Ramadan Campaign for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui

Ramadan Campaign for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui
Week of Action
Monday July 15th through Thursday July 18th!

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During the last week of May, 2013, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Muslim political prisoner, was physically
assaulted in her prison cell and left unconscious and bleeding. She eventually received medical care
after a two day delay.

We are calling on all supporters of Dr. Siddiqui as well as all supporters of political prisoners held here
in the US to join our week of action for Dr. Siddiqui from Monday July 15th through Friday July 19th!
This is phase one of a broader campaign throughout the month of Ramadan. Details of the campaign,
talking points, and a sample letter are below. This is your opportunity to take a stand against political
targeting of Muslims and abuse of prisoners.

We are demanding the following:

1) An independent medical team from outside the Bureau of Prisons should be allowed to evaluate and
treat Dr. Siddiqui;

2) Her religious rights should be respected, including the right to be free from humiliating and
degrading strip searches, access to religious materials, and non-contact with male prison staff. It is also
Ramadan, and she should be provided appropriate accommodations to allow her to follow a
prayer and fasting schedule;

3) Permitted family visits (her last visit was over a year ago), without the usual degrading and punitive
post-visit treatment that Dr. Siddiqui is exposed to; and

4) More vigorous efforts on the part of the Pakistani government, and its representatives in the United
States, to have Dr. Siddiqui repatriated to Pakistan so that she can be reunited with her family and
children.

The focus of this campaign is

Mohammad Aqil Nadeem (Consul General)
Consulate of Pakistan-Houston, TX
Telephone: 281-890-2223
Fax: 281-890-1433
Email: parephouston@sbcglobal.net

and

Ambassador: Dr. Asad Majeed Khan
Embassy of Pakistan, Washington D.C
Telephone 202-243-6500
Fax: 202-686-1534
Email: info@embassyofpakistanusa.org

****THINGS YOU CAN DO****
PHONE/FAX-IN CAMPAIGN-- Talking points for phone calls and sample letter for faxing are below.
Please keep in mind in making phone calls that if/when you are told you cannot speak with the
Consular General or Ambassador, ask to speak with his secretary/personal assistant and leave a
message. Ask that the message be read back to you.

1) On Monday, July 15th, please call the Consulate of Pakistan-Houston at 281-890-2223.

2) On Tuesday, July 16th, please fax the Consulate of Pakistan-Houston at Fax: 281-890-1433.

3) On Wednesday, July 17th, please call Ambassador: Dr. Asad Majeed Khan at the Embassy of
Pakistan, Washington D.C at 202-243-6500.

4) On Thursday, July 18th, please fax the Ambassador: Dr. Asad Majeed Khan at Fax: 202-686-1534.

***SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS FOR PHONE CAMPAIGN AND LETTERS***

1) Briefly state your concerns regarding the safety and health of Dr. Siddiqui: Dr. Siddiqui was
physically assaulted and left unconscious and bleeding in her cell. She received no medical care for
two days.

2) Stress the importance of the the Pakistani Consulate and Embassy strongly advocating for Dr.
Siddiqui's repatriation to Pakistan - and, for as long as she remains imprisoned in the United States -
her health, safety, and religious rights by:

***Demanding that an independent medical team be permitted to examine and treat Dr. Siddiqui;

***Demanding that her religious rights be respected, including the right to be free from humiliating
and degrading strip searches, access to religious materials, and non-contact with male prison staff. It is
also Ramadan, and she should be provided appropriate accommodations to allow her to follow a prayer
and fasting schedule;

***Demanding that Dr. Siddiqui be permitted family visitation (without the degrading strip searches
which routinely accompany Dr. Siddiqui's family visits);

***Demanding Dr. Siddiqui be repatriated to Pakistan so that she can be reunited with her family and
small children. Pakistani Consular officials should be more of an advocate for their citizen than the
apologists they have sometimes shown themselves to be vis-a-vis the policies and practices of the
Bureau Of Prisons.

****SAMPLE LETTER****
To whom it may concern,

I am writing you out of concern for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. I was outraged to hear that Dr. Siddiqui was
recently physically assaulted and left unconscious and bleeding in her prison cell. It is even more
shocking that after such an incident, she received no medical care for two days. I am disappointed that
neither the Pakistani Embassy nor the Pakistani Consulate have acted on behalf of Dr. Siddiqui who is
a Pakistani national.

The Consulate and Embassy should demand the following without delay:

(a) An independent medical team be permitted to examine and treat Dr. Siddiqui;

(b) Her religious rights be respected, including the right to be free from humiliating and degrading
strip searches, access to religious materials, and non-contact with male prison staff. It is also
Ramadan, and she should be provided appropriate accommodations to allow her to follow a prayer
and fasting schedule;

(c) Dr. Siddiqui should be permitted regular family visitation (without degrading strip searches); and

(d) Dr. Siddiqui should be repatriated to Pakistan so that she can be reunited with her family and small
children.

Please let me know how you intend to respond in your role as advocate.

Sincerely,

(signature)

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Thank you for your support!


--
"We Must Pick Up The Work To Free ALL Our Political Prisoners & Prisoners Of War!"