Interrogation and Torture

White Paper Team Report for Project 2

University of Washington, Seattle, CSEP 59 TU
University of California, !er"eley, PP #9$29%9
&y
!ar&ra Ramos 'UC! (SPP),
Christopher *+P+is 'UW P,P),
*ennis (alvin 'UW P,P),
Eiman -olfaghari 'UW P,P),
Sean *avi. Car.eno 'UC! (SPP)
s+&mitte. *ecem&er /, 25
1. INTRODUCTION
0t present the Unite. States is engage. in 1hat it has terme. the 2(lo&al War on Terror32 4n this effort
many prisoners are ta"en &y the US an. its allies3 Clearly some percentage of these prisoners may hol. information
1hich has the potential to5 #) prevent 'or lessen the impacts of) terrorist acts against civilians6 2) prevent terrorist
acts against military targets6 7) provi.e the means to &rea" +p the terrorist net1or"'s)6 8) provi.e the means to
.isr+pt terrorist comman. an. control activities3 Similar sit+ations may e9ist in many other areas of the 1orl., s+ch
as Chechnya or 4srael, 1here a recogni:e. government is 2at 1ar2 1ith terrorist organi:ations3
The governments or occ+pying po1ers hol. an asymmetric relationship 1ith the gro+ps they are fighting3
*ecisions of the governments 1ill &e +nilateral an. any concessions to1ar. h+mane treatment 1ill not necessarily
&e reciprocate. &y the terrorist gro+ps3
This paper .oes not .irectly e9amine iss+es of 1hether the .etention of prisoners is j+stifie., &+t rather the
con.+ct of interrogation sessions an. 1hether the +se of tort+re in those sessions is ever j+stifia&le3
1.1. Definitions
Dictionary definitions:
4nterrogate:
verb: 1 : to question formally and systematically
#
Tort+re5
noun: 2 : the infliction of intense pain (as from burning, crushing, or wounding) to punish, coerce, or
afford sadistic pleasure
verb: 1 : to cause intense suffering to : TO!"#T 2 : to punish or coerce by inflicting e$cruciating pain
2
#
;4nterrogate3< ,erriam%We&ster =nline *ictionary, http5$$1113m%13com$.ictionary$interrogate
2
;Tort+re3< ,erriam%We&ster =nline *ictionary, http5$$1113m%13com$.ictionary$tort+re
=ther .efinitions5
>from #? USC ##7C Section 278 US 0nti%Tort+re 0ct@
(1) %torture% means an act committed by a person acting under the color of law specifically intended to
inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering (other than pain or suffering incidental to lawful
sanctions) upon another person within his custody or physical control&
(2) %severe mental pain or suffering% means the prolonged mental harm caused by or resulting from '
(() the intentional infliction or threatened infliction of severe physical pain or suffering&
()) the administration or application, or threatened administration or application, of mind'
altering substances or other procedures calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or the
personality&
(*) the threat of imminent death& or
(+) the threat that another person will imminently be sub,ected to death, severe physical pain or
suffering, or the administration or application of mind'altering substances or other procedures
calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or personality&
Arom the UB Convention against Tort+re an. =ther Cr+el, 4nh+man or *egra.ing Treatment or P+nishment5
-or the purposes of this *onvention, the term %torture% means any act by which severe pain or suffering,
whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him
or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed
or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason
based on discrimination of any .ind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or
with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity/ 0t does
not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions/
The .efinition of interrogate yiel.s very little sense of the fact that s+&jects of interrogation .o not
generally 1ant to .iv+lge information3 4nterrogators often +tili:e coercive techniC+es to ca+se the s+&ject to ce.e
the .esire. information3 These coercive techniC+es e9ist on a contin++m from ;.irect C+estioning< thro+gh
;tort+re< an. ;.eath<3
7
7
Ailaro1s"i%Shea"s, Christina, 4nterrogation Policy D the (lo&al War on Terrorism, Presentation to Terrorism
Cy&ersec+rity Class, !er"eley, California, 7%Bov%25
2. HISTORY OF TORTUR
Tort+re as a tool of interrogation is not a ne1 phenomenon3 4t has &een +se. to coerce information from
s+&jects at least since the first 1ritten la1 co.es, an. its +se has, at vario+s times in the past, &een +&iC+ito+s at least
thro+gho+t E+rope3 The follo1ing s+rvey traces its early +se in 0ncient (reece, follo1s its .evelopment in the
Roman Empire, its revival in the #2
th
an. #7
th
cent+ries for &oth sec+lar an. religio+s trials, its &anning as an
instr+ment of legal trials, an. finally its revival as a tool of the stateEs po1er3
2.1. !reece: torture of s"a#es and $so%e& foreigners
Arom the /th to the 5th cent+ry !3C3, the (ree"s co.ifie. la1s to govern .isp+tes &et1een in.ivi.+als,
replacing the earlier tra.ition of settling arg+ments 1ith &loo. fe+.s 1ith a system in 1hich the state ha. the po1er
to ar&itrate &et1een parties3 The la1 co.es, most nota&ly the set of la1s 1ritten &y Solon for the city of 0thens in
598 !3C3, set o+t the 1ays in 1hich a victim of a crime co+l. &e recompense. &y the perpetrator%%most crimes,
incl+.ing m+r.er, 1ere p+nishe. as harming the property of another, an. p+nishe. accor.ingly, &y .eman.ing
payment of a similar amo+nt from the perpetrator to the victim3 'Aor m+r.er, the 2payment2 1as the &anishment of
the m+r.erer3)
8
(ree" legal proce.+re place. great val+e +pon the s1orn testimony of a citi:en, &+il.ing m+ch of their trial
proce.+re +pon the i.ea that the honor an. stat+s of a citi:en 1o+l. compel him to spea" the tr+th3 0s an a..itional
in.+cement to spea" tr+th, citi:ens fo+n. to have perj+re. themselves co+l. &e .eclare. infamo+s an. &anishe.
from the city3 Fo1ever, 1hen the testimony of a non%citi:en, s+ch as a slave or a foreigner, 1as reC+ire., no s+ch
8
;0ncient (ree" la13< Wi"ipe.ia3org, http5$$en31i"ipe.ia3org$1i"i$0ncientG(ree"Gla1
comp+lsion 1as recogni:e.3 (ree" la1 therefore provi.e. a means &y 1hich the 1or. of a person 1itho+t honor
might &e ma.e accepta&le as evi.ence in a trial5 tort+re3
This type of j+.icial tort+re seems to have never &een +se. on citi:ens, &+t rare e9amples .o e9ist of
citi:ens acc+se. of .eplora&le crimes &eing s+&jecte. to tort+re3 Aor e9ample, in 8##, an accomplice in the
assassination of a mem&er of the oligarchy of the Ao+r F+n.re. in 0thens 1as e9amine. +n.er tort+re3
5
2.2. Ro%e: T'e torture of e#eryone (ut t'e )o*erfu"
!eginning aro+n. the 5th cent+ry !3C3, the .evelopment of Roman la1 1as strongly infl+ence. &y the
&o.y of (ree" la1 an. its practices, in m+ch the same 1ay that Rome a.opte. (ree" go.s an. philosophies3
The Romans also +se. tort+re, an., li"e the (ree"s, they place. restrictions on the class of people 1ho
co+l. &e s+&jecte. to tort+re3 0t first, the la1 a&sol+tely prohi&ite. the tort+re of free&orn citi:ens, an. it provi.e.
greater protection to to the slave than the (ree" la1s &y allo1ing only slaves 1ho ha. &een acc+se. of a crime to &e
tort+re.3 A+rthermore, tort+re of slaves 1as restricte. to criminal, rather than civil, cases, again re.+cing the threat
of tort+re to the slave3 Fo1ever, these protections 1ere gra.+ally strippe. a1ay, first &y allo1ing slaves to &e
tort+re. over monetary .isp+tes, then &y allo1ing freemen of 2lo1 estate2 to &e tort+re., an. finally in allo1ing
freemen of &oth h+m&le an. no&le class to &e tort+re. in cases of treason3
H
4t is nota&le that Roman legal 1ritings, C+estions as to the vali.ity of evi.ence o&taine. +n.er tort+re ha.
alrea.y &een raise.3 Aor e9ample Ulpian '.ie. 22?) 1rote the follo1ing 1arning on the +se of tort+re, 1hich 1as
incl+.e. in I+stinianJs *igest of 5295
5
Peters, E.1ar., Torture3 !asil !lac"1ell 4nc3, Be1 Kor", #9?53 p3 #7%#?3
H
Peters, p3 #?%2
0t was declared by the 0mperial *onstitutions that while confidence should not always be reposed in torture, it
ought not to be re,ected as absolutely unworthy of it, as the evidence obtained is wea. and dangerous, and
inimical to the truth& for most persons, either through their power of endurance, or through the severity of the
torment, so despise suffering that the truth can in no way be e$torted from them/ Others are so little able to
suffer that they prefer to lie rather than to endure the question, and hence it happens that they ma.e confessions
of different .inds, and they not only implicate themselves, but others as well/ (quoted in 1eters, p/ 23)
Regar.less of s+ch 1arnings, tort+re remaine. part of the Roman la1, 1hich 1as later one of the formative
infl+ences on the canon la1 of the Roman Catholic Ch+rch3 'http5$$en31i"ipe.ia3org$1i"i$*ecret+mG(ratiani)
2.+. !etting %edie#a": torture tec'ni,ues
The only recor. of tort+re metho.s +se. &y the (ree"s comes from their comic play1rights3 Aor e9ample,
in the 2Arogs2 of 0ristophanes, a character offers his slaveJs testimony, e9tracte. thro+gh tort+re, as proof of his
innocence3 When as"e. 1hich metho.s sho+l. &e +se. to tort+re the slave, the character replies5
0n any mode you please/
1ile bric.s upon him: stuff his nose with acid:
-lay, rac. him, hoist him& flog him with a scourge
Of pric.ly bristles: only not with this,
( soft'leaved onion, or a tender lee./
4
The metho.s .escri&e. &y 0ristophanes contin+e. to &e +se., some of them even to the present .ay3
The metho. of piling &ric"s +pon the s+&ject 1as nota&ly still in +se in Englan. as the proce.+re of Peine
forte et .+re, +se. to coerce the .efen.ant in a felony case into entering a plea of g+ilty or not g+ilty, +ntil it 1as
a&olishe. in #//23 '4n English la1, a convicte. felonJs estate 1o+l. &e confiscate. &y the state, &+t no conviction
1as possi&le if the .efen.ant ref+se. to enter a plea of g+ilty or not g+ilty3 English co+rts overcame this loophole &y
/
0ristophanes, 2The Arogs2, 1ritten 85 !3C3E3, translation availa&le at
http5$$classics3mit3e.+$0ristophanes$frogs3html
pressing .efen.ants 1ith heavy 1eights +ntil they either entere. a plea or 1ere cr+she. to .eath3)
?
Alaying, as tort+re, involves the removal of a portion of the s"in from the &o.y3 Alaying 1as also +se. as a
metho. of e9ec+tion, 1hen a larger portion of s"in 1as remove.3
9
The rac", a tort+re .evice +se. thro+gho+t E+rope, consiste. of a frame 1ith a roller at &oth en.s3 The
victimJs han.s 1ere affi9e. &y a chain to one roller, an. his legs to the other, an. the tort+re consiste. of t+rning the
rollers to p+ll the chains in opposite .irections, there&y placing tension on the victimJs &o.y, especially his joints,
1hich co+l. &e .islocate. or even rippe. apart &y s+fficiently strong tension3 When eC+ippe. 1ith ratcheting
rollers, the rac" 1as a very precise instr+ment for a.ministering gra.+ally increasing levels of pain to the s+&ject3
#
The process of 2hoisting2 a s+&ject, more commonly "no1n as 2strappa.o2 'or, in more mo.ern +sage,
2Palestinian hanging2), consiste. of &in.ing the s+&jectJs han.s together &ehin. his &ac", an. hoisting the s+&ject
into the air &y an rope attache. to his &o+n. 1rists3 This techniC+e ca+ses intense pain, possi&le .islocation of the
sho+l.er soc"ets, as 1ell as long%term .amage3
##
Alagellation, or 2flogging2, is any of a 1i.e variety of metho.s of stri"ing a victim 1ith a fle9i&le 1hip or
s1itch, sometimes tippe. 1ith sharp en.s to tear the victimJs flesh3
#2
0ll of these tort+res 1ere clearly 1ell%"no1n from the time of 0ristophanes3 The Romans a..e. their o1n
inventions to the list5 the lign+m 1as a rac"%li"e .evice to p+ll the legs apart, the +ng+lae consiste. of flesh%ripping
metal hoo"s, the mala mansio 1as the name given to imprisonment in a room too small for stan.ing, sitting, or
?
