From the leaflet entitled "Afzal's Story in His Words" published
by
the Society for the Protection of Detainees' and Prisoners' Rights
New Delhi, October 2006, pp. 9-11.
Mohammad Afzal's Letter to
All India Defence Committee for SAR Geelani
Mohammad Afzal
The Chairman
All India Defence Committee for S.A.R. Geelani
New Delhi
With respect and esteem I would like to inform your honorary Committee that in The Trial of Parliament attack Case in the designated session court Patiala house I (Mohammad AFZAL) accused was not given defence aid/Amicus curie in spite of giving three applications for the lawyer of my own choice. Throughout the trial I was not allowed to most of the witness, police and others to cross-question to their statements recorded by the session court. Not a single witness was cross-questioned on behalf of me by any legal aid. There were most of the witnesses which I have seen for the first time in court and the court went on recording their one-sided fabricated and self designed statements without any argument or cross-questioning. I remained speechless mute helpless spectator as I was not allowed to speak except few times.
When I was allowed to cross-question one of the media interviewer of National T.V. Channel Aaj Tak named Shams Tahir, he confirmed and replied that I (Afzal) was under duress and threat at the time of interview as I was threatened by the A.C.P Rajbeer Singh before mediamen on replying to one of the questions which infact proved the complete innocence of S.A.R Geelani.
The Court did not also gave me the recorded statements of The Trial, which was going on, so it was impossible for me to know what the court had recorded.
Being in high-security ward of Tihar Jail where it is too difficult to communicate with outer people like lawyer etc., in a week, I had seen a news Through Indian Express daily that my lawyer had Told the High Court on behalf of me that I (Afzal) had accepted the death sentence and I want only that method/way of killing/ hanging should be changed by injecting the powerful toxic injection So as to reduce the pain of dying. I object and challenge this false statement which has been actually given by lawyer himself without my knowledge and consent making my whole process of appeal a mockery.
The magnitude and the gravity of my unknowing, unwilling and inintentional involvement in the Parliament attack case was from the beginning emotionalized and magnified by police through all possible means due to my helplessness, ignorance of law (legal process) and unability to manage The suitable legal aid. Thus the police made me a scapegoat so as to mask their unability and failure to trace out the mastermind of Parliament attack and to make people fool. Keeping all these points and facts in view I am requesting to your honorary that the reality of my fabricated involvement in Parliament attack case should come out/exposed before the people and Supreme Court of India. I hope that your honourable committee will consider my humble request with sympathy and I will be highly obliged.
Thank you
Yours humbly
Mohammad Afzal
S/o Late Habibullah Guru
Ward No 7 High-security ward
Jail No. 2
Tihar, New Delhi
Dated: 26/01/2004
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