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Latest update: 24/09/2010
- Afghanistan - Pakistan - USA
Pakistani woman who shot at US officers jailed for 86 years
A US federal court has sentenced Pakistani scientist Aafia Siddiqui (pictured) to 86 years in prison for the attempted murder of US officers in Afghanistan.
REUTERS - A U.S. judge imposed an effective life term of 86 years on Thursday on a Pakistani neuroscientist convicted of shooting at FBI agents and soldiers after her arrest in Afghanistan.
Aafia Siddiqui, 38, was found guilty by a federal court jury in February on charges she grabbed a U.S. warrant officer's rifle and fired at her American interrogators as the tiny, frail woman was wrestled to the ground.
Her conviction was widely criticized in Pakistan, where Siddiqui is believed to have been innocent and mistreated while being jailed in Afghanistan and later in the United States.
But Siddiqui, who spoke at length three times during the 3.5-hour hearing in New York, repeatedly told supporters in the gallery not to fight in her name and that she was being well treated.
"I don't want any violence in my name, please," she said. "Thanks to God, I am well in prison. They are not torturing me." Siddiqui, who has a doctorate from Brandeis University in Massachussets, wore a beige tunic and white headscarf covering her mouth and forehead.
U.S. District Judge Richard Berman opened the hearing by noting the disparity between the defense request he sentence her to 12 years, and prosecutors who argued for a life term.
Defense lawyers, three of whom were paid by the Pakistani government, argued Siddiqui shot at the U.S. officials in a panic and said the crime lacked any connection to terrorism.
Judge Berman found Siddiqui had likely premeditated the attack and said it should fall under terrorism sentencing requirements because of her willingness to harm Americans.
Berman disagreed with defense arguments Siddiqui suffers from mental illness and noted her "intelligence, talents and possibilities." He nonetheless ordered her transferred to a prison in Texas specializing in medical services.
Siddiqui was arrested in July 2008 by Afghan police, who said she was carrying two pounds (900 grams) of sodium cyanide and crumpled notes referring to mass-casualty attacks and New York landmarks.
The Embassy of Pakistan in Washington said in a statement "we will continue our legal and diplomatic efforts for her transfer to Pakistan."
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Comments (1)
86 years alittle lengthy?
Seems as though 86 years in prison for attempted murder is pretty excessive?
Had this lady actually killed anyone?
How does US law effect a Pakistani held in US custody on Afgani soil?
Should this lady have been instead tried by the Government of Afganistan?
Maybe the brief france24 article simply does not respond to these thoughts,but the reasons of US forces located in Afganistan is to assist that government?
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