;Peine forte et .+re3< Wi"ipe.ia3org, http5$$en31i"ipe.ia3org$1i"i$PeineGforteGetG.+re
9
;Alaying3< Wi"ipe.ia3org, http5$$en31i"ipe.ia3org$1i"i$Alaying
#
;Rac" 'tort+re)3< Wi"ipe.ia3org, http5$$en31i"ipe.ia3org$1i"i$Rac"GL2?tort+reL29
##
;Strappa.o3<, Wi"ipe.ia3org, http5$$en31i"ipe.ia3org$1i"i$Strappa.o
#2
;Alagellation3<, Wi"ipe.ia3org, http5$$en31i"ipe.ia3org$1i"i$Alagellation
lying3
#7
!y the seventeenth cent+ry, ne1 innovations s+ch as the th+m&scre1 'a metal%st+..e. vice for
compressing the th+m&s) an. the legscre1 'a larger variant of the th+m&scre1 to &e applie. to the legs) came into
1i.e +sage3 0lso, a 1i.e variety of tort+res involving 1ater, s+ch as the 21ater c+re2, a form a tort+re in 1hich
.ro1ning is sim+late. either &y po+ring 1ater over a 1et cloth covering the face, or 1ater is po+re. .irectly into the
mo+th an. nose3
#8
2.-. Resurrection of torture: 12t'.1+t' century uro)e
4n 1estern E+rope o+tsi.e the Roman Empire, an. in the formerly Roman territories as they 1ere
conC+ere. &y (ermanic tri&es, the formal legal tra.itions of Roman la1 1ere +n"no1n3 Rather than presenting
evi.ence of g+ilt or innocence, parties in a trial 'an. their s+pporters) 1o+l. give testimony +n.er oath, 1ith the
o+tcome of the trial .eci.e. &y the C+ality of the testimony 'as meas+re. &y the n+m&er an. rep+tation of
s+pporters) for each party3
Aor cases in 1hich the crime 1as s+fficiently heino+s or the .efen.ants rep+tation so poor, trial &y or.eal
co+l. &e invo"e.3
#5
4n trial &y or.eal, if the acc+se. co+l. accomplish a painf+l an. inj+rio+s tas", s+ch as 1al"ing
nine paces hol.ing a re.%hot iron in his han.s, 1itho+t inj+ry 'or 1ith rapi. healing), he 1as .eclare. innocent, on
the theory that only .ivine intervention on the &ehalf of an innocent man co+l. have ma.e the feat possi&le3
#H
These trials 1ere given legitimacy &y the presence an. participation of mem&ers of the clergy3 Fo1ever,
#7
Peters, p3 753
#8
;Water c+re3< Wi"ipe.ia3org, http5$$en31i"ipe.ia3org$1i"i$WaterGc+re
#5
Peters, p3 82
#H
;Trial &y or.eal3<, Wi"ipe.ia3org, http5$$en31i"ipe.ia3org$1i"i$TrialG&yGor.eal)
this clerical participation 1as a&olishe. &y the Ao+rth Materan Co+ncil
#/
, removing a "ey s+pport from the practice
an. lea.ing to the 1i.esprea. a.option of Roman canon la1 in trying capital cases3
2./. Ro%an canon "a*
4n or.er to govern the organi:ation of the Roman Catholic Ch+rch an. its mem&ers, the Ch+rch .evelope.
its o1n co.e of la1s, "no1n as Roman canon la1, or simply canon la13 These la1s have a n+m&er of so+rces,
incl+.ing the !i&le, canons of ec+menical co+ncils, an. letters of the popes3 =ne other important so+rce of canon
la1 is classical Roman la13
#?
0mong the provisions of canon la1 1as a la1 of proof for serio+s crimes, crimes in 1hich a .efen.ant
fo+n. g+ilty co+l. &e p+t to .eath3 0ccor.ing to the la1 of proof, conviction of a .efen.ant 1as only possi&le +n.er
one of t1o circ+mstances5 either t1o eye1itnesses to the crime m+st testify to the .efen.antJs g+ilt, or the .efen.ant
himself m+st confess to the crime3 Circ+mstantial evi.ence, even to the e9tent of the acc+se. &eing seen fleeing the
scene of a m+r.er 1ith a &loo.y .agger, 1as ins+fficient to convict him3 Fo1ever, if there 1as a 2half%proof2 of the
.efen.antJs g+ilt, s+ch as a single eye1itness or s+fficiently significant circ+mstantial evi.ence, the .efen.ant co+l.
&e e9amine. +n.er tort+re3
#9
4n a..ition, if the .efen.ant 1as fo+n. g+ilty, an. therefore sentence. to .eath, the la1
allo1e. him to &e tort+re. 1itho+t limits 'since his life 1as alrea.y forfeit) in or.er to e9tract the names of his
accomplices, a process that 1as "no1n in Arance as torture pr5paratoire3
2
#/
,e.ieval So+rce&oo"5 T1elfth Ec+menical Co+ncil5 Materan 4N #2#5,
http5$$1113for.ham3e.+$halsall$&asis$lateran83html
#?
;Canon Ma13< The Catholic Encyclope.ia, http5$$1113ne1a.vent3org$cathen$95Ha3htm
#9
Mang&ein, Iohn F3, Torture and the 6aw of 1roof: "urope and "ngland in the (ncien egime/ The University of
Chicago Press, Chicago3 #9//3 p3 8
2
Mang&ein, p3 #/
!eca+se la1ma"ers +n.erstoo. the .anger of a tort+re. .efen.ant a.mitting to crimes he .i. not commit,
this e9amination 1as &o+n.e. &y certain safeg+ar.s3 The C+estioner 1as not permitte. to as" 2s+ggestive2
C+estions that convey the .etails of the crime to the s+&ject3 4nstea., the C+estioner 1as s+ppose. to e9tract the
.etails from the s+&ject &y tort+re, an. those .etails 1o+l. then &e verifie. in.epen.ently, there&y re.+cing the
possi&ility of the s+&jectJs accession to lea.ing C+estions in or.er to avoi. f+rther pain3 The .etails reveale. &y the
s+&ject 1ere s+ppose. to incl+.e information that only the g+ilty party co+l. "no13 A+rther, confessions ma.e
1hile +n.er tort+re 1ere not a.missi&le in proving the .efen.antJs g+ilt, an. any confession 1as reC+ire. to &e
repeate. later 1itho+t tort+re in or.er to &e a.missi&le3
2#
Fo1ever, these safeg+ar.s 1ere far from foolproof3 The prohi&ition against s+ggestive C+estioning,
especially 1hen acci.ental, 1as .iffic+lt to enforce, an. no saving provision for the .efen.ant, s+ch as the
.eclaration of a mistrial, e9iste.3 The reC+irement for .etails "no1a&le only &y the g+ilty party 1as li"e1ise
pro&lematic, as a 1itness to a crime co+l. "no1 the same information3 Ainally, the reC+irement for confession to
occ+r after tort+re ha. cease. 1as largely ma.e moot &y the fact that confession +n.er tort+re 1as consi.ere.
circ+mstantial evi.ence s+fficient to 1arrant another e9amination +n.er tort+re3
22
This la1 of proof from canon la1 ha. great infl+ence on the sec+lar la1s, an. the +se of j+.icial tort+re
e9ten.e. thro+gho+t E+rope3 The one nota&le e9ception to this +niversal a.option of tort+re 1as in the !ritish 4sles,
1here trials 1ere .eci.e. &y 2the collective j+.gement of an a. hoc panel of the fol", +ttere. as the voice of the
co+ntrysi.e, +nanimo+sly an. 1itho+t rationale32 The lac" of stan.ar.s of proof for a j+ry 'for s+ch it 1as) to
convict a .efen.ant ma.e the C+estion of tort+re moot, as 2an English j+ry can convict a .efen.ant on less evi.ence
2#
Mang&ein, p3 #5
22
Mang&ein, p3 ?%9
than 1as reC+ire. as a mere precon.ition for interrogation +n.er tort+re on the Continent32
27
2.0. T'e In,uisition
The &est%"no1n +se of tort+re is the 4nC+isition3 The 4nC+isition gre1 o+t of the Ch+rchJs str+ggles against
the sprea. of heresy, an. in partic+lar against &eliefs that challenge. the spirit+al a+thority an. .octrinal correctness
of the Roman Catholic Ch+rch3 0t first, the Ch+rchJs response to teachings an. &eliefs against its ortho.o9 .octrine
1as in the form of pers+asive meas+res, s+ch as missionary activities, episcopal visitations, an. the formation of the
,en.icant =r.ers3 !eginning in ##?8, 1hen M+ci+s 444 iss+e. the papal &+ll (d abolendam, the Ch+rch too" a more
active approach, &y creating the instit+tion of the 4nC+isition to prosec+te heretics3
28
0t first, heresy 1as not consi.ere. a capital crime, an. th+s trials of heretics 1ere not s+&ject to the +se of
tort+re3 Fo1ever, in #258, Pope 4nnocent 4N p+&lishe. (d e$tirpanda, 1hich incl+.e. among its provisions5
3//the official or ector should obtain from all heretics he has captured a confession by torture without in,uring
the body or causing the danger of death, for they are indeed thieves and murderers of souls and apostates from
the sacraments of 7od and of the *hristian faith/ They should confess their own errors and accuse other
heretics whom they .now, as well as their accomplices, fellow'believers, receivers, and defenders, ,ust as rogues
and thieves of worldly goods are made to accuse their accomplices and confess the evils which they have
committed/
28
0lso, altho+gh the Ch+rch prohi&ite. its agents from ta"ing h+man life, persons fo+n. g+ilty of heresy 1ere t+rne.
over to sec+lar a+thorities, 1ho 1o+l. p+nish the convicte. &y the la1s of the lan. 1hich gave a sentence of .eath
27
Mang&ein, p3 //%/?
28
Peters, p3 57%58
25
Peters, p3 H5, C+oting Mea, 2Tort+re2, p3#??
to heretics3 The +niformity of this p+nishment may &e attri&+te. to a provision of a canon from the Ao+rth Materan
Co+ncil in #2#5, 1hich state.5
///if a temporal ruler, after having been requested and admonished by the *hurch, should neglect to cleanse his
territory of this heretical foulness, let him be e$communicated by the metropolitan and the other bishops of the
province/ 0f he refuses to ma.e satisfaction within a year, let the matter be made .nown to the supreme pontiff,
that he may declare the ruler9s vassals absolved from their allegiance and may offer the territory to be ruled lay
*atholics///
2:
The 4nC+isitionJs rep+tation for mercilessness came in large part from its fail+re to o&serve the safeg+ar.s
against false confession +se. &y other co+rts3 4n partic+lar, the fact that heresy 1as an intellect+al crime ma.e
.isproving the charge pro&lematic3 =ther irreg+larities in the trials of the 4nC+isition 1ere that the eye1itness
testimony +se. to convict a person co+l. come from criminals, convicte. perj+rers, an. convicte. heretics, that the
names of the acc+sers an. their testimony 1ere 1ithhel. from the acc+se., an. that no legal co+nsel of any "in.
1as availa&le to the acc+se.3
2/
0ltho+gh, at its o+tset, the 4nC+isition ha. the era.ication of heresy as its primary goal, it event+ally
&ecame, at least at times, a tool &y 1hich a r+ler might .estroy his enemies 1itho+t fear of reperc+ssion, since the
trial, tort+re, an. prono+ncing the ver.ict of heresy 1ere all performe. &y the Ch+rch3 =ne e9ample of politically
motivate. tort+re of in.ivi.+als &y the state is the case of the Onights Templar3 =riginally a monastic military or.er
fo+n.e. in ###?, the Templars ha. e9pan.e. their sphere of activity to incl+.e international &an"ing3 4n so .oing,
the organi:ation &ecame fa&+lo+sly 1ealthy, 1ith e9tensive hol.ings thro+gho+t E+rope an. the ,i..le East,
incl+.ing the entire islan. of Cypr+s3
2?
