Washington, Sep 11 - Today, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) issued the following statement on the commemoration of the 9-11 terrorist attacks:

“As we commemorate the monstrous crime committed against America on 9-11 and honor the brave, innocent souls lost, let us also remember an heroic figure in bringing to justice those who murdered our fellow citizens on this day eleven years ago. As I speak, Dr. Shakil Afridi, the man who risked his life to provide the intel our forces needed to locate and eliminate Osama Bin Laden, languishes in a Pakistani jail. There has been no resolution through Congress nor public efforts by the U.S. government to support Dr. Afridi in his hour of need. He has been tortured, his family has been attacked and he is still in a desperate situation. It behooves us as Americans to state in a unified, loud voice, to his Pakistani captors, Dr. Afridi should be freed.

“The continued incarceration of Dr. Afridi by the Pakistani government should reaffirm to all Americans that Pakistan is not our friend but instead is the partner of terrorists who murder our fellow Americans.”

Rep. Rohrabacher is chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and earlier this year introduced legislation to award Dr. Afridi the Congressional Gold Medal and offered a personal relief bill to grant the Pakistani doctor U.S. Citizenship.

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