LAHORE: The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is concerned by the alleged detention of Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s 11-year-old son, Muhammad Ahmad, in Afghanistan, according to a statement issued on Saturday.

The statement said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had arrested Ahmad on July 17. “The attempts by Ahmad’s family in both Pakistan and the United States to get him released, have been to no avail.”

It also said that the whereabouts of Ahmad’s two younger siblings were still unknown. “Ahmad’s rights are being abused and it is known to the three governments involved, who are all signatories of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC),” the statement said.

The AHRC said that the children should be returned to their family, adding that stern action should be taken against the people responsible for their detention.

A letter from the United States Department of Justice, dated August 22, to Dr Aafia’s counsel, Elizabeth M Fink, noted that Ahmad had been detained in Bagram prison, Afghanistan.

Dr Fouzia, Dr Aafia’s younger sister, currently living in Karachi, has made several efforts to see Ahmad but to no avail, the statement added.

“We appeal to the international community, the Working Group on the Rights of the Child; the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances; to intervene in freeing Ahmad from detention,” it said.
Source: Daily Times
Date:9/14/2008