4n #7/, after the &eing repeate.ly ref+se. in his reC+ests an. .eman.s for a
2H
,e.ieval So+rce&oo"5 T1elfth Ec+menical Co+ncil5 Materan 4N #2#5,
http5$$1113for.ham3e.+$halsall$&asis$lateran83html
2/
Peters, p3 HH%H/
2?
;Onights Templar3< Wi"ipe.ia3org, http5$$en31i"ipe.ia3org$1i"i$Templars
loan to his "ing.om, Philip 4N of Arance, ha. all of the Templars in Arance arreste. on charges of heresy3 0fter the
Onights 1ere tort+re. into signing confessions to the charges, they 1ere e9ec+te., an. the property of their or.er
1as sei:e. &y the Arench cro1n3
29
2.1. 2(o"ition of 3udicia" torture
0ro+n. #/5, the nations of E+rope a&an.one. &oth the la1 of proof from canon la1 an. the reC+irement
for tort+re to s+pport it, t+rning instea. to the j+ry system of .etermining g+ilt3 0 form of j+ry trial ha. al1ays
e9iste. 1ithin canon la1, an. from there sprea. to the rest of E+rope, &+t it 1as originally limite. to minor
infractions an. s+its3 Fo1ever, it 1as perceive. as &eing so cr+.e an. ine9act that it 1as +ns+ite. to cases in 1hich
a manJs life 1as at sta"e3
This change. in the #Hth an. #/th cent+ries3 Airst, ne1 penalties for p+nishing persons convicte. of capital
crimes came into 1i.e +se, especially sentencing convicts to 1or" as oarsmen in naval galleys, p+nitive
imprisonment '1hich +ntil then ha. &een +se. only for the short%term hol.ing of prisoners &efore trial, rather than
as a p+nishment in itself), an. transporting convicts to overseas colonies to 1or" as in.ent+re. servants3
7
Secon.,
j+.ges ma.e +se of these non%fatal p+nishments to j+stify first &en.ing the r+les of conviction &y sentencing 'to
s+ch a less final sentence) a person 1ith s+fficiently strong evi.ence of g+ilt 1itho+t first fin.ing him g+ilty 'a
process terme. ;erdachtstrafe, or p+nishment for s+spicion), an. later +sing the e9istence of s+ch nonfatal penalties
rationali:e +sing the j+ry trial system, as the formal system 1as reC+ire. only in cases 1here .eath 1as the e9pecte.
29
;Philip 4N of Arance3< Wi"ipe.ia3org, http5$$en31i"ipe.ia3org$1i"i$PhilipG4NGofGArance
7
Mang&ein, p3 2/%88
p+nishment3
7#
Even as the reC+irement for tort+re in criminal trials lessene., 1riters s+ch as Noltaire an. ,ontesC+ie+, in
the spirit of the 0ge of the Enlightenment, con.emne. tort+re as &ar&aric, against the nat+ral rights of man, an.
calle. for its a&olition3
72
!oth of these forces contri&+te. to the sprea. of a &an on j+.icial tort+re across E+rope, starting in the
early #?
th
cent+ry, an. encompassing most of E+rope &y the mi..le of the #9th cent+ry3
77
2.4. Sur#i#a" of torture as an engine of state: t'en and no*
0s 1as mentione. in sections 23# an. 232, the (ree"s an. Romans +se. tort+re on persons 1ho 1o+l.
other1ise &e e9empt in cases s+ch as assassination an. treason, or 1hat may &e more &roa.ly calle. crimes against
the state3 4n a..ition, the practice of tort+ring a s+&ject into revealing his co%conspirators or accomplices is one
e9ample of the +se of tort+re in la1 enforcement, as oppose. to in a j+.icial setting3 !oth of these practices emerge.
again in the 2
th
cent+ry, after &eing &anne. in the #?
th
an. #9
th
cent+ries, as the meaning of treason shifte. from
&eing a crime against the person of the monarch, to &eing a crime against the m+ch less concrete or 1ell%.efine.
goo. of the people or of the state3
78
The prime e9ample of the +se of tort+re against ;enemies of the state< 1as in the U3S3S3R3, as .oc+mente.
&y 0le"san.r 43 Sol:henitsyn in The 7ulag (rchipelago3 The interrogations that Sol:henitsyn .escri&e strongly
resem&le those of the 4nC+isition, e9cept that there is no j+.ge, no trial, an. the prisoner is alrea.y +n.er a sentence
72
Peters, p3 /H
77
Peters, p3 9#
78
Peters, p3 #5
of imprisonment an. la&or for a perio. of years3 ;Evi.ential stan.ar.s 1ere very lo16 a tip off &y an anonymo+s
informer 1as consi.ere. s+fficient gro+n.s for arrest3 Usage of Jphysical means of pers+asionJ 1as sanctione. &y a
special .ecree of the state333<
75
Sol:henitsyn .oc+ments n+mero+s tort+re metho.s employe. in C+estioning
prisoners, incl+.ing h+miliation, tic"ling the insi.e of a &o+n. prisonerJs nose 1ith a feather, cigarette &+rns on the
prisonerJs s"in, e9ten.e. perio.s of stan.ing or "neeling, .eprivation of 1ater for perio.s of .ays, sleep .eprivation,
contin+o+s interrogation for perio.s of .ays 1ith relays of interrogators, starvation, an. &eatings of all "in.s3
7H
The
goals of these tort+res 1ere to compel the prisoner to sign a confession, vali.ating the stateJs act of imprisoning him
an. to get the prisoner to e9pose all of his possi&ly s+&versive accomplices or acC+aintances3
4nci.entally, Sol:henitsyn also .escri&es a type of inci.ent &y 1hich ;stoolies,<, prisoners in the employ of
the state as spies, propagan.i:e in favor of tort+re, as 1ell as in favor of confession5
0f you are an orthodo$ *ommunist, then another orthodo$ *ommunist will sidle up to you, peering about with
hostile suspicion, and he9ll begin to whisper in your ear so that the uninitiated cannot overhear:
<0t9s our duty to support =oviet interrogation/ 0t9s a combat situation/ >e are ourselves to blame/ >e
were too softhearted& and now loo. at all the rot that has multiplied in the country/ There is a vicious secret war
going on/ "ven here we are surrounded by enemies/ ?ust listen to what they are saying@ The 1arty is not obliged
to account for what it does to every single one of usAto e$plain the whys and wherefores/ 0f they as. us to, that
means we should sign/B
24
2.5. !etting %edie#a" again: %odern torture tec'ni,ues
,o.ern interrogators still ma"e +se of me.ieval tort+re techniC+es, an., since the h+man &o.y hasnJt
75
;BON*3< Wi"ipe.ia3org, http5$$en31i"ipe.ia3org$1i"i$BON*
7H
Sol:henitsyn, 0le"san.r 43, The 7ulag (rchipelago/ Farper D Ro1, Be1 Kor", #9/73 p3 #7%##/3
7/
Sol:henitsyn, p3 #2?%#293
change. in the past tho+san. years, they remain effective3 0..itionally, the techniC+es liste. &y Sol:henitsyn have
&een reporte. in +se aro+n. the 1orl., as have a variety of ne1 metho.s of ca+sing physical or psychological
.istress .+ring an interrogation3 0mong these metho.s are5
0pplying electrical shoc"s +sing a cattle pro. or mains c+rrent, freC+ently to the genitals an. nipples3
Sensory .eprivation
Psychoactive .r+gs
Rape 'tho+gh not a ne1 phenomenon, its +se in interrogation is apparently ne1)
7?
=ne other mo.ern innovation in interrogation 1as ma.e possi&le &y the a.vent of the long%term prison
facilities reC+ire. &y the shift in the #?
th
cent+ry from capital p+nishment to less final p+nishments3 (iven a mo.ern
prison facility, it is a simple matter to hol. a prisoner in.efinitely, inflicting any "in. of tort+re .esire. over the
co+rse of many years3 The sheer hopelessness of &eing hel. at the mercy of the tort+rers, 1ith no hope of ever &eing
release., or even "ille., m+st ran" as one of the most .evastating tort+res ever imagine.3
+. TORTUR 6!IS62TION OR 627
Arom the #?th cent+ry thro+gh the late 2th cent+ry, tort+re has generally 1ane. '1ith some nota&le
e9ceptions mentione. in o+r &rief history section, an. very c+rrent events) as an accepte. practice in interrogations3
The &o.y of international la1 .+ring this time has also move. .ramatically closer to a h+man rights perspective,
1hich .eno+nces tort+re3 4n this section of the paper, 1e &riefly s+rvey some relevant international la1 'treaties,
7?
Aorrest, *+ncan 'e.itor), for 0mnesty 4nternational Unite. Oing.om, ( 7limpse of Cell: eports on Torture
Worl.1i.e, p3 #/%##8
conventions, etc3), as 1ell as Unite. States la13 We also e9amine 4sraelJs Man.a+ Commission, 1hich attempte. to
co.ify 1hat forms of tort+re 1ere accepta&le3 The international la1s e9amine. here, at first glance, seem
+neC+ivocally intolerant of tort+re3 0s the Unite. States an. other nations confront a ne1 enemyPglo&al terrorism
Pthey are confronte. 1ith ne1 choices, an. at least the US has restricte. its interpretation of these treaties an. la1s
as a res+lt of these choices3 These interpretations ma"e the Unite. States far less acco+nta&le for its treatment of
captives than a s+perficial e9amination in.icates3
+.1. T'e !ene#a Con#entions and 8rotoco"s
The (eneva Conventions comprise a set of fo+r treaties an. t1o protocols governing h+manitarian
treatment .+ring the co+rse of 1ar3 They are consi.ere. &y many the &asis of international la1 relating to
h+manitarian iss+es3 The treaties 1ere last revise. in #989 in (eneva3 The first Convention
79
.eals 1ith
h+manitarian concerns for arme. force mem&ers 1o+n.e. in 1ars an. .ates originally to #?H83 The secon.
Convention
8
.eals 1ith concerns of 2ship1rec"e.2 cas+alties in 1ars an. is roote. in the #9/ Fag+e Convention
Q3 The thir. Convention
8#
is concerne. 1ith the treatment of prisoners of 1ar, an. 1as originally .rafte. in #925
an. a.opte. in #9293 The fo+rth Convention
82
relates to the h+mane treatment of 2civilian persons2 in times of 1ar
an. .ates originally to the #9/ Fag+e Convention 4N3 4n #9// t1o a..itional Protocols '4 an. 44) 1ere esta&lishe.
79
Convention for the 0melioration of the Con.ition of the Wo+n.e. in 0rmies in the Aiel., #2 0+g+st #9893
8
Convention for the 0melioration of the Con.ition of Wo+n.e., Sic" an. Ship1rec"e. ,em&ers of 0rme.
Aorces at Sea, #2 0+g+st #9893
8#
(eneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, #2 0+g+st #9893
82
(eneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, #2 0+g+st #9893
a..ressing protection of victims of international
87
an. non%international
88
1ars respectively3 The thir. an. fo+rth
Conventions an. a..itional protocols are of most interest 1ith respect to this paper3
The thir. (eneva Convention states in Part 444, Section #, 0rticle #/ 'emphasis a..e.)5
No physical or mental torture, nor any other form of coercion, may be inflicted on prisoners of war to secure
from them information of any kind whatever. 1risoners of war who refuse to answer may not be threatened,
insulted, or e$posed to any unpleasant or disadvantageous treatment of any .ind/
The fo+rth (eneva Convention states in Part 444, Section #, 0rticle 72 'emphasis a..e.)5
The Cigh *ontracting 1arties specifically agree that each of them is prohibited from ta.ing any measure of such
a character as to cause the physical suffering or e$termination of protected persons in their hands/ This
prohibition applies not only to murder, torture, corporal punishment, mutilation and medical or scientific
e$periments not necessitated by the medical treatment of a protected person but also to any other measures of
brutality whether applied by civilian or military agents/
Protocol 4 states in Part 4N, Section 7, Chapter #, 0rticle /5 'emphasis a..e.)5
1/ 0n so far as they are affected by a situation referred to in (rticle 1 of this 1rotocol, persons who are in the
power of a 1arty to the conflict and who do not benefit from more favourable treatment under the *onventions
or under this 1rotocol shall be treated humanely in all circumstances and shall en,oy, as a minimum, the
protection provided by this (rticle without any adverse distinction based upon race, colour, se$, language,
religion or belief, political or other opinion, national or social origin, wealth, birth or other status, or on any
other similar criteria/ "ach 1arty shall respect the person, honour, convictions and religious practices of all
such persons/
2/ The following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever, whether
committed by civilian or by military agents:
(a) Violence to the life, health, or physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular: (i) urder! (ii)
"orture of all kinds, whether physical or mental! ( iii ) #orporal punishment! and (iv) utilation!
