Posted on 04/04/2003 12:10:23 AM PST by sarcasm
A Pakistani woman being sought by the FBI for questioning about possible ties to terrorist networks toiled for several years in Boston academia researching biology and neurology, and devoted much of her time to preaching the Muslim faith. Still, Aafia Siddiqui blended in and her fellow students, neighbors and parishioners say they never considered her suspicious."At no time did she discuss anything about politics," said Gerald Ross, who rented an apartment in his Lexington house to Siddiqui and her husband in 1996. "I've got to tell you, if you're looking for an al-Qaida person, I think you'd pick her, out of 100 people, 99th or something."Siddiqui, whom authorities believe has returned to Pakistan, attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, receiving a biology degree in February 1995, said MIT spokesman Ken Campbell. At Brandeis University, the school's Web site lists a student by her name as the author of a doctoral thesis on neurological science in 2001. She also is listed as co-author of two research studies done by Robert Sekuler, a professor and expert in how the brain processes information from the eyes. Sekuler's office referred calls to a university spokesman who declined to comment. Members of the area's Muslim community remember her as devout and active in spreading the word about her religion. Abdullah Faruuq, imam of the Mosque for the Praising of Allah in the city's Roxbury section, said Siddiqui taught religion classes at his mosque and founded of a program to distribute Korans and other materials to college campuses."She was an educated person, concerned with educating people about Islam and evidently had the time to do it," he said. "Nothing ever smacked of her having a radical view - and Muslims speak their mind."Faruuq said he has been interviewed by the FBI about Siddiqui, but the agents never explained why they suspected her."They said to me, 'You don't know her like we do.' I said to them, 'You don't know her like I do,'" he said. FBI officials have said they are not alleging she "is connected to specific terrorist activities," but they want to question her about possible contacts with people suspected of terrorist activities. Siddiqui is listed on the Web site maintained by an umbrella group of Muslim student associations as one of the authors of a guide on how to run a successful association. She wrote about how to run a table at university to distribute religious information, including Korans. Among her tips, she encourages readers to "imagine our humble, but sincere effort," turning into a major movement."Think and plan big: Allah's powers are not to be underestimated," she wrote. Talal Eid, imam of the Islamic Center of New England in Quincy and Sharon, said Siddiqui had been an activist since the early 1990s and one of her projects had been distributing Korans to prison inmates."I don't know why people are picking on her," he said. "She was perfect. She was very decent. That's why I'm saying I am very upset because she is not like that."In September 1999, Siddiqui formed the nonprofit Institute of Islamic Research and Teaching Inc. The Roxbury mosque was its principal office and she was president and her husband was treasurer. The last known address for Siddiqui, who has three children, was a high-rise apartment building in the city's Mission Hill section. Her estranged husband, Dr. Mohammed Khan, 33, also is being sought by the FBI. Siddiqui's former neighbors on the 20th floor echoed what others said: They noticed nothing suspicious about her. One neighbor, Patricia Shecter, recalled that her children ran in the hallway and took a liking to one of her cats. Another neighbor, Matthew Parfitt, described Siddiqui as attractive but prickly after he complained she didn't put her trash down the garbage chute.
WASHINGTON TIMES.com: "FBI STEPS UP HUNT FOR PAKISTANI" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The FBI has intensified its search for a Pakistani woman suspected of working with al Qaeda terrorists, focusing concerns that the science graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology could be tied to a scheme involving "dirty bomb" suspect Jose Padilla. Law-enforcement authorities said Aafia Siddiqui, 31, who lived in Boston for years, is being sought for questioning in her suspected role as a facilitator or "fixer" for al Qaeda — someone used by the network to move cash or provide other logistical support. Siddiqui, who has a doctoral degree in neurological science from MIT, is the first woman the FBI has formally linked to the terrorist group. But law-enforcement authorities believe several women may soon surface in leading roles for al Qaeda, whose ranks have been decimated by arrests and deaths. (April 2, 2003) (Read More...)
ANANOVA.com (AP): "FBI FEARS AL-QAIDA MAY START USING FEMALE ATTACKERS" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The FBI has warned that al-Qaida may turn to using women for surprise attacks after having its ranks thinned by a series of recent arrests. The agency has issued an alert for a woman, a Pakistani neurological expert, wanted for questioning in connection with Osama bin Laden's group. Analysts are also examining claims made by another woman in an Arabic newspaper that she was recruited by bin Laden to open training camps for female terrorists. Female attackers, successfully used by other terror group like the Palestinian Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, would represent a major tactical shift for al-Qaida after years of being aligned with the Afghan Taliban regime that oppressed women and treated them as second class citizens unworthy of taking part in the Islamic jihad, officials said. Several US intelligence agents said they have no credible information suggesting there is an imminent attack plan to be carried out by women - but said analysts are wary of the possibility. Several factors in the last month have led the FBI to prepare for the possibility that al-Qaida might turn to women.") (April 1, 2003) (Read More...)
Apparently, she is a good operative. She never drew any attention to her. The really dangerous people are ususally soft-spoken mild-mannered ones, completely hiding their true agenda. Loud-mouthed activist types never make good operatives. They are better suited for political rallies.
Apparently Khalid(?) Sheik Mohammad provide info on this woman, according to the news report. She was alleged to be in charge of Al Qaeda logistics.
I am not making any sweeping generalizations. I am just saying that people like her are prime candidates for field operatives sought by intelligence agencies of the world. Because they arouse little suspicion from others. Obviously, such operatives are a tiny fraction of soft-spoken and mild mannered folks. But it is also true that many opeartives hide behind such facades.
I was remarking that she fits the profile for being an useful undercover operatives.
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