and attempted murder of U.S. nationals, officers, and employees;
Assault with a deadly weapon;
Carrying and using a firearm[6]
Criminal penalty Convicted; awaiting September 23, sentencing.[7]
Criminal status being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn
Spouse Mohammed Khan (1995 – October 21, 2002) (div.);
Ammar al-Baluchi (2003–present)
Children Mohammad Ahmed (b. 1996);
Mariam Bint Muhammad (b. 1998); and
Suleman (b. September 2002)
Relatives Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, uncle of her husband
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