Pakistan’s Prime Minister Appeals to Biden for Release of Aafia Siddiqui

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has formally reached out to U.S. President Joe Biden, requesting the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani woman serving an 86-year prison sentence in the U.S. on terrorism charges. This information was disclosed by a government lawyer during a court hearing on Friday in Islamabad.

The letter from Prime Minister Sharif was submitted in the context of a petition filed by Siddiqui’s sister. Siddiqui, a U.S.-trained neuroscientist, was convicted in 2010 on multiple charges, including attempting to kill U.S. nationals.

Siddiqui became a terrorism suspect after leaving the U.S. and marrying a nephew of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who is known as the self-proclaimed mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 attacks. In 2008, she was injured during a confrontation with U.S. authorities in Afghanistan, during which witnesses reported that she fired upon American personnel.

In his letter, dated October 13 and reviewed by The Associated Press, Prime Minister Sharif noted that Siddiqui has already served 16 years of her sentence. He urged President Biden to view the situation with compassion, emphasizing that various Pakistani officials have raised serious concerns over her treatment, which has had a detrimental effect on her mental and physical health.