Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist currently incarcerated in Fort Worth, Texas, continues to endure sexual assault, according to her attorney Clive Stafford Smith. Siddiqui, who is serving an 86-year sentence, has reportedly faced ongoing sexual harassment, including a recent alleged rape by a security guard as a form of punishment two weeks ago.
Smith reported to Dr. Siddiqui that she continues to experience physical harassment in addition to ongoing sexual assault. It has been difficult to communicate with Dr. Siddiqui; they used a broken phone to talk through a glass wall, which was only fixed after Smith complained to the jail administration.
Dr. Siddiqui broke down in tears when her sister, Dr. Fowzia, paid her a visit. Then, having forgotten about Dr. Fowzia, the jail officials took Dr. Siddiqui away and locked her up in a different room for sixty minutes.
Smith mentioned intentions to visit Washington shortly and expressed optimism of bringing Siddiqui’s condition to the White House’s notice, but he did not disclose any specifics.