(b) Outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment, enforced prostitution
and any form of indecent assault&
(c) The ta.ing of hostages&
(d) *ollective punishments& and
(e) Threats to commit any of the foregoing acts/
87
Protocol 0..itional to the (eneva Conventions of #2 0+g+st #989, an. relating to the Protection of Nictims of
4nternational 0rme. Conflicts 'Protocol 4), ? I+ne #9//3
88
Protocol 0..itional to the (eneva Conventions of #2 0+g+st #989, an. relating to the Protection of Nictims of
Bon%4nternational 0rme. Conflicts 'Protocol 44), ? I+ne #9//3
4t is interesting to note this C+otation from Protocol 4 applies to all in.ivi.+als ;1ho .o not &enefit from
more favo+ra&le treatment3333< 4n this sense, there are no e9ceptions allo1ing for any in.ivi.+al to &e s+&ject to any
of the maltreatments 'incl+.ing &+t not limite. to tort+re) .efine. in paragraph 2 of 0rticle /53 The Unite. States
goes to great care to claim that &y presi.ential .esignation of 0fghan an. 0l Rae.a .etainees as 2+nla1f+l
com&atants,2 the (eneva Conventions .o not apply,
85
&+t that the .etainees are to &e treate. 2h+manely2 an. 2in a
manner consistent 1ith the principles of the (eneva Conventions33332
Protocol 44 states in Part 44, 0rticle 8 'emphasis a..e.)5
1/ (ll persons who do not ta.e a direct part or who have ceased to ta.e part in hostilities, whether or not their
liberty has been restricted, are entitled to respect for their person, honour and convictions and religious
practices/ They shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction/ 0t is prohibited
to order that there shall be no survivors/
2/ >ithout pre,udice to the generality of the foregoing, the following acts against the persons referred to in
paragraph 0 are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever:
(a) Violence to the life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as
cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment!
(b) *ollective punishments&
(c) Ta.ing of hostages&
(d) (cts of terrorism&
(e) Outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment, rape, enforced
prostitution and any form of indecent assault&
(f) =lavery and the slave trade in all their forms&
(g) 1illage&
(h) Threats to commit any of the foregoing acts/
85
,emoran.+m for the (eneral Co+nsel fo the *epartment of *efense, S+&ject5 *etainee 4nterrogations, Ian #5
27, 2Wor"ing (ro+p Report5 *etainee 4nterrogations in the (lo&al War on Terrorism33332, Section 44, part 03
Ta"en as a 1hole, the (eneva Conventions an. Protocols protect h+man &eings against inh+mane
treatment 'incl+.ing tort+re)3 Bo 1here in the .oc+ments is tort+re e9plicitly a+thori:e. for any p+rpose 1hatsoever
+n.er any con.ition3 The conventions &in. their parties to h+mane treatment in all sit+ations of arme. conflict3
4n this light, at least a portion of the interrogation techniC+es reporte.ly legal +n.er A, 78%52
8H8/8?
, may &e
illegal, ho1ever the US &elieves them to &e legal3 The a..itional interrogation techniC+es
895
grante., then
rescin.e.
5#
H 1ee"s later, incl+.e. 2Use of stress positions,2 2Removal of clothing,2 2Use of pho&ias to in.+ce
stress,2 an. 2Use of mil., non%inj+rio+s physical contact32 Whether those techniC+es act+ally constit+te tort+re is
another matter entirely, &+t many of the a..itional techniC+es, infringe +pon the 2=+trages +pon personal .ignity, in
partic+lar h+miliating an. .egra.ing treatment33332 cla+ses of Protocols 4 an. 443
4n the con.+ct of the (lo&al War =n Terror, the Unite. States has, perhaps, a.opte. a selective
interpretation of the (eneva Conventions, an. may have transgresse. the spirit if not the letter of the Conventions3
To &e fair, the Unite. States claims their opponents are not Figh Parties to the Conventions, an. are th+s not
protecte. &y them3 =thers, &oth in the Unite. States an. a&roa., .iffer on this interpretation3 *oes this ma"e the
conventions any less importantS 0re 1e &etter off if there are no (eneva Conventions at allS The ans1er to &oth of
Terrorism Cy&ersec+rity Class, !er"eley, California, 7%Bov%25
8?
US *ept3 of *efense, Ioint Tas" Aorce #/, ,emoran.+m for Comman.er, ## =cto&er 22, 2S+&ject5 ReC+est
for 0pproval of Co+nter%Resistance Strategies2
89
(eneral Co+nsel of the US *ept3 of *efense, 0ction ,emo, Bovem&er 2/, 223 2S+&ject5 Co+nter%Resistance
TechniC+es23 4ncl+.es Secretary of *efense, *onal. R+msfel.Js approval an. annotation 2Fo1ever, 4 stan. for
?%# ho+rs a .ay3 Why is stan.ing limite. to 8 ho+rsS2
5
Ailaro1s"i%Shea"s, Christina, i&i.3
5#
US Secretary of *efense, ,emoran.+m for Comman.er USS=UTFC=,, Ian+ary #5, 27, 2S+&ject5 Co+nter%
Resistance ,eas+res2
these C+estions is clearly no3 0t least some &enefit is provi.e. from those protections, an. (eorge !+sh has clearly
state.5
Our country is at war and our government has the obligation to protect the (merican people/ (ny activity we
conduct is within the law/ >e do not torture/
82
0t least, this statement is +neC+ivocal3 The .efinition of tort+re is omitte., an. the act+al effect on in.ivi.+als
con.+cting interrogations is not confirma&le &y ne+tral parties o+tsi.e the act+al interrogation sessions3 =ther
evi.ence that the Conventions an. e9ternal press+re to comply 1ith them are having an effect incl+.es the
follo1ing e9cerpt from *o* .irective 7##5395
0t is +o+ policy that:
2/1/ (ll captured of detained personnel shall be treated humanely, and all intelligence interrogations,
debriefings, or tactical questioning to gain intelligence from captured or detained personnel shall be conducted
humanely, in accordance with applicable law and policy/ D///E (cts of physical or mental torture are
prohibited
82
/
The US government may &e approaching the intent of the more commonly +n.erstoo. interpretations of the
Conventions3 Fo1ever, as Senator Iohn ,cCain arg+es
58
, o+r rep+tation s+ffers 1hen 1e .o not f+lly em&race the
principles3 Fe arg+es 1hen o+r nation o&serves an. respects the (eneva Conventions, this has a positive effect on
the 1illingness of other nations to .o the same3 4n asymmetric sit+ations, he claims, .+e to o+r heritage as a nation
of la1s, 1e m+st hol. o+rselves to a higher stan.ar. than o+r opponents 'terrorists in this case), rather than .egra.e
o+r stan.ar.s3
+.2. UN Con#ention against Torture and Ot'er Crue"9 In'u%an or Degrading Treat%ent or 8unis'%ent
52
!+sh, (eorge W, 0..ress to the Press, Panama City, Panama, /%Bov%253
57
US *ept3 of *efense, *irective B+m&er 7##539, Bovem&er 7, 253
58
,cCain, Iohn, Respecting the (eneva Conventions, Wall Street Io+rnal, I+ne #, 283
This convention 1as a.opte. # *ecem&er #9?8 an. entere. into force 2H I+ne #9?/3 4t 1as signe. &y the
US #? 0pril #9?? an. ratifie. &y the US Senate 2# =cto&er #998 1ith reservations3
This Convention forms the most e9tensively an. clearly state. agreement that tort+re is not to &e tolerate.
in any form &y agreeing parties3 There is a clear .efinition 'see .efinitions section in the intro.+ctory paragraphs of
this paper), an. a .irective that 2Each State Party shall ta"e legislative, a.ministrative, j+.icial or other meas+res to
prevent acts of tort+re in any territory +n.er its j+ris.iction32 There is a clear statement that 2Bo e9ceptional
circ+mstances 1hatsoever, 1hether a state of 1ar or a threat of 1ar, 333 , may &e invo"e. as a j+stification of tort+re3
0..itionally there is a clear statement that 2refouler% 'e9tra.iting an in.ivi.+al to a state 1here he 1o+l. &e in
.anger of s+&jection to tort+re) is prohi&ite.3
55
Ainally there is a statement 2Each State Party shall ens+re that all acts
of tort+re are offences +n.er its criminal la133332 Fo1ever, in act+al fact the US signe. the Convention s+&ject to
C+ite a n+m&er of .eclarations an. reservations effectively crippling its agreement to most of the mentione.
provisions5
%(1) That the Fnited =tates considers itself bound by the obligation under article 1: to prevent 9cruel, inhuman
or degrading treatment or punishment9, only insofar as the term 9cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment9 means the cruel, unusual and inhumane treatment or punishment prohibited by the -ifth, "ighth,
andGor -ourteenth (mendments to the *onstitution of the Fnited =tates/%
%The Fnited =tates declares, pursuant to article 21, paragraph 1, of the *onvention, that it recogniHes the
competence of the *ommittee against Torture to receive and consider communications to the effect that a =tate
1arty claims that another =tate 1arty is not fulfilling its obligations under the *onvention/ 0t is the
understanding of the Fnited =tates that, pursuant to the above'mentioned article, such communications shall be
accepted and processed only if they come from a =tate 1arty which has made a similar declaration/%
%(1) (a) That with reference to article 1, the Fnited =tates understands that, in order to constitute torture, an act
55
,emoran.+m for the (eneral Co+nsel fo the *epartment of *efense, S+&ject5 *etainee 4nterrogations, Ian #5
273 2Wor"ing (ro+p Report5 *etainee 4nterrogations in the (lo&al War on Terrorism33332 This .oc+ment
in.icates this provision is to &e interprete. in a consi.era&ly more restricte. 1ay5 2The U3S3 +n.erstan.ing
relating to this article is that it only applies if it is more li"ely than not that the person 1o+l. &e tort+re.32
must be specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering and that mental pain or
suffering refers to prolonged mental harm caused by or resulting from (1) the intentional infliction or threatened
infliction of severe physical pain or suffering& (2) the administration or application, or threatened
administration or application, of mind altering substances or other procedures calculated to disrupt profoundly
the senses or the personality& (2) the threat of imminent death& or (3) the threat that another person will
imminently be sub,ected to death, severe physical pain or suffering, or the administration or application of mind
altering substances or other procedures calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or personality/%
9On 2 ?une 1II3, the =ecretary'7eneral received a communication from the 7overnment of the Fnited =tates of
(merica requesting, in compliance with a condition set forth by the =enate of the Fnited =tates of (merica, in
giving advice and consent to the ratification of the *onvention, and in contemplation of the deposit of an
instrument of ratification of the *onvention by the 7overnment of the Fnited =tates of (merica, that a
notification should be made to all present and prospective ratifying 1arties to the *onvention to the effect that:
%/// nothing in this *onvention requires or authoriHes legislation, or other action, by the Fnited =tates of
(merica prohibited by the *onstitution of the Fnited =tates as interpreted by the Fnited =tates/% 9
+.+. UN Internationa" Co#enant on Ci#i" and 8o"itica" Rig'ts
The 4nternational Covenant on Civil an. Political Rights
5H
is a legally &in.ing .oc+ment containing a
straight for1ar. statement a&o+t tort+re5
1art 000, (rticle 4
%#o one shall be sub,ected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment/ 0n particular,
no one shall be sub,ected without his free consent to medical or scientific e$perimentation/%
This statement is roote. in the Universal *eclaration of F+man Rights
5/
5 2Bo one shall &e s+&jecte. to tort+re or to
cr+el, inh+man or .egra.ing treatment or p+nishment32
The Unite. States ha. a n+m&er of .eclarations an. reservations incl+.e. 1ith its a.option of the
Covenant3 (ermane to this .isc+ssion is the follo1ing5
(2) That the Fnited =tates considers itself bound by article 4 to the e$tent that Jcruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment9 means the cruel and unusual treatment or punishment prohibited by the -ifth, "ighth,
andGor -ourteenth (mendments to the *onstitution of the Fnited =tates/
This reservation restricts the applica&ility of the Covenant to criminal procee.ings in the US3 4t is +nclear, in the
case of its glo&al 1ar on terror, 1hether the US is &o+n. &y article /3 Clearly an arg+ment can &e ma.e &y the US
(overnment that this article .oes not apply to its .etention an. interrogation of (W=T .etainees3
+.-. US Constitution and 2%end%ents $Inc"udes :i"" of Rig'ts&
The Constit+tion of the Unite. States an. its amen.ments apply to the resi.ents of the Unite. States3 The
Constit+tion is largely silent on the topics of .etention, interrogation, tort+re3 Fo1ever several amen.ments to the
Constit+tion spea" at least peripherally to this topic5
The Ao+rth 0men.ment g+arantees 2The right of the people to &e sec+re in their persons, ho+ses, papers,
an. effects against +nreasona&le searches an. sei:+res, shall not &e violate.2 1itho+t a 1arrant iss+e. on 2pro&a&le
ca+se32 The Aifth 0men.ment
5?
incl+.es the infamo+s provision against self%incrimination, as 1ell as a g+arantee
5?
