ahsanshaheen
FULL MEMBER
New Recruit
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2007
- Messages
- 79
- Reaction score
- 0
NEW YORK: A US-educated Pakistani scientist accused of shooting at FBI agents and helping al-Qaida turned a hearing to decide if shes competent for trial into a pulpit for telling anyone who would listen that she doesnt hate America but doesnt trust its courts.
Aafia Siddiqui repeatedly spoke on Monday to spectators, a US marshals deputy sitting behind her, her lawyers and even a team of five prosecutors and aides in front of her at the start of the afternoon session of the daylong proceeding. They were her first public comments since she was brought to the United States from Afghanistan 11 months ago.
I want to make peace with the United States of America, Siddiqui said to the backs of those at the prosecution table. Im not an enemy. I never was.
Siddiqui is accused of having ties to al-Qaida and grabbing a US Army officers rifle in Afghanistan in July 2008 and firing at US soldiers and FBI agents. She was shot in the abdomen in the encounter and was brought to the United States weeks later to face charges of attempted murder and assault.
A defence attorney has disputed the US governments account of what happened in Afghanistan, and a not guilty plea has been entered for Siddiqui. In court on Monday, she said: I did not shoot anybody. I didnt fire any bullets.
If convicted of the charges, Siddiqui, 37, would face a minimum of 30 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Throughout Mondays hearing, Siddiqui rubbed her wrists, reddened by what she said was rough treatment by jailhouse guards who forced her to court in observance of the judges order that she appear.
Siddiqui, a specialist in neuroscience who trained at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brandeis University, had appeared in court twice after she was brought to the US last August but had refused to attend proceedings since then. On Monday, she pulled a white scarf over her face so only her eyes were seen.
US District Judge Richard Berman said he will rule later if shes competent to stand trial in October. Psychologists say shes had delusions that include seeing her three children in her cell and being visited by flying infants and dark angels.
L. Thomas Kucharski, a psychologist for the defence, testified Siddiqui suffers from delusional disorder and depression and is unfit for trial. Two mental health experts for the government, Gregory B. Saathoff and Sally C. Johnson, testified shes fit for trial because her behaviour reflects malingering or grossly exaggerated psychological symptoms aimed at getting a result, such as avoiding trial.
When Johnson testified that Siddiqui had said the judge is a pawn of a Zionist conspiracy and only wants to kill her, Siddiqui turned toward spectators and nodded her head enthusiastically in apparent agreement.
Johnson said Siddiquis descriptions of seeing her children in her cell and other events had subsided over the months and an analysis of her recorded conversations with her brother and others had shown that she understood the charges against her and the legal process.
Kucharski testified that her prospects might be worse if she were found incompetent because it could trigger a court order of forced medication to treat symptoms so that she could become competent for trial. And, if her symptoms are not treatable, she could remain institutionalised for life, he said.
Before she left court, Siddiqui insisted shes not paranoid or psychotic and described her fears that her statements Monday might be her last.
Its probably the last opportunity Im going to get, she said, noting the possibility she will be subjected to forced medication. Ive seen people on the drugs. They cant talk.
At least twice during the hearing she indicated she will not cooperate with her court-appointed lawyer, Dawn M. Cardi.
Cardi said outside court that her clients behaviour supported her argument that shes unfit for trial.
Shes not making any sense, Cardi said.
The lawyer noted that Siddiqui had shouted to spectators that she could bring peace to Pakistan and Afghanistan if she were permitted to speak with President Barack Obama. It was an example of grandiose behaviour that supports conclusions that she is delusional, Cardi said.
In court, Siddiqui told spectators: The American president wants to make peace. I want to help him. Am I making sense? Im sincere. AP
Aafia Siddiqui repeatedly spoke on Monday to spectators, a US marshals deputy sitting behind her, her lawyers and even a team of five prosecutors and aides in front of her at the start of the afternoon session of the daylong proceeding. They were her first public comments since she was brought to the United States from Afghanistan 11 months ago.
I want to make peace with the United States of America, Siddiqui said to the backs of those at the prosecution table. Im not an enemy. I never was.
Siddiqui is accused of having ties to al-Qaida and grabbing a US Army officers rifle in Afghanistan in July 2008 and firing at US soldiers and FBI agents. She was shot in the abdomen in the encounter and was brought to the United States weeks later to face charges of attempted murder and assault.
A defence attorney has disputed the US governments account of what happened in Afghanistan, and a not guilty plea has been entered for Siddiqui. In court on Monday, she said: I did not shoot anybody. I didnt fire any bullets.
If convicted of the charges, Siddiqui, 37, would face a minimum of 30 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Throughout Mondays hearing, Siddiqui rubbed her wrists, reddened by what she said was rough treatment by jailhouse guards who forced her to court in observance of the judges order that she appear.
Siddiqui, a specialist in neuroscience who trained at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brandeis University, had appeared in court twice after she was brought to the US last August but had refused to attend proceedings since then. On Monday, she pulled a white scarf over her face so only her eyes were seen.
US District Judge Richard Berman said he will rule later if shes competent to stand trial in October. Psychologists say shes had delusions that include seeing her three children in her cell and being visited by flying infants and dark angels.
L. Thomas Kucharski, a psychologist for the defence, testified Siddiqui suffers from delusional disorder and depression and is unfit for trial. Two mental health experts for the government, Gregory B. Saathoff and Sally C. Johnson, testified shes fit for trial because her behaviour reflects malingering or grossly exaggerated psychological symptoms aimed at getting a result, such as avoiding trial.
When Johnson testified that Siddiqui had said the judge is a pawn of a Zionist conspiracy and only wants to kill her, Siddiqui turned toward spectators and nodded her head enthusiastically in apparent agreement.
Johnson said Siddiquis descriptions of seeing her children in her cell and other events had subsided over the months and an analysis of her recorded conversations with her brother and others had shown that she understood the charges against her and the legal process.
Kucharski testified that her prospects might be worse if she were found incompetent because it could trigger a court order of forced medication to treat symptoms so that she could become competent for trial. And, if her symptoms are not treatable, she could remain institutionalised for life, he said.
Before she left court, Siddiqui insisted shes not paranoid or psychotic and described her fears that her statements Monday might be her last.
Its probably the last opportunity Im going to get, she said, noting the possibility she will be subjected to forced medication. Ive seen people on the drugs. They cant talk.
At least twice during the hearing she indicated she will not cooperate with her court-appointed lawyer, Dawn M. Cardi.
Cardi said outside court that her clients behaviour supported her argument that shes unfit for trial.
Shes not making any sense, Cardi said.
The lawyer noted that Siddiqui had shouted to spectators that she could bring peace to Pakistan and Afghanistan if she were permitted to speak with President Barack Obama. It was an example of grandiose behaviour that supports conclusions that she is delusional, Cardi said.
In court, Siddiqui told spectators: The American president wants to make peace. I want to help him. Am I making sense? Im sincere. AP
