News and Events
The Aafia Foundation 2022 Summary Activities
EDUCATION
For all of 2022 TAF’s Director of Operations, El-Hajj Mauri’ Saalakhan, has served as guest khatib for jumuah, the first Friday of each month, at Masjid Bilal in Richmond, VA. Four months ago he was asked by one of the founders of Jamaat Al-Muslimeen (Baltimore, MD) to do the same at that location. His khutbahs (as guest khatib at any masjid in the US) are always human rights oriented through the prism of Islam.
Saalakhan also delivers human rights oriented presentations at other locations in and outside the DMV - before Muslim and non-Muslim audiences.
Throughout 2022, TAF’s Director periodically released video and print summaries (via social media) on a variety of human rights related topics; presentations that are highly valued by Muslim and non-Muslim consumers, Alhamdullilah.
For the past two years Saalakhan has hosted a weekly human rights oriented broadcast out of Johannesburg, South Africa. The program is part of the Salaamedia Broadcast Network and airs (live) internationally over a number of social media platforms.
ADVOCACY
In May of this year, TAF was part of a highly successful conscious-raising HR initiative at the graduation ceremonies at MIT in Boston (Aafia Siddiqui’s alma mater)
On October 23, 2022, TAF spearheaded a two-part mobilization for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in DFW Texas. This was a much needed initiative, given the fear driven paralysis that gripped the Muslim establishment throughout the state, in the aftermath of the hostage crisis at the Jewish synagogue (following our highly successful 2021 “Five City Mobilization for Aafia. ” (The five cities were Houston, Fort Worth, Boston, New York, and WDC.)
On Monday, November 14, 2022, TAF led a human rights rally on Capitol Hill (WDC) to draw attention to ALL Muslim political prisoners in the US, and to call for relief (for the prisoners and their respective families). The rally began on the US Capitol grounds, and moved from there to the US Supreme Court - where most of the rally took place. (This successful HR initiative was the culmination of the Coalition for Civil Freedoms’ Family Support Conference that weekend in WDC.)
AFFILIATIONS
TAF is a leading member of the international “Free Aafia Movement” led by Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui.
TAF is a founding board member of the Coalition for Civil Freedoms (CCF), founded by Dr. Sami Al-Arian.
TAF has an informal mutual support affiliation with the UK based HR organization CAGE.
THE 2021 MOBILIZATIONS FOR DR. AAFIA SIDDIQUI
Check out The Aafia Foundation Press Release – Support Rally for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui
A series of human rights mobilizations are about to unfold in 5 cities for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, now well into her 18th year of wrongful imprisonment in the United States. The mobilizations will begin on Thursday, September 16th, in front of the Pakistan Consulate located at 11850 Jones Rd, Houston, Texas, 77070. Starting Time: 3 pm (CDT)
The second Texas mobilization will be on Saturday, September 18th, in front of the Carswell Military Base where Aafia is currently imprisoned. The location is 1200 Meandering Rd, Fort Worth, Texas, 76114. Starting Time: 5:30 pm (CDT)
From Texas we head to New York City for the third mobilization. From New York to Boston; and from Boston to Washington, DC, for the fifth and final human rights mobilization. (Date, Time, and Location of the final three mobilizations TBA).
For additional info: El-Hajj Mauri’ Saalakhan (202) 246-9608 – Email: mauri.saalakhan@aafia.org or peacethrujustice@aol.com
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is a wrongfully incarcerated mother who languishes behind bars unjustly in the United States at FMC Carswell. She is known as the “Daughter of Nation” in Pakistan. On July 30th, 2021 Dr. Aafia was brutally attacked by a fellow inmate and was later put in solitary confinement. We only found out about her attack when her attorney, Marwa Elbially visited her in jail and witnessed the burns on her face and bruising. Dr. Aafia told her lawyer “The fact that I’m not blind is a miracle from Allah”. She has made calls for public support.
The Aafia Foundation has partnered with local organizations including CAIR (Dallas/Fort Worth chapter), and ICNA CSJ to spearhead mobilizations in 5 cities to mark the 18th year of unjust imprisonment of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.
Houston, TX – Thursday, September 16th at 3pm, Pakistan Consulate, (11850 Jones Road, Houston, TX, 77070)
Fort Worth, TX – Saturday, September 18th at 5:30pm, FMC Carswell, (1200 Meandering Rd Fort Worth, TX, 76114)
New York, NY – Wednesday, October 20th at 3pm, Pakistani Consulate, (12 East, 65th Street, New York, NY, 10065)
Boston, MA – Saturday, October 23rd at 2pm, Boston Common, (24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA)
Washington, DC – Saturday, November 13th at 1:30pm, President Park (a.k.a. Lafayette Park)
The purpose of these mobilizations is to accomplish the following:
Raise awareness of a great miscarriage of justice, and the innocence and plight of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.
Protest against the recent violent attack on Dr. Aafia Siddiqui at FMC Carswell.
Express solidarity with Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in response to her recent call for public support (after the assault incident).
Demand accountability for the failure of the prison facility to protect Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, and to inform her lawyer on the day of the assault.
Demand the repatriation of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui back to her country Pakistan.
Demand the humane treatment of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui including her release from solitary confinement, and that her human rights be respected until she is repatriated back to her country Pakistan.
Fulfill our moral communal responsibility to stand up against injustice and to raise our voices for the voiceless!
Send a reminder that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui has NOT been forgotten!
The Aafia Foundation is seeking partnership and endorsement from community organizations to join the call for her release and for the restoration of her human rights. Will you join us in the STRUGGLE?
Free Aafia Rally Endorsement Form
Facebook Event Pages:
For more information regarding the upcoming mobilizations, please contact us at info@aafia.org.
A POLITICAL PRISONER INFO EXTRAVAGANZA!!!
***FORWARDED ANNOUNCEMENT FOR MARCH 19-21, 2021***