The right to not self%incriminate may not &e as clearc+t as the 0merican p+&lic &elieves3 4n the case of Meon v3
Wainright hear. &y the ##th Circ+it Co+rt in #9?8, a gro+p of policemen &eat a "i.napper into revealing the
location of his captive3 The "i.napper later on confesse. to the crime, &+t in co+rt arg+e. the confession 1as
o&taine. thro+gh the &eating3 The co+rt si.e. 1ith the prosec+tion in this case .ra1ing the .istinction &et1een
the victim location information e9tracte. forcef+lly, an. the confession 1hich 1as r+le. vol+ntary an. th+s
a.missi&le as evi.ence in co+rt3
2nor &e .eprive. of life, li&erty, or property, 1itho+t .+e process of la162 The provision reC+iring in.ictment of a
(ran. j+ry to hol. an in.ivi.+al for serio+s crimes g+arantees that in.ivi.+als m+st &e charge. 1ith a crime to &e
hel. for that crime3
The Si9th 0men.ment g+arantees that for criminal matters, acc+se. in.ivi.+als have the right to a spee.y
trial &y j+ry, an. access to co+nsel3 The Eighth 0men.ment
59
protects against the infliction of cr+el an. +n+s+al
p+nishments3 The Ao+rteenth 0men.ment g+arantees 2333 nor shall any State .eprive any person of life, li&erty, or
property, 1itho+t .+e process of la162
The effect of these amen.ments to the Constit+tion on .etention may &e m+..ie. &eca+se the US
government &elieves it has the right to .etain in.ivi.+als in times of 1ar, as long as they are not act+ally charge.
1ith a crime3 This 1as the sense of the the *epartment of I+sticeJs arg+ment in the Iose Pa.illa case +ntil they
charge. him 1ith a crime3 Prior to that time Pa.illa 1as hel. as an 2enemy com&atant2 +n.er or.ers from the US
Presi.ent3 Iames Comey '*ep+ty US 0ttorney (eneral) state.5
%Two years ago, the president of the Fnited =tates faced a very difficult choice/ (fter a careful process, he
decided to declare ?ose 1adilla for what he was: an enemy combatant, a member of a terrorist army bent on
waging war against innocent civilians/ (nd the president9s decision was to hold him to protect the (merican
people and to find out what he .nows/%
:K
This is at o..s 1ith at least the rights to not incriminate oneself an. the spee.y trial provisions3 The U3S3
*epartment of I+stice trea.s a fine line tho+gh they have not charge. Pa.illa 1ith a crime &ase. on the original
59
The US S+preme Co+rt r+le. on the Eighth 0men.ment in a Corporal P+nishment case '4ngraham v3 Wright,
#9//)5 20n e9amination of the history of the 0men.ment an. the .ecisions of this Co+rt constr+ing the
proscription against cr+el an. +n+s+al p+nishment confirms that it 1as .esigne. to protect those convicte. of
crimes32 The case involve. t1o Alori.a st+.ents 1ho 1ere pa..le., then s+e., claiming 2cr+el an. +n+s+al
p+nishment32
H
Comey, Iames, emar.s of +eputy (ttorney 7eneral ?ames *omey egarding ?oes 1adilla, Tuesday, ?une 1,
2KK33
reason for his arrest an. .etention3 0ny attempt to prosec+te him &ase. on the information he provi.e. +n.er
interrogation in c+sto.y 1ill li"ely res+lt in legal challenges &ase. +pon the rights to legal representation an.
against self%incrimination3 Bo relia&le information 1as availa&le to .etermine 1hat metho.s of interrogation 1ere
+se. to o&tain the e9tensive information Comey release. on I+ne #, 283
H#
+./. US 2nti.Torture 2ct $14 USC 11+C Section 2+-;&
This 0ct clearly .efines 2tort+re2 'see intro.+ctory .efinitions a&ove) an. sets forth 1hat constit+tes an
offense an. its p+nisha&ility +n.er terms of the act3
$ection %&'(). "orture
(a) Offense/ ' >hoever outside the Fnited =tates commits or attempts to commit torture shall be fined under
this title or imprisoned not more than 2K years, or both, and if death results to any person from conduct
prohibited by this subsection, shall be punished by death or imprisoned for any term of years or for life/
(b) ?urisdiction/ ' There is ,urisdiction over the activity prohibited in subsection (a) if '
(1) the alleged offender is a national of the Fnited =tates& or
(2) the alleged offender is present in the Fnited =tates, irrespective of the nationality of the victim or
alleged offender/
(c) *onspiracy/ ' ( person who conspires to commit an offense under this section shall be sub,ect to the same
penalties (other than the penalty of death) as the penalties prescribed for the offense, the commission of which
was the ob,ect of the conspiracy/
4t is interesting to note this act applies to offenses committe. o+tsi.e the Unite. States
H2
, 1hether the allege.
offen.er is a national of the US or not3 4t incl+.es lang+age allo1ing the US to p+rs+e convictions against offen.ers
H#
Comey, Iames, i&i.3
H2
0 provision in the Patriot 0ct specifically consi.ers 2the premises of Unite. States .iplomatic, cons+lar, military
or other Unite. States (overnment missions or entities in foreign states3332 to &e +n.er the j+ris.iction of the US3
Un.er this reasoning, the ,emoran.+m for the (eneral Co+nsel fo the *epartment of *efense, S+&ject5
*etainee 4nterrogations, Ian #5 27, states 20s s+ch the Tort+re Stat+te .oes not apply to the con.+ct of U3S3
personnel at (T,=32
1ho set foot in the Unite. States3 4t seems apparent the act applies in the case of interrogations occ+rring in 4raC an.
0fghanistan, &+t not those at (+antanamo3 This act may also temper some of the US acceptance of Conventions an.
Treaties, partic+larly 1ith regar.s to a some1hat more restricte. .efinition of the 1or. ;tort+re<3
+.0. T'e Rise and Fa""$<& of Israe"=s 6andau Co%%ission:
4sraelJs Man.a+ Commission
H7
of 4nC+iry 1as initially charge. to 2e9amine the (eneral Sec+rity ServiceJs
metho.s of interrogation of terrorist s+spects3 The commission loo"e. at then present 4sraeli an. 4nternational la1
an. stan.ar.s relating to h+man rights an. tort+re3 4t also e9amine. the g+i.elines, la1s an. reg+lations of other
2.emocraticies2 germane to these areas3
The Commission set forth to .efine 'in the translate. 1or.s of the Commission) 23331ith as m+ch precision
as possi&le, the &o+n.aries of 1hat is permitte. to the interrogator an. mainly 1hat is prohi&ite. to him32 The
Commission then approve. for interrogation of terrorists, 2333the +se of a mo.erate .egree of press+re, incl+.ing
physical press+re, in or.er to o&tain cr+cial information33332 This 1as to &e +se. in cases 1here the information
co+l. &e +se. to prevent m+r.er or the s+spect 1as &elieve. to have information a&o+t a terrorist organi:ation
'plans, locations or armaments, etc3) 1hich co+l. not other1ise &e .etermine.3
The Commission recommen.e. +se of 2psychological forms of press+re333,2 an. 2only mo.erate physical
press+re32 They e9amine. the +se of force in interrogations &y the !ritish in Borthern 4relan., an. felt the E+ropean
F+man Rights Co+rt R+ling +n.er 0rticle 7 of the E+ropean Convention on F+man Rights j+stifying the
.istinction &et1een 2tort+re2 an. 2inh+man an. .egra.ing treatment2 1as in line 1ith the Commission proposals3
The Commission 1ent f+rther to ens+re .isproportionate press+re not &e a&+se. or over+se. &y
esta&lishing several meas+res of oversight inten.e. to provi.e safeg+ar.s3 The secon. section of the report act+ally
.etaile. the e9act forms of permissi&le press+re3 The .etails section 1as classifie. secret an. th+s not open to
o+tsi.e inspection3 Some me.ia an. h+man rights gro+ps reporte. &ase. on intervie1s 1ith, an. statements from
release. interrogation s+spects
H8
, that5 #) tort+re occ+rre.6 2) the tort+re 1as systematic, even ro+tine6 7) the tort+re
1as consi.era&ly more 1i.esprea. than allo1e. in the p+&licly availa&le Commission g+i.elines, an.6 8) the
oversight 1as less stringent than reC+ire.3 Eitan Aelner reports
H5
5
?ustice 6andau himself publicly said that he felt betrayed by the 7== for regularly e$ceeding the constraints on
the use of force imposed by his commission/ %(pparently, there were double messages once again/ There was the
written codeAthe 6andau *ommissionAand another, oral code in the field/ (nd this is a terrible thing/%
4n #999, the 4sraeli S+preme Co+rt overt+rne. the CommissionJs g+i.elines5
<On : =eptember 1III, a nine',udge panel of the =upreme *ourt unanimously outlawed methods of physical
force that were routinely used in interrogations by the 7eneral =ecurity =ervice (7==)/ This decision voided the
interrogation guidelines previously in effect, which included the use of interrogation methods that constituted
torture, including violent sha.ing, holding and tying the interrogee in painful positions, sleep deprivation,
H8
Fo1ever, the P+&lic Committee 0gainst Tort+re in 4srael
'http5$$1113stoptort+re3org3il$eng$&ac"gro+n.3aspSmen+T7Ds+&men+T#) reports these metho.s incl+.e.5 #)
Typing +p .etainee in painf+l positions for ho+rs or .ays on en.6 2) Solitary Confinement6 7) Confinement in
tiny c+&icles6 8) !eatings6 5) Niolent 2sha"ing26 H) *eprivation of sleep an. foo.6 /) E9pos+re to col. or heat6
?) Ner&al, se9+al an. psychological a&+se6 9) Threats against the in.ivi.+al or the in.ivi.+alJs family6 #) lac"
of a.eC+ate clothing or hygiene3
H5
Aelner, Eitan, Tort+re an. Terrorism, Painf+l Messons from 4srael, pp3 2?%87, Chapter 7 of5 Tort+re a F+man
Rights Perspective, Be1 Kor", F+man Rights Watch, 253
covering the interrogee9s head with a sac., and playing of loud music/B
::
=nce the CommissionJs g+i.elines are thro1n o+t, the (SS either stoppe. the practices, or contin+e. them &+t 1ith
no oversight mechanisms or other g+ar.s3 There is no 1ay to ascertain 1hich occ+rre.3 0n interesting C+ote from
the CBB coverage
H/
of the 4SC .ecision states5
///the nine =upreme *ourt ,ustices noted that the state still has the right to defend itself/
0f the =hin )et believes it must torture a suspect to reveal the location of a %tic.ing bomb,% the torturer would be
put on trial, but a court might accept the argument that physical force was necessary/ This appears to provide a
bac. door, but on a very limited scale/
The concern e9presse. in the C+otation is one of protection for the tort+rers3 What if the interrogator +ses tort+re,
&+t .oes not gain the .esire. information &eca+se the s+spect .oes not "no1 itS Fo1 might the co+rt 2accept the
arg+ment that physical force 1as necessary2S 4s this after the fact .etermination accepta&le for a .emocracyS ,+st
1e no1 accept the tort+rerJs .etermination of necessityS The revie1 in a criminal procee.ing might act+ally .rive
the a&+se even more +n.ergro+n.3
-. OR!2NI>2TION26 US OF TORTUR
*espite the implementation of international la1s &anning the +se of tort+re +n.er any circ+mstance, as
.isc+sse. in section 7,a&ove, state%sponsore. organi:ations aro+n. the 1orl. still in.+ce physical an. psychological
harm on criminals, s+spects, an. other types of .etainees, &oth in interrogation an. in other conte9ts3 4f cr+el an.
