Aafias Cry is heard in Zambia
Zohaib Khan
“If anyone slays a person, it would be as if he slew entire mankind: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved entire mankind.” – Quran (5:32)
Dr Aafia Siddiquis story has reached the hearts of people in Zambia. In a country where Aafia spent her early childhood, people nationwide are uniting to spread her story and stand up against the injustice and cruelty that our sister has suffered.
Dr Fowzia Siddiquis visit to South Africa resulted in people migrating throughout the continent including Zambia with a message that retold what happened to our sister 9 years ago when on 30th March Dr Aafia Siddiqui and her three children were abducted and tortured and now sentenced to 86 years imprisonment for a crime she did not commit. After realizing the depth of inhumane behavior a nation can inflict on a helpless woman, a group of people decided to dedicate themselves towards a cause to spread her story and help Aafia come back home.
An Ijtima gathering was held in a small town of Ndola on the 9th – 11th June where Muslims from all around Africa as well as India, Pakistan and United Kingdom attended, where Aafia’s case was discussed and collective duas were made to help make easy her pain and suffering and for her to come back home.
Doors have been knocked on where volunteers hand out pamphlets explaining her case and people asked to join the “Zambia Free Aafia” Campaign (ZaFA). The numbers grow everyday and with this the determination to move ahead with more vigor and zeal.
Soon to be aired on major radio networks and television, ZaFA is trying to get the people of Zambia to pray for our sister’s return home and take a stand against injustice and oppression.
This Ramadan, volunteers will be travelling mosque to mosque explaining to local people what had happened to Dr Aafia Siddiqui and at every mosque from the north to south of the country, collective duas will be made for Dr Aafia Siddiqui and her family who are going through these testing times.
Within the parameters of humanity and morale conduct, ZaFA aims to achieve nationwide awareness and spread the message across oceans that would reach the ears of Aafia which would comfort her in knowing that she is NOT alone and Zambia is standing behind her.