Some Muslims protested conviction of Pakistani women for terrorism

Arab News:

The Pakistani community in Saudi Arabia reacted late on Thursday with dismay and disbelief at a US federal court’s judgment, which sentenced Pakistani scientist Dr. Aafia Siddiqui to 86 years in prison for attempted murder of US officers in Afghanistan.

"It is my judgement that Dr. Siddiqui is sentenced to a period of incarceration of 86 years," said judge Richard Berman in Manhattan.

Siddiqui, 38, denounced the trial and said an appeal would be "a waste of time. I appeal to God."

“Don't get angry,” Siddiqui said in court to her supporters after the sentence was announced. “Forgive Judge Berman.”

Berman responded, saying: “I wish more defendants would feel the way that you do.”

The sentencing capped a strange legal odyssey that began two summers ago, when Siddiqui turned up in Afghanistan carrying evidence that -- depending on the argument -- proved she was either a terrorist or a lunatic.

In February, she was convicted of grabbing a rifle and trying to shoot US authorities in Afghanistan while yelling, “Death to Americans!” The conviction touched off protests in Pakistan that resumed Thursday as hundreds chanted “Free Aafia!” at a rally in Karachi. Others demonstrated outside the Manhattan courthouse.

During a statement to the court Thursday, Siddiqui carried only a message of peace.

“I do not want any bloodshed. I do not want any misunderstanding. I really want to make peace and end the wars,” she said.

Siddiqui said she was particularly upset by overseas reports that she was being tortured in a US prison. She said she was actually being treated well.

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The story does not explain what the mobs are upset about beyond the fact she was convicted. Her response to the sentence seems much more mature than that of the mobs yelling for her release. I suspect that some of the protesters are letting their Muslim religious bigotry get the best of the.