Pakistani Neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui Appeals to Biden for Clemency Before Trump’s Inauguration

KARACHI: Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist sentenced to 86 years in a US prison on multiple charges, including attempting to kill US nationals, has appealed for clemency from outgoing US President Joe Biden before he leaves office on Monday.

Dr. Siddiqui, convicted in 2010 amid widespread outcry in Pakistan and by human rights groups, has filed her request through her lawyer, Clive Stafford Smith. A 76,500-word dossier detailing her case has been submitted to President Biden, highlighting alleged intelligence errors, concerns about her mental and physical health, and appeals from Pakistan’s government for her release.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote to Biden in October 2024, emphasizing the severe toll incarceration has taken on Dr. Siddiqui’s well-being and urging her release on humanitarian grounds. Biden, who has already issued 39 pardons during his presidency, has until Monday to act.

Dr. Siddiqui’s lawyer claims she has been wrongly labeled as a terrorist due to intelligence misinterpretations, asserting she is “no more a terrorist than I am.” Her sister, Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, recently traveled to the US for a brief and heavily restricted visit to meet her, raising further concerns about her treatment in detention.

Background

Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s case has been mired in controversy since her arrest in Afghanistan in 2008. While US officials claim she opened fire on them during an interrogation, Siddiqui has maintained her innocence, and her supporters allege she was abducted from Pakistan years earlier.

Human rights advocates, including her legal team, argue the evidence against her was insufficient and riddled with inaccuracies. Her case has become a symbol of strained US-Pakistan relations, with growing calls for her release from Pakistani officials and civil society.

What’s Next?

With Biden’s term ending, Dr. Siddiqui’s legal team remains hopeful that clemency will be granted. If denied, her lawyer says they will pursue alternative plans to secure her release.