Pak terror suspect Aafia Siddiqui may have to spend entire life in US prison
By ANISaturday, February 6, 2010
WASHINGTON - Pakistani terror suspect Dr. Aafia Siddiqui may have to spend the remainder of her life in an American jail after a Manhattan court found her guilty of all charges, US Department of Justice statement said.
“Dr Aafia, 37, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each of the attempted murder and armed assault charges; life imprisonment on the firearm charge; and eight years in prison on each of the remaining assault charges. She also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison on the firearm charge,” The Dawn quoted the statement, as saying.
The Pakistani neuroscientist, who has been charged for firing at American investigators in Afghanistan in July 2008, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 6.
Earlier this week, a New York court found Aafia guilty on charges related to the attempted murder and assault of US nationals and US officers and employees in Afghanistan.
Aafia’s unknown whereabouts between 2003 and 2008 has been the subject of much debate among human rights organisations and US government officials.
The US government claims that she was linked to Al Qaeda, while human rights organisations maintains that Aafia was detained and tortured in US-backed secret prisons. (ANI)
