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US hearing for 'al-Qaeda' woman 'Al-Qaeda' woman appears in court
(about 2 hours later)
A Pakistani woman scientist accused of links to the al-Qaeda leadership is to appear in a US court after being transferred there from Afghanistan. A Pakistani woman scientist accused of links to the al-Qaeda leadership has appeared in a US court after being transferred from Afghanistan.
Mother-of-three Aafia Siddiqui, 36, an ex-student at the elite Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), faces charges of trying to kill US agents. Aafia Siddiqui, 36, is charged with assault and attempting to kill the US personnel sent to take custody of her in Afghanistan last month.
The US military says it took custody of Ms Siddiqui in Afghanistan last month. She faces 20 years in prison on each charge if convicted, but her lawyer dismissed the charges as ridiculous.
However, her family and rights groups say she has spent the last five years in jails secretly run by the US. Rights groups say she has spent the last five years in secret US jails.
The mother-of-three, an ex-student at the elite Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), wore a purple headscarf and moved slowly into the New York court for a short hearing.
Her lawyer said she was in pain, having been shot.
She is due to appear in court again for a bail hearing in several days time.
'Innocent of any crime'
At a news conference on Tuesday in the Pakistani port city of Karachi, Ms Siddiqui's sister said: "Aafia was tortured for five years until one day US authorities announce that they have found her in Afghanistan."At a news conference on Tuesday in the Pakistani port city of Karachi, Ms Siddiqui's sister said: "Aafia was tortured for five years until one day US authorities announce that they have found her in Afghanistan."
Fauzia Siddiqui said her sister had spent "five years in detention" despite being "innocent of any crime".Fauzia Siddiqui said her sister had spent "five years in detention" despite being "innocent of any crime".
'Tall story'
US authorities say Ms Siddiqui was taken into American custody in July.
A statement by the FBI says Mrs Siddiqui was apprehended on 17 July in the Afghan province of Ghazni by local security forces.
According to the statement, US army officers and FBI agents visited her in detention on 18 July.
Aafia Siddiqui's sister, Fauzia, calls for a fair trialAafia Siddiqui's sister, Fauzia, calls for a fair trial
But a statement by the FBI says Mrs Siddiqui was apprehended on 17 July in the Afghan province of Ghazni by local security forces.
According to the statement, US army officers and FBI agents visited her in detention on 18 July.
During the visit, Ms Siddiqui reportedly attempted to kill US officers with a weapon she had snatched.During the visit, Ms Siddiqui reportedly attempted to kill US officers with a weapon she had snatched.
The attempt failed and she was reportedly overpowered after being shot in the chest by the Americans.The attempt failed and she was reportedly overpowered after being shot in the chest by the Americans.
Ms Siddiqui appears in court in New York on Tuesday to face charges of assaulting and attempting to kill US personnel. 'Tall story'
If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each charge.
Ms Siddiqui's lawyer, Elaine Whitfield Sharp, called the charges "a tall story" and disputed claims by the US that her client had been in hiding for several years before her alleged capture in July.Ms Siddiqui's lawyer, Elaine Whitfield Sharp, called the charges "a tall story" and disputed claims by the US that her client had been in hiding for several years before her alleged capture in July.
According to her family, she has not been seen since returning to Pakistan on a visit from the US in 2003.According to her family, she has not been seen since returning to Pakistan on a visit from the US in 2003.
A statement from Pakistan's foreign ministry said that embassy staff in Washington are seeking consular access to Ms Siddiqui and the government is "committed to bringing back all Pakistani detainees".A statement from Pakistan's foreign ministry said that embassy staff in Washington are seeking consular access to Ms Siddiqui and the government is "committed to bringing back all Pakistani detainees".
"Our efforts in this regard will continue," the statement said."Our efforts in this regard will continue," the statement said.
US authorities say Ms Siddiqui was married to a nephew of the man accused of masterminding the 9/11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.US authorities say Ms Siddiqui was married to a nephew of the man accused of masterminding the 9/11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.
However, Ms Siddiqui's family denies this.However, Ms Siddiqui's family denies this.