+n+s+al harm is committe. an.$or ac"no1le.ge. &y vario+s sec+rity .epartments, committe. an.$or ac"no1le.ge.
http5$$1113&tselem3org$english$Tort+re$Tort+reG&yG(SS3asp
H/
http5$$e.ition3cnn3com$W=RM*$meast$999$H$israel3tort+re$
&y vario+s ran"s, an. goes +np+nishe. or har.ly p+nishe. after j+.icial revie1, then the +se of tort+re is de facto an
organi:e. an. systematic policy 'tho+gh possi&ly +n1ritten), regar.less of 1hether the co+ntry a.mits that it +se.
tort+re3
-.1. Russia
Arom #999 to 2, ten tho+san. Chechens 1ere arreste. &y R+ssian a+thorities to regain control over
Chechnya3 *etainees at the R+ssian Cherno"o:ovo 2filtration< camp ;s+ffere. systematic &eatings, rape, an. other
forms of tort+re<
H?
'F+man Rights Watch)3 Aor e9ample, 1hen .etainees arrive. at the camp, they 1ere force. to
1al" .o1n a ro1 of g+ar.s 1ho str+c" them 1ith &atons3 0ccor.ing to the testimony of one former .etainee, the
g+ar.s &eat him +nconscio+s, an. 1hen he a1o"e, &egan to &eat him again3 4t sho+l. &e note. that, &y the time
jo+rnalists an. international monitors visite. the site, most of the evi.ence of prisoner a&+se ha. &een remove.3
=n Bovem&er #?, 25, R+ssian la1 enforcement allege.ly +se. ill%treatment to coerce confessions o+t of
s+spects involve. in an arme. attac" on police an. sec+rity forces in Balchi"3 R+sal O+.aev, a former prisoner from
(+antUnamo !ay, 1as arreste. &y R+ssian a+thorities ten .ays after the attac"3 =n =cto&er 2H, his la1yer sai. that
she sa1 him &eaten so severely that he nee.e. assistance 1al"ing3 This evi.ence points to the possi&ility that the
Unite. States government is 1illing to commit e9traor.inary ren.ition3
-.2. C'ina
=n *ecem&er 2, 25, an envoy of the Unite. Bations Commission on F+man Rights 1ho ha.
H?
2R+ssia5 S+spects in Ca+cas+s 0ttac" 4ll%Treate.32 F+man Rights Watch3 #? Bov3 253 5 *ec3 253
Vhttp5$$hr13org$english$.ocs$25$##$#?$r+ssia#2573htmW
investigate. Chinese prisons an. .etention centers reporte. that tort+re 1as still a 1i.esprea. practice in China3
0+thorities in these prisons an. .etentions centers are enco+rage. to e9tract a.missions of g+ilt from .etainees
thro+gh inh+mane treatment3 S+ch treatment incl+.e. ;electric shoc"s, sleep .eprivation an. s+&mersion in 1ater
or se1age<3
H9
0 political prisoner in China tol. the envoy that prison g+ar.s force. him to remain on his &e. in one
position for eighty%five consec+tive .ays an. that the g+ar.s 1o+l. 1a"e him +p if he ever move. o+t of position
1hile sleeping3 Some prisoners .etaine. in !eijing sentence. to .eath 1ere han.c+ffe. t1enty%fo+r ho+rs a .ay,
relying on fello1 inmates to fee. them an. help them +se the toilet3
/
=ther forms of tort+re incl+.e. hoo.ing,
&eating &y fello1 inmates, ;stress positions,< an. .enial of me.ical treatment3 These a&+ses &y Chinese officials
are allo1e. to occ+r &eca+se the Chinese government only &ans a narro1 .efinition of violent p+nishment 1here
physical harm lea.s to visi&le scars or .isa&ility3 The nationEs ;po1erf+l sec+rity apparat+s< has challenge.
.eman.s to e9pan. rights for .etainees to ens+re ;sta&ility< an. prevent .issent3
The envoy claime. that altho+gh tort+re still perva.e. the co+ntry, the violence against prisoners in China
ha. .ecline. since it signe. an international covenant in #9??3 The co+ntry also iss+e. reg+lations in 28 that
;prohi&it tort+re an. threats to gain confessions<3
/#
-.+. Israe"
H9
Oahn, Ioseph3 2Tort+re Still JWi.esprea.J in China, Says U3B3 Envoy32 The Be1 Kor" Times 2 *ec3 253 8
*ec3 25 Vhttp5$$1113nytimes3com$25$#2$2$international$asia$2cn.%
china3htmlSpage1ante.T#DeiT598DenT&/??/a&2a8H&2#2DhpDe9T##775?HDpartnerThomepageW3
/
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/#
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4srael is the only .emocratic co+ntry in the 1orl. that has openly a.mitte. ;mo.erate physical press+re< is
permissi&le to e9tract information from prisoners3 0 report release. in 2 &y the then 4sraeli state comptroller,
,iriam !en%Porat, state. that Shin !et tort+re. Palestinians involve. in the 4ntafa.a from #9?? to #9923 !ETselem,
an 4sraeli h+man rights organi:ation, estimate. that ?5L of all Palestinian .etainees, n+m&ering in the tho+san.s,
ha. &een tort+re.
/2
3 4t has &een reporte. that Shin !et sec+rity agents tie. the han.s of s+spects &ehin. their &ac"s
an. place. them +n.er air con.itioners3 4n another techniC+e, Shin !et violently shoo" Palestinians, 1hich le. to at
least one .eath3 4n yet another common practice of tort+re, Palestinians are force. into the ;sha&eh< position, 1here
they are ;&ent &ac"1ar. over chairs, han.s an. legs shac"le. &eneath<
/7
3 The metho. ;Palestinian hanging< 'or
strappa.o) has alrea.y &een mentione. in the conte9t of me.ieval tort+re in section 2373
0 former .etainee 1ho ha. &een arreste. #8 times since #9?7 claime. that 4sraeli interrogators ha. &ecome
;more clever an. more e9perience.< over the years3
/8
Fe also cite. a .ifference &et1een tort+re committe. &y
sol.iers an. tort+re committe. &y act+al interrogators3 0ccor.ing to the .etainee, 4sraeli sol.iers cas+ally &eat an.
h+miliate. prisoners, similar to the 1ay the US military ha. tort+re. prisoners in 0&+ (hrai&, 1hile interrogatorsE
actions 1ere more calc+late., relying on psychological metho.s to &rea" prisoners3
4n #999, the 4sraeli S+preme Co+rt &anne. ;all forms of physical a&+se<3
/5
Fo1ever, it also create.
loopholes 1hich allo1e. interrogators to contin+e practicing the same inh+mane treatment it ha. tra.itionally relie.
/2
!orger, I+lian3 24sraeli (overnment Report 0.mits Systematic Tort+re of Palestinians32 (+ar.ian Unlimite.3 ##
Ae&3 23 5 *ec3 25 Vhttp5$$1113g+ar.ian3co3+"$israel$Story$,2/H7,#978HH,3htmlW3
/7
24srael S+preme Co+rt !ans 4nterrogation 0&+se of Palestinians32 CBB3 H Sept3 #9993 7 *ec3 25
Vhttp5$$1113cnn3comW
/8
Aran"el, (lenn3 2Prison Tactics a Mongtime *ilemma for 4srael32 Washington Post #H I+ne 253 7 *ec3 25
Vhttp5$$11131ashingtonpost3com$1p%.yn$articles$088HH8%28I+n#53htmlSnavThea.linesW
/5
i&i.
+pon if an imminent terrorist attac" 1as s+specte.3 Even so, Shin !et agents respon.e. to the ne1 la1 &y
a.ministering a ne1 host of tort+re techniC+es on s+spects, incl+.ing ;prolonge. .etention in s+&h+man
con.itions<3
/H
Sec+rity officials often arg+e that 4srael is a +niC+e case in the .emocratic 1orl., 1here terrorism
occ+rs every .ay an. s+ch practices are necessary to protect the people3
-.-. United States
The a&+ses practice. &y US ,ilitary sol.iers in the =ne%0lpha cell &loc" of 0&+ (hrai& prison 1ere &oth
physical an. psychological3 The sol.iers force. 4raCis into sim+late. se9+al positions, strippe. them na"e., an.
force. them to mast+r&ate3 The officer in charge of these tort+re sessions, Charles (raner, reporte.ly hit prisoners
1ith his fists an. iron ro.s3 Fe ma.e the prisoners eat foo. from a toilet3 4n another techniC+e, the US sol.iers
confronte. the 4raCis 1ith police .ogs3 Ket another instance of inh+mane treatment ha. a prisonerEs nec" tie. to a
.ogEs leash, forcing him to 1al" on all fo+rs3
//
,any of these tort+res, incl+.ing the act of ta"ing pict+res of the
them, p+t 4raCi prisoners to shame &eca+se of esta&lishe. 4raCi c+stom3 S+ch "in. of p+&lic em&arrassment co+l.
&e consi.ere. as the highest form of .ishonor for 4raCis3
4t sho+l. &e note. that the 4raCi government 1as a high%contracting player 1hich agree. to the (eneva
Conventions3 Therefore, 4raCi military personnel possesse. P=W stat+s, so there is no C+estion as to 1hether or not
the tort+re committe. at 0&+ (hrai& &ro"e international la1s against tort+re3
/?
Similar a&+ses 1ere committe. on a gro+p of 4raCi jo+rnalists &y .ifferent sol.iers at a .ifferent &ase in
/H
i&i.
//
C+rtiss, Richar. F3 2The mi.night shift at 0&+ (hrai&32 Washington Report on ,i..le East 0ffairs 28 '25)5
2?%293
/?
,cCarthy, 0n.re1 C3 2Tort+re5 Thin"ing a&o+t the Unthin"a&le32 Commentary ##? '28)5 #/%283
4raC3 This seems to ref+te the US ,ilitaryEs arg+ment that tort+re 1as only practice. &y a fe1 lo1%ran"ing sol.iers
in an isolate. inci.ent3 4n.ee., it appears as if ;a clear program ha. &een p+rposely .evise. an. metho.ically
.istri&+te. 1ith the intention, in the 1or.s of (eneral Sanche:Js =cto&er #2 memoran.+m, of helping 0merican
troops Xmanip+late an interneeJs emotions an. 1ea"nessesE <3
/9
Then thereEs the case of ;e9traor.inary ren.ition3< 0n article in the Ae&r+ary 25 iss+e of The Be1
Kor"er state. that5
This program had been devised as a means of e$traditing terrorism suspects from one foreign state to another
for interrogation and prosecution/ *ritics contend that the unstated purpose of such renditions is to sub,ect the
suspects to aggressive methods of persuasion that are illegal in (mericaAincluding torture/
LK
0 report on ren.itions an. estimate. that ;one h+n.re. an. fifty people ha. &een ren.ere. since 2#<3
?#
There are
a fe1 reasons 1hy the C40 practices this act, 1hich is potentially illegal &y &oth international an. US la13 Airst, it
has &een sai. that thro+gh e9traor.inary ren.ition, the C40 is ret+rning terrorist s+spects to their home co+ntries an.
ma"ing the correspon.ing governments ta"e responsi&ility for their o1n people3 The US a.ministration has ass+re.
