SAN FRANCISCO, June 15 American Muslim community here has raised about $70,000 for Dr Aafia Siddiqui's defence.

The money was raised at a fund raiser held by the Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA) which has established a special legal defence fund for Dr Aafia who is currently in detention at the Carswell Federal Medical Centre in Fort Worth, Texas. She is awaiting trial and awaiting a final conclusion on her competency to stand trial.

Addressing a gathering of about 300 guests at the Muslim Community Centre of Santa Clara, Dr Agha Saeed, president of Pakistan-American Democratic Forum, urged the government of Pakistan to release $2 million it pledged for the legal defence of Dr Aafia. He said that at least $1.7 million is required for her defence.—Abdus Sattar Ghazali