More about Dr. Aafia Siddiqui (who's next court event is scheduled for Thursday)

See the post several items below for more details...

Bottom line, this coming hearing/event scheduled for Thursday is NOT I am surmising the actual trial (or there would be more available publicity, I'm quite sure and the event would have been labeled "TRIAL". Perhaps Judge Berman will want to test a newer approach and work out some details to Dr. Aafia's satisfaction, the lawyers' and the courts as well as for the prosecution? This is an educated guess as there are many details to be worked out before the scheduled Trial date. Yet, who knows for sure in this case with so many missing pieces?

One and top among other considerations, Dr. Aafia is quite willing to give up all her rights in order not to be body-searched and more which are reminders of other abuses. (The big question is why since she's watched round the clock is this necessary?)

I felt that letting some empathetic folk know to be there in the court room is important without in any way organizing a media blitz. People need to be there to witness how the detention staff handles Dr. Aafia so roughly as if she has been ruled guilty (or even if she would be -the way they treat her and the lawyer is beyond conscience--pulling, yanking her on way out, grabbing a note Dr. Aafia wrote and refusing to give it to the lawyer and much else.)

Many of the other sources are probably not in conflict ultimately - just various perspectives and slices of the whole.

I was there and have followed the case for years - just very complicated series of events and hearings. Family is hoping the lawyers will be able to help her to return to her family and one child. (Two are still missing - one is considered dead)

Judge Berman may be seeking her humane treatment - more than he seems to have been doing in the past and is trying to adjust some things so that Aafia will trust the court and the newly set up three lawyer team (one who has known and worked with Aafia for some time.) Keep in mind that very little if anything has happened in general for ANY of the US detained in the "war on terror" which would encourage cooperation and trust...That is the bottom line...That and the horrific extraordinary and common RENDITIONS that are still taking place today, despite the promises and statements by the new administration that there will be NO MORE.

Andy Worthington once said about Dr. Aafia's situation that this is " the most mysterious" of all the detainee-imprisonment cases that of which he knows since he has been writing about them.

There's a lot of mystery to which no one knows the answers...but a REAL trial whether or not it happens in Jan 19th could make all the difference. Legally, Dr. Aafia is in a position now to be considered INNOCENT until PROVEN GUILTY. (This should have been the case all along - however since this was NOT the case before, this needs to be constantly emphasized if we in America are to be considered a nation which abides by the RULE of LAW (which legally includes our signature with the Declaration of Human Rights and similar treaties - even in times of war) and our own Constitution/Bill of Rights.

Watch for select passages from what I consider the best articles and information to come out on this case soon. Please add your comments, questions and information below.