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The Woman IS Wants to Trade Hostages For

"I think Siddiqui really represents the quintessential embodiment of Muslim victim-hood in the face of U.S. evil and really the most resounding symbol of how horribly Americans treat innocent Muslims in the war on terror," says Michael Kugelman.

Pakistani Aafia Siddiqui is currently serving an 86 year sentence in a Texas jail. She was the woman Islamic State said they wanted to trade for the lives of, first, James Foley and then, Steven Sotloff. There was no deal and both men were beheaded. But what do we know about her? Aafia Siddiqui's sister speaks about her family’s response and Michael Kugelman of the Woodrow Wilson Center provides his analysis of the situation.

"I think Siddiqui really represents the quintessential embodiment of Muslim victim-hood in the face of U.S. evil and really the most resounding symbol of how horribly Americans treat innocent Muslims in the war on terror. For these militant groups, she is really proof-positive of how the U.S. will use the war on terror as a pretext to do the most terrible things to innocent Muslims...Siddiqui can also be used by militants as a tool to gain sympathy or even legitimacy. These militants are basically taking up the cause of what they believe is a deeply wronged innocent woman and demanding that she be freed, and this is a position that many people around the world would share," says Michael Kugelman.

The original interview was conducted and published by BBC.

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Michael Kugelman

Michael Kugelman

Director, South Asia Institute
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Indo-Pacific Program

The Indo-Pacific Program promotes policy debate and intellectual discussions on US interests in the Asia-Pacific as well as political, economic, security, and social issues relating to the world’s most populous and economically dynamic region.   Read more