Dr Aafia's arraignment postponed over her refusal to go through strip-search

NEW YORK - The arraignment of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, the Pakistani neuroscientist, has been postponed till Sept 22 because of her refusal to go through a humiliating strip-search before going to the hearing Thursday in federal court in New York City.

Ms Siddiqui was indicted this week on charges of attempting to kill US military officials and FBI agents at an interrogation session after she was arrested in Afghanistan in July. The indictment contains no charges of terrorism but the government claimed she was carrying documents suggesting a plot to blow up New York City landmarks.

Ms Siddiqui's lawyers said she is innocent. They contend she was kidnapped by U.S. forces or Pakistani military in 2003 and held for five years in Pakistan or Afghanistan.