Pak 'terror suspect' Dr Aafia frequently strip searched with her legs apart

Washington, Sept 5 : Pakistan-American scientist Dr Aafia Siddiqui, presently held in a US prison on terror charges, is strip searched every time she is visited, even by her lawyers.

Protesting against the way she was being strip searched, the 'terror suspect' refused to appear in the court yesterday.

Giving a chilling description of the strip search on Dr Aafia, her lawyer Elizabeth Fink said that she was made to take off all her clothes and stand with her legs apart. She was subjected to an anal examination and ordered to bend over and cough to ensure that she was not hiding anything, the Daily Times quoted lawyer Elizabeth as saying.

Interestingly, the judge refused to interfere in the strip search saying it was part of prison regulations.

The Pakistani-Americans present at the hearing, including Pakistan Consulate officials, were shocked at the description provided by Siddiqui's lawyer and told journalists that they felt utterly disgusted and angered by what they had heard, added the paper.

The next date of hearing at which Dr Aafia would be charged for attempted murder is September 22.

Lawyer Elizabeth Fink also pleaded that her client be immediately shifted to a hospital, saying her present condition was not such as to make her competent to stand trial. She said her client had spent years in confinement and she was deeply worried about her three children.

ANI