By El-Hajj Mauri' Saalakhan
I wanted to communicate a note of thanks to all who supported yesterday's initiative for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. What you did was of profound significance, and will go a long way in helping to ease some of the burden on the back of our sister and her family.
Insha'Allah, we will hold another demonstration for Aafia at the same location in about six weeks. I initially said a month, but realistically we need a little more time to fully recover from the initiative that just ended. (We took a loss financially, but it was worth it!)
One of the positive things we did was to hire a videographer out of North Carolina to capture the mobilization on video. Insha'Allah (God willing), you and others should be seeing some of the footage on the internet soon. (We are also planning to produce a documentary and publish a book on this troubling case as soon as we are in a position to do so.)
With that said, I have a couple of other messages below that I would like to share with you. One comes from Pakistan (from the older sister of Aafia) via the tall gentleman that was wearing the cowboy hat at the rally. Andy is a long time friend of the family who traveled from Houston to support the mobilization. While he opined that Fowzia's message was as much about me as it was about him; in my humble opinion, it was as much about you, as it was about Andy and I.
Following Andy's message is one that comes from a supporter of Aafia, who traveled from North Carolina (by bus!) for the demonstration, and arrived after it ended - as did a number of others. (Yes, people were still arriving after everything ended and most of you had already left.)
Connie is someone who attended a number of the hearings leading up to the trial for Aafia, in New York City, and I believe she may have been present for the trial as well. I asked for her permission to share the content of a card she is about to send to Aafia, and the open letter she felt compelled to write to the authorities at FMC Carswell (where Aafia is reportedly being held cutoff from the world).
Please share these messages with others, as we prepare the groundwork for the next mobilization in Texas! A complete summary of what just took place will soon follow. Thanks again.
In the struggle for peace thru justice,
El-Hajj Mauri' Saalakhan
Dear Andy.
You are great, so is Mauri. It's friends like you who keep reminding me how lucky I am. How much I have to be thankful for.
All my best wishes to you. Please take care of your self.
Fowzia Siddiqui
Thanx for your interest and warmth receiving of me at end of the protest. I do so want to stay in touch,
Connie
On a card written for Aafia this day of April 9, 2011:
"You've got to admire them - setting off on a journey of no less than a thousand miles on only a wing and a prayer."
Dear Aafia, with your devout trust in Allah and with LOVE as His never-ending treasure...so you too will fullfil the butterfly's wing and prayers.
Somehow I sense a deep connection to you through prayer, care for the many powerless, and via love and awe in nature. Your values also help guide my path.
I pray strength for you to grow hour by hour day by day.
From your North Carolina Sister.
Love,
Connie
An Open Letter to the staff - on day of protest at Carswell - April 9, 2011:
For years I've been following the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. Today I was wondering if a few of you may also be concerned that there may well have been some injustices in her regard.
Let each remember the kind of legacy we each want to leave our children, our nation, and our world. May we pray - each of us - to do what is right on behalf of Aafia.
At the very least, we could - we must - pray and work together, with God's unending help, so that you at Carswell are able to pave the way for Dr. Aafia's brother to visit his sister Aafia regularly at long last.
Surely this one accomplishment by itself would send blessings upon you from heaven.
In the name of honesty, democracy, justice and peace for all of humanity, let's do the work of compassion now and always - including Aafia's troubling case at the top.
Connie L. Nash
PO Box 1267
Brevard, NC 28712
