Dear Warden Carr,

I am writing to you today, as the warden of FMC Carswell. Correctional facilities must hold themselves to the highest standard – especially those in the USA, carrying the mantle of freedom and justice.

Recent reports show that more than 500 women have tested positive for the coronavirus, and a fifth woman has died from coronavirus while incarcerated at FMC Carswell. Since March 2020, the inmates at Carswell Federal Medical Centre have been deprived of any form of contact, taking a devastating toll on their mental and physical wellbeing.

As citizens concerned for the welfare of all those incarcerated, we implore you to reinstate the allowance for inmates to contact their families and legal representatives.

Incidentally, this is a hardship that Dr Aafia Siddiqui (prison number 90279-054) has endured for over 3 years, long before the challenges of Covid-19. Correspondence addressed to her is returned ‘refused’, or ‘receiver not found’.

Dr Aafia suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, but in her 13 years at Carswell, she has not received any treatment at this medical correctional facility. For the last 17 years, Dr Aafia has been deprived of any contact with her children, both of whom also suffered torture and violence.

I urge you, as a warden with the authority to support those seeking compassionate release, to support Dr Aafia Siddiqui for compassionate release from FMC Carswell under the First Step Act, or at the very least open up channels of communication to her family and legal representatives.

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,