Anti-American protest in Kashmir for release of Pakistani scientist jailed in US

Srinagar, Jan 27 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir's women separatist outfit, Dukhtran Milat protested on Friday to sought the release of Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui who is jailed in America.

The members of the separatist outfit demonstrated in Srinagar where they shouted slogans against America and expressed solidarity with Siddiqui.

Siddiqui was arrested by American intelligence authorities in 2008 for allegedly being one of the key conspirators in the 9/11 attacks in New York.

She has been kept in various jails in America since then and there were reports of her being physically tortured.

While alleging the charges levelled against her as baseless, the protesting outfit's leader Asiya Andrabi said injustice meted out to her was intolerable.

"Aafia Siddiqui is a symbol of strength and resistance for us. We gathered here today to express solidarity with her. In the American jails, after severe torture, Aafia Siddiqui has contracted cancer. She has also been sexually assaulted and as a result of which Aafia is now pregnant in an American jail. Nobody can bear this kind of injustice," said Andrabi.

Andrabi also slammed the Pakistani government for their failure to take any action in the case.

"Even if they don't release her, she should be put in a Pakistani jail so that she can atleast meet her children. She is a sick woman and she needs to be near her dear ones in such a condition. It is our request to Pakistan's government, clergy and the people should come forward for the rescue of Aafia," she added.

An American court recently pronounced a verdict in which it had sentenced Siddiqui to 86 years of imprisonment and she was also named in the list of the FBI's most wanted militants.

Earlier, Pakistan's ambassador in Washington, Sherry Rahman, had met Siddiqui's lawyer and discussed the prospects for remission of her sentence and also her returning home. (ANI)

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