#Clemency #Appeal to #Four #Former #US #Presidents for #Dr. #Aafia #Siddiqui

Clemency Appeal for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui

Date: January 15, 2025

To:
The Honourable William J. Clinton, 42nd President of the United States
The Honourable George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States
The Honourable Barack H. Obama, 44th President of the United States
The Honourable Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States

Dear Presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Trump,

I am writing to you as a global citizen and a voice of conscience to appeal for your collective intervention in securing clemency for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, an exceptionally qualified neuroscientist, a frail and aging mother of three, who has already endured over 16 years of imprisonment out of an 86-year sentence under circumstances that continue to raise profound questions about fairness, humanity, and justice.

Each of you has held the most powerful office in the world and has demonstrated your unique commitments to American values of human dignity, compassion, and justice. Today, I urge you to lend your moral authority and influence to rectify this grievous wrong by advocating for Dr. Siddiqui’s release.

This appeal is rooted not only in the universal principles of justice but also in the historical context of bilateral cooperation between the United States and Pakistan. When President Obama sent a letter to the Government of Pakistan in 2011 requesting the release of Raymond Davis, who killed two Pakistani citizens in broad daylight in Lahore, Pakistan fully cooperated and facilitated his release in the shortest possible time, demonstrating goodwill and respect for diplomatic relations. However, when Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif of Pakistan recently wrote to President Joe Biden, urging clemency for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui on humanitarian grounds, the U.S. government did not even provide the courtesy of a response.

Dr. Aafia Siddiqui has suffered immensely during her incarceration. Reports of her torture and repeated sexual assault have left an indelible black spot on the American justice system. Her plight has become a symbol of injustice, and her continued imprisonment raises grave concerns about the treatment of vulnerable individuals in the U.S. custody. Dr. Siddiqui’s deteriorating physical and mental health, combined with the fact that she has already served over 16 years of her sentence, calls for immediate humanitarian intervention.

This case has resonated far beyond the borders of Pakistan, deeply affecting the sentiments of people across the Muslim world and beyond. Clemency for Dr. Siddiqui would be an act of humanity and justice, repairing trust and demonstrating the United States’ commitment to fairness and mercy.

Presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Trump, you are uniquely positioned to champion this cause. Your collective voices hold unparalleled moral weight and global influence. By advocating for clemency for Dr. Siddiqui, you can help heal wounds, restore faith in justice, and reaffirm America’s commitment to the principles of human rights and compassion.

As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. profoundly stated, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” This appeal is not merely about one individual but about restoring dignity and fairness and sending a powerful message that the United States remains a beacon of hope for justice and humanity.

With the world watching, I trust in your wisdom, empathy, and sense of duty. May history remember this as a moment when you stood together to advocate for mercy, justice, and the principles that define American greatness.

With utmost respect and hope,

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad
Lahore – Pakistan
+92 321 9402157