Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Terror Trial Suspect: Keep Jews Off The Jury
By
Ben Muessig
Published Jan 14, 2010
Modified Jan 15, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Muessig
Published Jan 14, 2010
Modified Jan 15, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A woman accused of trying to kill American soldiers and FBI agents in Afghanistan begged a Manhattan federal judge to give jurors genetic tests to make sure they aren't Jews. "If they have a Zionist or Israeli background...they are all mad at me," said Aafia Siddiqui. "I have a feeling everyone here is them — subject to genetic testing....They should be excluded if you want to be fair."
Siddiqui — a Brandeis and MIT-educated Pakistani — allegedly picked up an M-4 Army rifle and fired two shots at Americans who tried to question her in Afghanistan in July 2008. According to the Daily News, she shouted "Allah Akbar" and vowed to kill Americans before she was detained. Investigators reportedly found two pounds of poisonous sodium cyanide, notes and documents on how to build chemical and biological weapons, and lists of potential terror targets including the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, the Empire State Building, and the Brooklyn Bridge.
Siddiqui allegedly stated she was "boycotting the trial" because "there are too many injustices." She also repeatedly refused to speak to her own lawyers and told Judge Richard Berman: "I don't trust you either." After she threw a handwritten note to prosecutors begging for time each day to pray, the judge ruled she could leave the courtroom at 3:30 pm for 15 minutes of prayer. He also ruled that jurors will not see evidence regarding the chemicals or the "mass-produced documents from 'how-to' terror manuals," and tossed evidence about her alleged Al Qaeda connections because it might cause bias. Siddiqui could still turn out having a courthouse reunion with her ex-husband and ex-uncle-in-law, terror suspects Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali and Khalid Shaikh Mohammed.
Tagged
Aafia Siddiqui
Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali
jews
khalid shaikh mohammed
richard berman
terror trial
terrorism
trial
Ben Muessig
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
A big, bright Saturn will be the highlight of NYC's fall stargazing season
Stargazers will have a great view of Saturn and two meteor showers in October.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Oct 3, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. ET
NYC tow companies busted for ripping off drivers must give $67K in refunds, city says
Mayor Mamdani has expanded enforcement on towing scams, but the unlicensed towing industry remains largely unregulated.
By
Liam Quigley
News
NYC tow companies busted for ripping off drivers must give $67K in refunds, city says
Mayor Mamdani has expanded enforcement on towing scams, but the unlicensed towing industry remains largely unregulated.
By
Liam Quigley
Off-duty NYPD officer stabbed in the Bronx, police say
By
Ryan Kost
DOC negligence factored in death at Rikers' Bellevue hospital outpost, jail officials say
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Conductor on NYC subway that dragged man to death may have skipped safety check, source says
By
Stephen Nessen
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .