New York: A Pakistani scientist convicted of
trying to kill US agents and military officers is set to be sentenced in New York City on Thursday.
Aafia Siddiqui will appear in federal court in Manhattan.
A jury convicted the US-trained scientist in February of
trying to kill US agents and military officers after she was
detained by police in Afghanistan in 2008.
During Siddiqui's three-week trial, FBI agents and US
soldiers testified that when they went to interrogate
Siddiqui, she snatched an unattended assault rifle and shot at
them while yelling, "Death to Americans!" She was wounded by
return fire but recovered and was brought to the United States
to face trial.
Her conviction touched off protests in Pakistan. Today,
there were more protests as hundreds chanted "Free Aafia!" at
a rally in Karachi, Pakistan, while others demonstrated
outside the Manhattan courthouse.
A jury convicted the US-trained scientist in February of
trying to kill US agents and military officers after she was
detained by police in Afghanistan in 2008.
During Siddiqui's three-week trial, FBI agents and US
soldiers testified that when they went to interrogate
Siddiqui, she snatched an unattended assault rifle and shot at
them while yelling, "Death to Americans!" She was wounded by
return fire but recovered and was brought to the United States
to face trial.
Her conviction touched off protests in Pakistan. Today,
there were more protests as hundreds chanted "Free Aafia!" at
a rally in Karachi, Pakistan, while others demonstrated
outside the Manhattan courthouse.
First Published: Thursday, September 23, 2010, 22:06