Siddiqui Sentenced To 86 Years On Attempted Murder Charges

Aafia Siddiqui, who was convicted in February 2010 of trying to kill U.S. agents and military officers after Afghan police detained her in 2008 has been sentenced to 86 years in prison. She had originally been captured on terror-related charges, but the conviction came on attempting to murder her prison guards.

During Siddiqui’s three-week trial, FBI agents and U.S. soldiers testified that when they went to interrogate Siddiqui, she snatched an unattended assault rifle and shot at them while yelling, “Death to Americans!” She was wounded by return fire but recovered and was brought to the United States to face trial.

Her conviction touched off protests in Pakistan. On Thursday, there were more protests as hundreds chanted “Free Aafia!” at a rally in Karachi, Pakistan, while others demonstrated outside the Manhattan courthouse.

Though she was not convicted of terrorism, the government has argued that Siddiqui is a cold-blooded radical who deserves a “terrorism enhancement” under federal sentencing guidelines that would guarantee a life term.

Siddiqui repeatedly disrupted her trial with numerous outbursts, requiring her to be booted from the courtroom on several occasions, including twice in one day.

Don't expect this to go unremarked that this is part of a Zionist plot to get her. After all, she claimed that the Israelis were behind her conviction back in February. Figure on her supporters in Pakistan and elsewhere to run with that meme.

She had been seen as an al Qaeda facilitator prior to her arrest and capture. However, she was not charged on terror-related crimes but instead on the attempted murder charges because of the difficulty in securing a conviction.