In a propaganda tape released last week, entitled, “Who Will Avenge the Scientist Aafia Siddiqui,” Ayman al Zawahiri called on Pakistanis to “take the only available path, that of jihad … which will liberate Aafia Siddiqui.” The woman lionized by Zawahiri is not a real person, but instead an anti-American myth who has garnered widespread sympathy in Pakistan.
The real Aafia Siddiqui, who was sentenced to 86 years in prison for attempting to shoot American officials, has been dubbed “Lady al Qaeda” by the press – and for good reason. She was part of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s network and helped plot new attacks on American soil after September 11. In fact, the FBI issued a “Seeking Information Alert” in March 2003 after KSM identified her during CIA-led interrogations and debriefings as one of his coconspirators.