the p+&lic that people are not ren.ere. to a foreign co+ntry if the US &elieves that the person 1ill more li"ely than
not &e tort+re. in the foreign co+ntry3 Ket, ,ahar 0rar 1as a man 1ho live. in Cana.a an. he 1as ren.ere. to
Syria 1here he 1as tort+re.3
?2
,ore li"ely, e9traor.inary ren.ition is +se. &y the US 1hen the C40 or another
fe.eral .epartment s+spects a person is privy to actiona&le information regar.ing terrorist attac"3 The .epartment
&elieves that if the person is s+&ject to tort+re in another co+ntry 1here s+ch an act is legal, the person 1ill ;loosen
/9
*anner, ,ar"3 2The Mogic of Tort+re32 The Be1 Kor" Revie1 of !oo"s 5# '28)3 5 *ec3 25
Vhttp5$$1113ny&oo"s3com$articles$#/#9W
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,ayer, Iane3 2=+tso+rcing Tort+re32 The Be1 Kor"er5 Aact / Ae&3 253 5 *ec3 25
Vhttp5$$1113ne1yor"er3com$fact$content$S52#8faGfactHW3
?#
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his tong+e3<
/. OR!2NI>2TIONS ?ONITORIN! TORTUR
4n response to the gro1ing a1areness of the 1i.esprea. +se of tort+re an. other h+man rights violations,
many organi:ations have .evelope.3 These organi:ations incl+.e the Unite. Bations Commission on F+man Rights
an. its Committee 0gainst Tort+re, 0mnesty 4nternational, F+man Rights Watch, the Worl. =rgani:ation against
Tort+re, an. the 0ssociation for the Prevention of Tort+re3 There have also &een responses ma.e an. investigations
con.+cte. &y other gro+ps s+ch as the 0merican Civil Mi&erties Union3
,any of these organi:ations came a&o+t .+e to JofficialJ silence an. lac" of investigation from
governments regar.ing h+man rights iss+es an. allegations of tort+re an. a&+se3 Some of these gro+ps con.+ct their
o1n fact%fin.ing missions an. present their reports on 1hat goes on 1ithin co+ntries aro+n. the 1orl.3 Their
fin.ings inform the p+&lic, governments, an. other organi:ations of h+man rights a&+ses an. violations of
international treaties, 1hich 1o+l. other1ise go +nnotice.3 4t is a part of their 1or" to &+il. mass movements
aro+n. these h+manitarian iss+es an. to ma"e those in po1er acco+nta&le to the p+&lic they serve for 1hat goes on3
/.1. United Nations Co%%ission on Hu%an Rig'ts $UNCHR& and t'e Co%%ittee 2gainst Torture $C2T&
The Unite. Bations is a &roa. coalition of co+ntries 1hose mem&ers 1ho 1or" to1ar.s follo1ing
international la1 an. g+i.elines3 4ts charter 1as officially ratifie. on =cto&er 27, #985 an. there 1ere 5# original
mem&er states that approve. it3 The Unite. Bations states p+rpose is ;to maintain international peace an. sec+rity6
to .evelop frien.ly relations among nations6 to cooperate in solving international economic, social, c+lt+ral an.
h+manitarian pro&lems an. in promoting respect for h+man rights an. f+n.amental free.oms6 an. to &e a centre for
harmoni:ing the actions of nations in attaining these en.s3<
?7
0s s+ch, the Unite. Bations sets the stan.ar.s for
international la1, incl+.ing the Universal *eclaration of F+man Rights 'U*FR) an. its legally &in.ing .erivative,
the 4nternational Covenant on Civil an. Political Rights3 4ts f+n.s come from its mem&er states3
The Unite. Bations Commission on F+man Rights 'UBFCR) 1as esta&lishe. in #98H3 The CommissionEs
man.ate is 2333to promote an. protect the enjoyment an. f+ll reali:ation, &y all people, of all rights esta&lishe. in the
Charter of the Unite. Bations an. in international treaties32
?8
The Commission e9tensively e9amines, monitors, an.
p+&licly reports on h+man rights con.itions aro+n. the glo&e3 They 1or" to integrate the h+man rights perspective
into all 1or" carrie. o+t &y UB agencies3 Starting in #9?5, the UBFCR appoints a Special Rapporte+r on Tort+re3 4t
is this personEs .+ty to investigate h+man rights con.itions in all co+ntries, regar.less of 1hether or not the co+ntry
has ratifie. the Convention 0gainst Tort+re an. =ther Cr+el, 4nh+man or *egra.ing Treatment or P+nishment3 The
Special Rapporte+r appeals to the mem&er states for those at ris" for tort+re or in regar.s to past instances of tort+re,
con.+cts fact%fin.ing missions, an. s+&mits ann+al reports
?5
3
The Committee against Tort+re 'C0T) is ma.e +p of in.epen.ent e9perts that ;monitor the
implementation of the Convention against Tort+re an. =ther Cr+el, 4nh+man or *egra.ing Treatment or
P+nishment in State parties3<
?H
4t 1as create. &y the Convention in #9?8 an. they hear complaints &oth from States
?7
;!asic Aacts 0&o+t the Unite. Bations3< Unite. Bations We&site3
http5$$1113+n3org$a&o+t+n$&asicfacts$+norg3htm
?8
http5$$1113ohchr3org$english$a&o+t$in.e93htm
?5
http5$$1113ohchr3org$english$iss+es$tort+re$rapporte+r$in.e93htm
?H
;Committee 0gainst Tort+te3< =ffice of the Unite. Bations Figh Commissioner for F+man Rights 1e&site3
Vhttp5$$1113ohchr3org$english$&o.ies$cat$in.e93htmW
an. in.ivi.+als3 States are reC+ire. to sen. yearly reports to C0T an. to allo1 them to con.+ct inC+iries an. visits
if nee. &e3 Fo1ever, if they receive complaints from in.ivi.+als, they cannot hear an. pass j+.gement on them
+nless the State of the party concerne. has previo+sly recogni:e. the po1er of C0T to .o so3
The Unite. Bations has often &een critici:e. for the h+man rights a&+ses of its mem&er states3 Co+ntries
s+ch as the US, 1ith its +se of e9traor.inary ren.ition, have violate. the U*FR an. the (eneva Conventions, +sing
selective interpretations of those instr+ments3 A+rthermore, as the Presi.ent of the &oar. of the !ill of Rights
*efense Committee '!=R*C) an. past chair of 0mnesty 4nternational US0, Chip Pitts states, ;the international
legal mechanisms remain 1ea"< an. that they ;have &een 1ea"ene. &y po1erf+l nationsY especially the Unite.
States<
?/
The Unite. Bations is mire. in too m+ch &+rea+cracy in or.er to move effectively, especially 1hen some
co+ntries .eci.e to act o+t on their o1n an. p+sh their o1n agen.as3
/.2. 2%nesty Internationa" $2I&
0n international, non%governmental organi:ation, 0mnesty 4nternational 1as fo+n.e. &y !ritish la1yer
Peter Peter !enenson in #9H#3
??
4t .oes not accept money from governments or governmental organi:ations3 They
han.le h+man rights &oth on an in.ivi.+al case an. general policy &asis3 To.ay there are a&o+t /,5 04 gro+ps
aro+n. the 1orl.3 04 1as a1ar.e. the Bo&el Peace Pri:e in #9// for their 1or" 1ith h+man rights3 04 &ases its
1or" on the h+man rights o+tline. in the Universal *eclaration of F+man Rights an. other international stan.ar.s3
Their campaigns have relate. to the follo1ing5
?/
Aisher, William3 ;F+man Rights *ay5 0 Wavering Alame 0mi. the *ar"ness3<
Vhttp5$$1113ipsne1s3net$ne1s3aspSi.ne1sT7#299W
??
;0mnesty 4nternational< Wi"ipe.ia3org Vhttp5$$en31i"ipe.ia3org$1i"i$0mnestyG4nternationalW
#3 to free all prisoners of conscience
23 to ens+re a prompt an. fair trial for all political prisoners
73 to a&olish the .eath penalty, tort+re an. other cr+el, inh+man or .egra.ing treatment or p+nishment
83 to en. e9tra j+.icial e9ec+tions an. 2.isappearances2
53 to fight imp+nity &y 1or"ing to ens+re perpetrators of s+ch a&+ses are &ro+ght to j+stice in accor.ance
1ith international stan.ar.s
?9
A+rthermore, their 1or" has gone &eyon. these points an. no1 cover 1rongs &y non state actors, arme. political
gro+ps that engage in inh+mane practices s+ch as tort+re, an. even those .one in .omestic spaces 1ithin the home3
0mnesty 4nternational gathers information &y contacting victims, atten.ing trials, intervie1ing, an.
rea.ing an. contacting relia&le me.ia o+tlets an. so+rces3 They c+rrently have a specific campaign against the ;1ar
on terror,< &ringing in to foc+s the h+man rights violations, incl+.ing tort+re, that the Unite. States has committe.
th+s far in the name of anti%terrorism an. .emocracy3 Their three main .eman.s are to stop, investigate, an.
prosec+te3 These .eman.s pertain to the U3S3Es &rea" 1ith international stan.ar.s3 04 has calle. +pon the U3S3 to
stop things s+ch as e9traor.inary ren.ition, coercive interrogation, an. close .o1n (+antanamo !ay an. other
.etention centers3 0mnesty a.vocates for the U3S3 to have an in.epen.ent commission charge. 1ith investigation of
all U3S3 agencies in regar.s to .etention, interrogation an. the ;1ar on terror< an. the U3S3 m+st prosec+te h+man
rights violators
9
3
0mnesty 4nternational has come +n.er fire &eca+se of its stan.s against the Unite. States government,
?9
0mnesty 4nternational We&site Vhttp5$$1e&3amnesty3org$pages$a&o+tai%faC%engW
9
;=+r statement against tort+re an. ill%treatment an. o+r .eman.s3< 0mnesty 4nternational Stop Tort+re
We&site3 Vhttp5$$1e&3amnesty3org$pages$stoptort+re%2HH5%statement%engW
especially .+e to the charge that the U3S3 maintains ;an archipelago of prisons aro+n. the 1orl., many of them
secret prisons, into 1hich people are &eing literally .isappeare., hel. in in.efinite incomm+nica.o .etention
1itho+t access to la1yers or a j+.icial system or to their families3<
9#
Presi.ent !+sh an. Nice Presi.ent Cheney &oth
attac"e. an. vilifie. 04 for its report an. comments an. others have spo"en o+t an. calle. 0mnesty 4nternational
anti%0merican an. left%1ing3 04 has also &een attac"e. 1ith &iase. coverage an. misinformation
92
3
Still, 0mnesty 4nternational has &een haile. for its honesty an. its contin+ing 1or" ens+ring that h+man
rights violations are &eing e9pose. an. its perpetrators &ro+ght to j+stice3 I+st recently 04 hel. a conference calle.
;The (lo&al Str+ggle 0gainst Tort+re5 (+atUnamo !ay, !agram, an. !eyon.
97
3< Those 1ho spo"e incl+.e.
activists, former .etainees an. family mem&ers3 The conference calle. for people to contin+e the fight an. p+sh on3
/.+. Hu%an Rig'ts 7atc' $HR7&
F+man Rights Watch is an in.epen.ent, international nongovernmental organi:ation that receives f+n.s
from fo+n.ations an. private in.ivi.+als 3 FRW .oes not receive f+n.s from the government or any government%
f+n.e. agency3 !ac" in #9/?, FRW &egan +n.er the name Felsin"i Watch3 Felsin"i Watch 1as meant to monitor
the Soviet UnionEs Compliance 1ith the Felsin"i 0ccor.s,
98
1hich 1as the Ainal 0ct of the Sec+rity an.
