An Earnest #Appeal to Respected #Pope #Francis for #Clemency for #Dr. #Aafia #Siddiqui

His Excellency Pope Francis
Apostolic Palace 
00120 Vatican City 

10 January 2025 

Subject: An Earnest Appeal to Your Excellency for Clemency for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui

Your Excellency,

I write this letter with a deeply burdened heart, full of faith in your boundless compassion and your unwavering advocacy for justice, mercy, and humanity. As a beacon of moral leadership in our troubled world, your voice holds immense power to inspire and influence the most challenging decisions of our time. I humbly and earnestly beseech Your Excellency to use your influential voice to urge President Joseph R. Biden to grant clemency to Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani woman whose case has become a symbol of suffering and injustice, before the conclusion of his tenure on January 20, 2025. 

Your Excellency, the plight of Dr. Siddiqui is one that transcends legalities and borders; it speaks directly to the essence of human dignity and the principles of mercy that you so profoundly embody. Dr. Siddiqui, a mother and an accomplished scholar, has been imprisoned for nearly two decades under circumstances that have caused profound anguish across the Muslim world and beyond. Her continued incarceration fuels despair among millions who believe in the values of compassion and forgiveness, values that the Catholic Church has so nobly championed throughout history. 

This is not merely a matter of one individual’s suffering but an opportunity to heal wounds and build bridges of understanding between nations. It is worth noting that the Pakistani nation, whose daughter Dr. Siddiqui is, has consistently stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States in times of peril. Pakistan has sacrificed immensely for American interests, often at great risk to its own sovereignty and stability. 

– When American lives were endangered in Mogadishu and other international theaters like the safe exit of US troops from Afghanistan, Pakistani soldiers and its government acted with unwavering courage to save them. 

– When the U.S. embassy in Islamabad was under attack and burning, it was Pakistanis who ensured the safety of American diplomats and citizens. 

– Despite the devastating consequences for its own citizens, Pakistan allowed U-2 spy planes to operate from its territory, even as the USSR threatened dire retaliation by marking a Pakistani citiy namely Peshawar, with red circle.

– In 2011, Pakistan facilitated the release of Raymond Davis, who had killed two Pakistani citizens, acquitting him despite widespread public outrage, solely in the interest of preserving U.S.-Pakistan relations. 

These examples and the pivotal role of Pakistan in bringing America closer to China underscores the profound sacrifices made by Pakistan in support of American interests. It is in this spirit of shared history and mutual sacrifice that we implore Your Excellency to advocate for clemency for Dr. Siddiqui. Her release would not only offer a humanitarian reprieve to her and her grieving family but would also stand as a testament to the values of mercy and reconciliation that your papacy so ardently represents. 

Your Excellency, you have spoken eloquently about the need for compassion in addressing the suffering of individuals, especially those marginalized or forgotten by the world. Dr. Siddiqui’s case is one such instance where the weight of your moral authority could make a profound difference. Clemency for her would serve as a beacon of hope and a powerful act of healing between two nations that desperately need to rebuild trust and goodwill. 

Time is of the essence. With President Biden’s tenure nearing its end, the window for this act of compassion is rapidly closing. I humbly beseech Your Excellency to make an appeal to President Biden, invoking the principles of justice, mercy, and humanity that form the foundation of your sacred mission. 

May your compassionate intervention illuminate the path toward a resolution that uplifts the values of mercy and reconciliation, values that unite us all under God’s divine love. 

With profound respect and unwavering hope, 

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad
Lahore – Pakistan
+92 321 9402157