[act-ma] Week of Action Mon 7/15- Thurs 7/18! Campaign for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui

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*****Please forward widely****

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

**************************************************************************

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 at sbcglobal.net

and

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

******

Thank you for your support!



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