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South Africa protest demands “Free Dr. Aafia Siddiqui!”

By staff

Durban protest demands “Free Dr. Aafia Siddiqui!”

Durban, South Africa – Protesters flocked to the U.S. consulate here, March 22, on the tenth anniversary of the abduction of Dr. Siddiqui and her three children in Karachi, Pakistan.

The picket drew widespread interest from thousands of motorists and pedestrians. The demonstration was extremely vocal and passionate chants of “Free Free Aafia!” echoed through one of the busiest streets in the city. The protesters demanded an end to the oppression and injustices against Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and demanded her repatriation to Pakistan.

National coordinator for The Aafia Foundation, Inayet Wadee, addressed the crowd, saying the U.S. administration has a pathetic human rights record and that the national justice and prison system in the U.S. has been linked to widespread human rights abuses.

“We are fully aware of the unlawful arrests, unfair trials, inhumane prison conditions, lack of adequate health care, humiliating and degrading treatment by prison guards and cruel forms of punishment meted out to Dr Aafia Siddiqui,” said Wadee.

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