Pakistani neuroscientist imprisoned in U.S. meets sister after 20 years

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – A Pakistani neuroscientist imprisoned in the U.S. met her younger sister, Dr. Fauzia Siddiqui, after 20 years on Wednesday. 

Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is serving sentence in a maximum-security prison in U.S. on suspicion of terrorism.

She was arrested in 2003 and sentenced to 86 years in prison for trying to kill U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan.

Prosecutors also suspected her of having ties to al Qaeda.

Pakistani Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, who played a role in the meeting said the two sisters were allowed to meet under strict surveillance and restrictions at the Federal Medical Center, Carswell in Texas. 

On Twitter, Khan explained that Dr. Fowzia was not allowed to hug Aafia or shake her hand.

She was also not allowed to show Dr. Aafia pictures of her children.

The meeting took place in one of the prison rooms, with a thick glass wall in the middle so they could see each other.

The Pakistani senator also mentioned that Aafia told her sister about the difficulties she faced in prison.

He also said that her health condition had deteriorated during her imprisonment.

The Pakistani senator will also meet Aafia Siddiqui in prison on Thursday.

“Tomorrow I will meet Dr Aafia in prison along with Dr Fauzia and Clive Stafford-Smith,” Khan tweeted.

He will be accompanied by Clive Stafford-Smith, a British lawyer who works on civil rights issues and has helped Guantanamo detainees in the past.

Smith also tweeted about the meeting.

Senator Khan said Afia was subjected to the worst kind of surveillance with six people escorting her round the clock. 

She was chained and placed on a list of dangerous detainees.

Last year in July, the two sisters lost their mother. Khan said Aafia is still unaware of the tragic development.

In his tweet, the senator, however, said that this meeting has opened up a way for more “discussions and meetings”.

He also urged people to raise their voices for Dr Aafia’s release.