For more than two decades, the name of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui has remained at the centre of a deeply contested legal and humanitarian case. A Pakistani neuroscientist educated at MIT and Brandeis University; Siddiqui is serving an 86-year sentence in the United States after being convicted in 2010 of attempting to kill U.S. nationals and officers and other related offences.
But for her family and supporters, the case has never been only about the conviction. It is also about what happened to Siddiqui during the years before her arrest, whether all relevant evidence was properly examined, the fairness of her trial and the conditions in which she has spent years in prison. These unresolved questions continue to fuel calls for a fresh examination of her case.
Siddiqui disappeared in Pakistan in 2003 along with her three children. Five years later, she resurfaced in Afghanistan and was arrested by Afghan authorities in Ghazni. U.S. authorities subsequently accused her of attempting to shoot American personnel during an interrogation in 2008. She denied firing the weapon. Her defence also challenged aspects of the prosecution’s evidence, including inconsistencies in testimony surrounding the shooting.
A U.S. federal jury nevertheless found her guilty in 2010 and she was sentenced to 86 years in prison. Her conviction was later upheld on appeal.
This is where the demand for justice becomes more complicated than simply calling for her release. A conviction exists, and it cannot responsibly be erased by public pressure alone. At the same time, a conviction should not mean that questions about evidence, due process, new information or prison conditions can never be revisited.
That is particularly important because Siddiqui’s legal team has continued to challenge aspects of the case. In 2024, a U.S. judge allowed her lawyers access to previously restricted discovery materials dating back to 2009. Her lawyers argued that these materials could contain important information relating to her history and detention.
At the centre of the current scenario is a simple demand: 100,000 signatures calling for action on Aafia Siddiqui’s case.
The petition seeks to build public pressure on the Pakistani government to take greater steps towards securing Siddiqui’s release and return. Its message is straightforward. After more than two decades in prison, her case should not be allowed to disappear from public attention.
The campaign is open to people from anywhere in the world. What has long been viewed primarily as a Pakistani issue has now become a broader international appeal.
According to the campaign, Pakistan has the highest number of signatories followed by Bangladesh, India, the United Kingdom and the United States. India’s presence among the countries with the highest participation is particularly notable. This shows that the campaign has attracted support beyond Pakistan.
The petition takes only a few seconds to sign but its organisers argue that reaching 100,000 signatures could demonstrate the scale of public concern and put greater pressure on Pakistani authorities to address Siddiqui’s case.
In 2026, her sister, Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui has continued to speak about material she believes could be relevant to reopen the case. Whether such material can affect Siddiqui’s legal position remains a matter for the courts.
But the petition serves a different purpose. It asks the public not to forget.
The participation of people from countries including India gives the campaign a wider dimension. It shows that concern over Siddiqui’s case is not limited to Pakistan and people across borders are willing to add their voices to the call for further action.
