COUNTERING NEGATIVE PRESS ON THE AAFIA SIDDIQI CASE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 002690 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PK PREL PTER SUBJECT: COUNTERING NEGATIVE PRESS ON THE AAFIA SIDDIQI CASE REF: ISLAMABAD 2586 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: To counter a growing avalanche of negative press stories alleging that the U.S. has been illegally detaining and torturing Pakistani scientist Dr. Aafia Siddiqi, post will place several letters to the editor from Ambassador in local print media (text para 6). End summary. Press Conferences and Posturing - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (SBU) Aafia's sister, Dr. Fauzi Siddiqi, held a press conference in Karachi August 5 in concert with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) to allege the U.S. had tortured Aafia and to demand her release from illegal detention. Aafia's story has been the subject of debate in the Pakistani Senate as well. Senate Leader Mian Raza Rabbani (Pakistan People's Party) noted the GOP remained in communication with the U.S and promised more information would be presented to the Senate on the issue. Senator Ibrahim (Jammat-e-Islami),Senator Abbasi (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz),and Senator Kamran (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam) lodged complaints about her alleged mistreatment and recommended creating a special committee to investigate her arrest. The senators' statements echoed earlier calls by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRPC) for investigations into her alleged abduction at the hands of Pakistani and U.S. forces in 2003. ¶3. (SBU) Paralleling politicians' statements, protests for her release increased since the U.S. acknowledged on August 4 that Aafia was in U.S. custody. One protest in Islamabad near Parliament August 7 organized in part by Internet blogs and attended by Jamaat-e-Islami workers and Jamia Hafsa (the female madrassah connected to the Red Mosque) students reiterated the accusations of abuse and blamed Musharraf for her alleged detention. The same day the Pakistan Tehrik Insaaf party of Imran Khan, who participated in a July 6 press conference (reftel) on the Aafia Siddiqi case, organized a protest in Peshawar where reportedly dozens of activists protested peacefully. The media reported unconfirmed protests in favor of Siddiqi outside the U.S. Consulate in Lahore on August 9. Judicial/Diplomatic Responses - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶4. (SBU) The Judicial Activism Panel (JAP),an obscure legal group which supports the lawyers' movement, has also weighed in on the issue. On August 8 the panel demanded the GOP take the case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and reportedly is contacting Aafia's U.S. attorney. Attorney Iqbal Jaffery filed a second petition with the Islamabad High Court (IHC) August 8 seeking Aafia's release from U.S. custody and alleging President Musharraf's son pocketed an FBI reward for Aafia's capture. His initial petition July 29 to the IHC named the U.S. Embassy's legal attache, among a host of senior Pakistani officials, in an effort to discover Aafia's location (reftel). The IHC has ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to file a report with the court September 9 on everything it knows about the case. ¶5. (SBU) Local media reported that two Pakistani consular officers visited Aafia in jail in New York on August 9. These stories alleged that when asked about her and her children's whereabouts for the last five years, Aafia declined comment on advice of her legal counsel. Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated it will ensure Aafia's rights are maintained throughout the pending legal process, but the local media openly question this pledge. Editorials published in Pakistan's English-language newspapers sharply criticized the U.S. and questioned the circumstances of her capture. Some warn the story will turn moderate Pakistanis against the U.S. while others allege GOP complicity in the case and call for Supreme Court intervention. Nearly all media reports report as true the allegations that the U.S. has held Aafia in custody the last five years and that we continue to torture or mistreat her and her children. ¶6. (SBU) Post will place the following letter to the editor signed by the Ambassador in local papers this week: ISLAMABAD 00002690 002 OF 002 Facts about Mrs. Aafia Siddiqi Case To the Editor: We at the U.S. Embassy Islamabad have been reading with increasing concern a number of erroneous and irresponsible media reports regarding the arrest of Ms. Aafia Siddiqi. We commend the majority of Pakistani journalists for their accurate and balanced reporting and overall professionalism. Sadly, however, a few have allowed rumor, innuendo, and grossly unsubstantiated allegations to dominate their coverage. Unfortunately, there are some who have an interest in simply distorting the facts in an effort to manipulate and inflame public opinion. The truth is never served by sensationalism; we believe your readers, as fair-minded and critical thinkers, deserve better. Therefore, it's high time that we set the record straight. -- Allegations that Ms. Siddiqi has been in custody at the Bagram Theater Internment Facility in Afghanistan are completely erroneous. Ms. Siddiqi was not in the custody of the United States -- either at Afghanistan's Bagram Air Base or anywhere else -- at any time prior to her detention by Afghan police on July 17, 2008. The United States did not have knowledge of her whereabouts until she was detained by Afghan police on July 17, 2008. -- Ms. Siddiqi is accused of seizing a weapon and firing -- unprovoked -- on U.S. personnel during questioning. She sustained non-life threatening injuries, received prompt medial attention, and is expected to fully recover. At no time was Ms. Siddiqi mistreated or abused in any manner whatsoever. -- While in the custody of the United States, consular authorities of the Government of Pakistan have standard consular access to her under the terms of the Vienna Convention. Pakistani Embassy officials visited Ms. Siddiqi on August 9. -- Upon her arrival in the United States, a criminal action was initiated against Ms. Siddiqi. She is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of New York with one count of attempting to kill United States officers and employees and one count of assaulting United States officers and employees. If convicted, Ms. Siddiqi faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each charge. -- The U.S. justice system is based on the abiding principal that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Ms. Siddiqi will receive a fair and public trial and will be afforded every opportunity to present her defense. We would encourage your readers to remain open-minded but skeptical of these current -- and any future sensational allegations that have no basis in fact. Sincerely yours, PATTERSON