Neuroscientist Gets 86 Years for a ‘Freak Out’

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Neuroscientist Gets 86 Years for a ‘Freak Out’

FBI composite for wanted poster / Wikimedia Commons

MIT-educated neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui has been sentenced to 86 years in prison for what her lawyers called a “freak out.” Siddiqui says she was abducted and secretly held for five years before she snapped, grabbed a gun and opened fire on her captors.

No one was injured, except Siddiqui, who was shot.

The U.S. disputes Siddiqui’s claims, saying she was arrested in Afghanistan two years ago with bomb making notes and shouted “death to Americans” when she started shooting.

Chris Hedges wrote about Siddiqui in his Truthdig column. —PZS

The Guardian:

Siddiqui, 38, was convicted earlier this year of two charges of attempted murder after she shot at US soldiers and FBI agents in Afghanistan in 2008 as she tried to escape from custody. Her case has drawn pleas from the Pakistani government for her release and divided legal opinion after Siddiqui claimed that she was abducted by US agents and held incommunicado in Afghanistan for five years.

Although the FBI accused her of supporting al-Qaida she was not charged with terrorism. However prosecutors alleged that when she was arrested in Afghanistan two years ago she was found with instructions on how to assemble bombs and weapons and a list of New York city landmarks.

Siddiqui was convicted over an incident in an Afghan police station. Prosecutors said that as US agents were about to interrogate her she grabbed an assault rifle and opened fire while shouting: “Death to Americans.” None of the Americans were injured but Siddiqui was shot. After she recovered she was brought to New York for trial.

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By diamond, September 24, 2010 at 3:37 pm Link to this comment

Oh, she was an accomplice of M. Atta, was she? Does that mean she worked for the CIA too?

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By Jordan, September 24, 2010 at 7:40 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

A witness in Venice, FL identified this woman as an accomplice of M. Atta.
The FBI received the testimony and Siddiqui fell off the map until 2008. She
will never be tried for terrorism for reasons unknown, but she did in fact,
provide material support for the terrorist acts of September, 11 2001. Her
cell is one out of Boston, MA.

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By Jim Yell, September 24, 2010 at 7:21 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

If she had a list of landmarks and instructions for making bombs, then she probably got what she deserves. It is sad comentary that our government has so abused the truth about so many things that we can no longer be confident that this woman had the two pieces of evidence on her when arrested.

On the other hand I don’t trust giving a blank status of victim to people who are terrorists, but yes, “is she” or isn’t she? I don’t know.

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By Corey Mondello, September 24, 2010 at 7:11 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

her name and sex are really what she got punished for.

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By esi42, September 24, 2010 at 4:44 am Link to this comment

There is definitely something fishy with the official story but really its just another day in the US “justice” system. Anyone unfortunate enough to get caught up in it realizes real quick its not about right or wrong like they teach you in school.

Its actually guilty until proven innocent and innocence is directly proportional to the amount of money you have or the powerful people you know. The police, district attorneys, judges etc are all on the same payroll. Its laughable to think any descision coming from the court is unbiased. Its their job to put people away.

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By skulz fontaine, September 23, 2010 at 7:16 pm Link to this comment

Starchamber! What utter bullshit.

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By diamond, September 23, 2010 at 2:30 pm Link to this comment

Well, maybe some of the people in Guantanamo Bay will get the same humane understanding when they grab a gun and open fire on their tormentors. Perhaps Fox News can do a special on how they were kidnapped and held for years without charge or trial until they ‘snapped’.

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