Prisoner 650 – The Grey Lady Of Bagram

Assalāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi Wabarakath,

As we went on with our daily comfortable lives, a Muslim Woman, a Sister, a Mother and a Wife, lay screaming on a prison floor in Bagram Bay, Afghanistan. She has been there for the past five years, brutally tortured, raped and psychologically abused by Soldiers who claim to come from a civilised Country, but in essence are actually animals. So much so, that she is now insane.

There are no special facilities for her, she is told to shower and use the toilet just like all the other Men do.

She is known as the Grey Lady of Bagram and now confirmed to be, Dr. Aaafia Siddiquie, a Pakistani Woman, neuroscientist, a Mother of three children who was imprisoned by American Soliders and shipped to Bagram Bay Prison in Afghanistan. A Prison that is known for its torture and harsh interrogation tactics. Her children have also been missing. She has been charged with connection to Al-Qaeda, shooting at officers and/or having bomb-making instructions. Charges which are absolutely ridiculous.

Other male prisoners in Bagram Bay have not seen her, but they have heard her chilling screams. Moazzem Baig, a former prisoner reported that after he heard her screams, he thought they were from his wife.

Ms. Ridley read the text from the book’s section covering Mr. Begg’s stay in Bagram, “I began to hear the chilling screams of a woman next door… Why have you got a woman next door? They told me there was no woman. But I was unconvinced. Those screams echoed through my worst nightmares for a long time. And I later learned in Guantanamo, from other prisoners, that they had heard the screams too.”

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=63032&sectionid=3510304

Subhan’Allah, how can even a so-called ‘Muslim’ government hand over a Woman to the US, who are known for their torture and abuse? And how can we as Muslims stay silent for so long on this matter?

During the time of Mutassim, a Caliph, when a Muslim Woman who was imprisoned cried out, and it was related to him, he sent a whole army to free her, and yet we stay silent while our Sisters are tortured in secret prisons.

Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki talks about her on his blog:

When some Jews dared to uncover a Muslim woman, it didn’t take long for the banners of the Muslim armies led by the Messenger himself to hover around their fortresses. They where defeated by the Muslim forces, and the entire Jewish Community, (not just the perpetrators) where driven out from Madina — all of them, down to the last man. This is how serious such a matter is.

Centuries later, a Muslim woman was taken prisoner by the Roman Army and called for help from the Abassid Khalifah of the time, al Mu’tasim. He immediately ordered a mobilization of forces and led those forces himself in an attack of Roman territory in response to the call of a single Muslim woman. The response to her plea from the Muslims of that time was the complete severance of diplomatic relations, and Declaration of War against the superpower of the time.

But today, no one knows or even seems to care about this woman who has disappeared into US custody for years.

http://www.anwar-alawlaki.com/2008/07/23/prisoner-650/

Aaafia was known to be very active in the Muslim Community. She distributed Qurans in Prisons and Schools in her stay in the US. She organised Dawah tables and wrote guides on how to teach Islam to others. She was described as being a kind Woman.

A Poem was dedicated to her:

A Glorious Dawn…A Better Day

To Dr.Afia Siddiqui – prisoner # 650 in American custody

Another dawn …another day,
Disgrace; insult is thrown our way;
Yet shamelessly on their golden perch
The spineless look Oh how they sway!

As if there is no Lord above,
They with the devil-hand in glove;
Selling our dearest values and souls,
For gold and power – push and shove!

This crime you saw they so denied,
To filthy scum they sold the bride;
Yet the mighty Creator seeing it all
Unveils the gruesome act they hide!

Amongst ravenous wolves the fair one lies,
As from brutish hands she helplessly flies;
A suffering sister sane no more,
Her anguished screams – they rent the skies.

And this is all the pride they boast?
Our tormentors they daily host;
Brothers with whom I shared the cup,
sadly how far apart today we coast!

When comes a ‘Qasim’ to stem this rot?
Of Allah and His Messenger forgot!
Of cheaply selling our heritage which,
With submission and sacrifice was dearly bought.

And yet the brave will go the way,
Afia! Our elders pray, the younger fight-
For a glorious dawn… a better day!

[Fawaz Siddiqui]

Allah Subhanna wa ta’ala says in the Qurán:

And what is the matter with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and for the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, “Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper”?

This is exactly what we should be asking ourselves. What is the matter with us that we sit silent when our brothers and sisters and brutally tortured. Especially our Sisters, our Mothers. Aaafia could have been any of us and it is our right and duty to help her in any way we can.

Allahumma fukka kayda asrana wa asral muslimeen!

Source: Reflections of a Muslimah