The Canterbury Bankstown Peace Group, with the Justice for Aafia Coalition, is calling for the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui. The Pakistani doctor was found guilty on February 3 of shooting US soldiers in July 2008, while in Afghan police custody.
Siddiqui was accused of being an Al Qaeda agent and has allegedly spent time in secret prisons in Pakistan and in the US prison in Guantanamo Bay. Despite this, she has not been charged with any terrorist offences but only with firearms offences allegedly committed during her capture.
The CBPG says she was tortured and raped while in Pakistani custody and says her conviction is based on lies. She will be sentenced on August 12, and faces at least 30 years’ jail.
One of her children is believed to have been killed during her capture and she has been denied access to the other two.
The CBPG is organising several activities in July to pressure the Australian government to call for her release. See the calendar for details.