An MIT-trained scientist who’s charged with shooting at GIs in Afghanistan tried yesterday to convince the world she’s not nuts — by babbling throughout a court-ordered competency hearing in Manhattan.
“I’d like to urge you all to take me seriously. I’m not psychotic,” Aafia Siddiqui told the courtroom gallery during one of about a dozen bizarre outbursts.
The Pakistani neuroscientist, who’s suspected of links to al Qaeda, said she’s “really not against America” and wants to work with President Obama to “fix the mess in Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
“I can bring peace. I can absolutely guarantee it,” she said.
But the Muslim and mother of three, who fidgeted repeatedly with a white shawl folded to expose only her eyes, also lashed out against “the Zionists.”
“I’m not saying Jews. There are many nice Jewish people,” said Siddiqui, who was also educated at Brandeis University.
Siddiqui has refused to come to court since last year, but was forced to attend yesterday’s proceedings by federal Judge Richard Berman, who has to decide if she’s fit to face trial in October for allegedly grabbing a rifle and opening fire on GIs and FBI agents after she was caught carrying terror plans outside a military base in Afghanistan.
She was shot when they returned fire and is charged with attempted murder and assault. The defense contends Siddiqui is too mentally ill to help fight the charges.
Berman largely ignored Siddiqui’s repeated rambling yesterday, brushing off her requests to fire her attorneys and instructing the witnesses to talk over her.
But he angrily admonished her — shouting, “Excuse me! Excuse me!” — when she got too loud at one point.
Siddiqui also wound up pleading with the spectators for nearly five minutes at the end of the daylong session.
“Please, these forced strip searches have got to stop. I’m bruised all over,” she said, showing off red marks on her wrists and forearms.