Cooperation in E+rope3 4t calle. for the party States to ;respect h+man rights an. f+n.amental free.oms< an.
conform to the Unite. Bations Charter an. the UB*FR3 Mater, other ;1atches< 1ere forme. to monitor other
Vhttp5$$1113cnn3com$25$US$H$5$amnesty3.etainee$W
92
;0mnesty 4nternational3< Wi"ipe.ia3org Vhttp5$$en31i"ipe.ia3org$1i"i$0mnestyG4nternationalW
97
;(+antUnamo !ay, !agram, an. !eyon.3< 0mnesty 4nternational3 V http5$$1e&3amnesty3org$pages$stoptort+re%
7##5%ne1s%engW
98
;Felsin"i 0ccor.s< Wi"ipe.ia3org Vhttp5$$en31i"ipe.ia3org$1i"i$Felsin"iG0ccor.sW
co+ntries3
4n #9??, all the 1atches gro+pe. +n.er the name F+man Rights Watch an. the gro+p is no1 &ase. in Be1
Kor" City3 FRW is the largest US%&ase. h+man rights organi:ation3 Their 1or" mainly incl+.es the pro.+ction of
research reports e9posing h+man rights con.itions an. a&+ses, the sen.ing of fact%fin.ing missions to investigate
violations , an. the placement of international press+re on governments an. other organi:ations to stop a&+se
95
3
FRW have offices in over ten cities 1orl.1i.e an. they also set +p temporary offices 1here they have
fact%fin.ing missions3 FRW trac"s .evelopments in over / co+ntries3 They hol. an 4nternational Ailm Aestival an.
give grants to 1riters that have &een &een politically persec+te.3
C+rrent 1or" in the area of tort+re an. a&+se incl+.e the release of a list of ;ghost prisoners< &eing hel. &y
the C40 an. e9posing the USEs +se of tort+re against s+spects an. .etainees
9H
3 Their 1e&site provi.es materials that
cover the +nla1f+lness of tort+re, accor.ing to &oth US an. international la13 They have letter%1riting campaigns
to governments an. companies that parta"e in h+man rights violations 1hether thro+gh .irect action or &y in.irect
s+pport 's+ch as s+pplying machinery or f+n.s to violating governments)3
FRW has &een critici:e., mainly &y the governments 1hose h+man rights violations they e9pose3 0
Chinese foreign minister acc+se. FRW of slan.er an. malicio+s attac"s after a report on the Chinese governmentEs
a&+se of Aal+ngong mem&ers &ac" in 23 Fo1ever, li"e many of the other gro+ps, F+man Rights WatchEs 1or"
has &een la+.e. as 1ell3 Their past e9posZs an. campaigns have help ma"e stri.es in changing governmental
policies an. have helpe. gain me.ia an. p+&lic attention an. s+pport for the iss+es they raise3
95
;0&o+t FRW3< F+man Rights Watch3 Vhttp5$$hr13org$a&o+t$1ho1eare3htmlW
9H
;Tort+re an. 0&+se< F+man Rights Watch Vhttp5$$hr13org$.oc$StTtort+reW
/.-. 7or"d Organisation 2gainst Torture $O?CT&
=,CT is ;the 1orl.Es largest coalition of non%governmental organisations 'B(=s) fighting against
ar&itrary .etention, tort+re, s+mmary an. e9tra j+.icial e9ec+tions, force. .isappearances an. other forms of
violence
9/
3< They 1or" to1ar.s en.ing s+ch h+man rights a&+ses an. f+rthering the movement to1ar.s the
prevention of violence3 =,CT actively s+pports an. protects its mem&er organi:ations3
Worl. =rganisation 0gainst Tort+re &egan in #9?H3 The gro+p has gro1n from 8? initial mem&er
organisations to 2HH at 27Es en.3 =,CT is .esigne. for rapi. mo&ili:ation an. action initiation an. s+pplies
information for the Unite. Bations an. other gro+ps3
=,CT has .one recent 1or" on the correlations &et1een poverty, ineC+alities, an. violence3 =,CT
initiate. a joint program 1ith 4nternational Ae.eration F+man Rights calle. the =&servatory for the Protection of
F+man Rights *efen.ers that 1or"s to fin. j+stice for h+man rights 1or"ers 1ho have &een imprisone. or
1rongf+lly p+nishe.3 They have spo"en o+t a&o+t the violent sit+ation of .efen.ers in 0frica
9?
an. 4srael
99
3
/./. 2ssociation for t'e 8re#ention of Torture $28T&
0nother B(=, the 0ssociation for the Prevention of Tort+re 1as fo+n.e. in #9// an. has (eneva as its
9/
Worl. =rganisation 0gainst Tort+re
Vhttp5$$1113omct3org$&ase3cfmSpageTomctDconsolT=PEBDcfi.T2/5?/8Dcfto"enT222#HH2/W
9? #5
=,CT3 ;0CFPR5 Contri&+tion on the sit+ation of .efe.ers in 0frica3< ReliefWe&3int
Vhttp5$$1113relief1e&3int$r1$RW!3BSA$.&9S4*$OOEE%HIOP(IS=pen*oc+mentW
99
FR =rgani:ation Calls for Releasing FR Aiel.1or"er Fel. +n.er 0.ministrative *etention
Vhttp5$$english31afa3ps$&o.y3aspSi.T8H/7W
&ase3 0PTEs main goal is, as its name implies, to prevent tort+re3 4t .oes so &y 1atching over .etention centers,
p+shing legal stan.ar.s against tort+re, an. to empo1er people to prevent tort+re thro+gh training3
0PT .iffers from all the other organi:ations in that it .oes not p+&licly spea" +p against partic+lar co+ntries in or.er
to more effectively 1or" 1ith them, &y not ca+sing contention an. instea. &eing .iplomatic3 0lso, 0PT receives
f+n.ing from a variety of so+rces incl+.ing other B(=s, governments, in.ivi.+als, an. fo+n.ations3
0PT has come +p 1ith the =ptional Protocol to the UB Convention 0gainst Terror an. is actively trying to get
co+ntries to ratify them3 =PC0T lists preventive meas+res in or.er to stop violence 1ithin .etention centers
#
3
Fo1ever, it nee.s the states 1ho ratifie. the UB Convention 0gainst Terror to ratify this also3
/.0. 2%erican Ci#i" 6i(erties Union $2C6U&
Ao+n.e. in #92, the 0CMU has &een 1or"ing to +phol. the !ill of Rights an. respect for civil li&erties3
The 0CMU also fights for eC+ality an. j+stice 1ithin the co+rts, legislative system, an. in specific comm+nities3
They han.le H, cases per year an. have offices in almost every state3 They .o not receive government f+n.ing
##
3
=n =cto&er /, 27, the 0CMU reC+este. the release of government .oc+ments relating to .etainees hel.
a&roa. &y the Unite. States3 The 0CMU .i. so +n.er the Aree.om of 4nformation 0ct 'A=40)3 Arom these
.oc+ments, the 0CMU 1as a&le to &ring light +pon inh+man con.itions that .etainees 1ere "ept +n.er an. the
tort+re an. ill%treatment that they receive.3
Since the release of these .oc+ments, the 0CMU has contin+e. to e9pose the inj+stices an. acts of tort+re
#
0ssociation for the Prevention of Tort+re
Vhttp5$$1113in.yme.ia3org3+"$en$regions$lon.on$25$5$7#/8?3htmlW
##
;0&o+t Us< 0merican Civil Mi&erties Union3 Vhttp5$$1113acl+3org$a&o+t$in.e93htmlW
that the US an. the C40 have committe.3 The 0CMU is c+rrently helping (erman Ohale. al%,asri s+e. the fe.eral
government over e9traor.inary ren.ition
#2
3
0. TH 8R2CTIC OF TORTUR
,+ch of the .e&ate over 1hether or not tort+re sho+l. &e permitte. simply accepts 1itho+t any
e9amination the ass+mption that an +ncooperative s+&ject can al1ays &e ma.e to reveal +sef+l information +n.er
tort+re3 This section e9amines the reasons 1hy a state might 1ish to tort+re a s+&ject, an. the practical .iffic+lties in
o&taining any +sef+l information in this manner3
There are many possi&le motivations for a state to resort to +sing tort+re in interrogations3 Fere, 1e 1ill
foc+s on the three motivations most relevant to the fight against international terrorism3 Airst, a prisoner may have
information a&o+t imminent terrorist attac"s3 This is the &asis for the ;Tic"ing !om&< scenario o+tline. in the ne9t
section3 Secon., a prisoner may have +sef+l information a&o+t the operations an. comm+nications of a terrorist
gro+p, s+ch as ho1 or.ers from the lea.ers of a terrorist organi:ation are comm+nicate. to the ;foot sol.iers< of the
organi:ation 1ho carry o+t the or.ere. attac"s3 Thir., a prisoner may &e part of a terrorist cell or other gro+p, an.
he may &e a&le to i.entify his accomplices3 This motivation sho+l. &e familiar from instances .isc+sse. in the
history section, partic+larly tort+ring a s+&ject to force him to name his accomplices, as in the torture pr5paratoire
mentione. in section 2353
4n attempting to e9tract any information at all from a s+&ject, the most ins+rmo+nta&le &arrier that the state
may enco+nter is that the s+&ject act+ally has no information, as 1hen an innocent person is apprehen.e. an. hel.
for C+estioning3 When the interrogation is part of a police or military proce.+re, rather than in the me.ieval conte9t
of a trial in 1hich strong circ+mstantial evi.ence has alrea.y &een presente., the .anger of tort+ring the 1rong
person is high3 The most recent e9ample of this is seen in the case of Ohale. al%,asri, a (erman citi:en allege.ly
.etaine. &y U3S3 agents in ,ace.onia, transporte. to 0fghanistan, s+&jecte. to tort+re, an. release. several months
later 1hen it 1as .iscovere. that he 1as not the right person3
#7
When attempting to .iscover .etails of +pcoming terrorist attac"s, interrogators face other .iffic+lties3
Airst, 1hile interrogating s+&jects +n.er tort+re, it is rare to fin. one 1ho 1ill not event+ally yiel.
#8
, &+t given that
most terrorist plots .o not have long .evelopment phases ' e3g3 it ta"es very little lea.%+p time to tell a s+ici.e
&om&er 1here he sho+l. stri"e), the s+&jectJs "no1le.ge of plots may &e moot &y the time he tal"s3 0nother
.iffic+lty is that, +nli"e the case of a trial, 1here a s+&ject co+l. &e hel. +ntil he gave testimony that co+l. &e
verifie., a s+&ject can foil interrogators &y inventing .etails of an imaginary plot3 A+rthermore, the lea.ers of the
terrorist gro+p can sprea. false r+mors of their plans, or even +se co+nterintelligence tactics an. sprea. .ifferent
r+mors to .ifferent terrorist cells if they 1ish to locate moles in their organi:ation3 These last tactics, of .eli&erate
.isinformation &y the lea.ers, are also effective against interrogators attempting to learn operational .etails of the
gro+p or to i.entify gro+p mem&ers3
=ne other .iffic+lty that interrogators face in getting information a&o+t mem&ers of terrorist gro+ps is the
;covert cell< organi:ation a.opte. &y many s+ch gro+ps3 This type of organi:ation severely restricts the contact
#7
;(erman citi:en hel. in secret prison s+es e9%C40 .irector3< San Iose ,erc+ry Be1s, *ecem&er H, 253
http5$$1113merc+ryne1s3com$ml.$merc+ryne1s$ne1s$politics$#77875753htm
#8
Sol:henitsyn, p3 #7
&et1een mem&ers of the gro+p, s+ch that no one person can i.entify more than a small n+m&er of other mem&ers of
the gro+p3
Th+s, there is tr+ly no g+arantee that tort+re 1ill reveal any relevant information at all, an. even if it .oes,
the information gaine. may not &e timely or actiona&le3 The "no1le.ge of s+ch practical limitations is essential in
creating informe. policy a&o+t the iss+e3
1. SID FFCTS OF TORTUR
Regar.less of 1hether or not tort+re satisfies the imme.iate reC+irement of e9tracting information from a
prisoner, the act of tort+ring the prisoner .oes not occ+r in isolation3 The actEs reperc+ssions reach far &eyon. the
tort+re cham&er, into the f+t+re 1ell%&eing of the victim, the mental health an. sta&ility of the interrogator, an. the
.ynamics of the victimEs society3
The effects of tort+re on the victim can &e either temporary or long%lasting, .epen.ing on n+mero+s
factors, incl+.ing the type of tort+re performe., the physical, mental, an.$or spirit+al state of the tort+re victim, an.
the treatments, if any, given to the tort+re victim after the act3 =&vio+sly, if the victim s+ffere. m+tilation or some
other type of tort+re that res+lts in long%term physical inj+ry, s+ch as the .amage that can &e .one to ligaments an.
ten.ons &y prolonge. infliction of techniC+es that +se great stress on the joints to inflict pain 'e3g3 strappa.o), then
the physical pain can remain 1ith the victim for the rest of his life3 0lso, if the type of tort+re .one ca+se.
+n&eara&le physical or mental pain to the victim, then this act is li"ely to permanently affect the victimEs psyche,
even if his &o.y is +n.amage.3 Permanent effects can incl+.e a lifetime of nightmares or a reaction to e9ternal
stim+li that remin.s the victim of the act, s+ch as the panic attac"s s+ffere. &y some victims of the ;1ater c+re< 'see
section 237) 1hen they are .ampene. &y the rain or a sho1er3
0nother effect, as *o+glas Iohnson s+ggests in ;The Effects of Tort+re RD0<
#5
, is that tort+re can provi.e
a Xsystematic silencing of .issentE an. can Xstrip comm+nities of their lea.ers3E 0 person 1ho 1as once an efficient
lea.er in their comm+nity can easily an. permanently &e affecte. so that they no longer f+nction in the same 1ay3
4n a..ition, accor.ing to The Center for Nictims of Tort+re, an organi:ation .e.icate. to the healing of
tort+re s+rvivors, tort+re has Xa corr+pting effect on the perpetrator3E
#H
4n or.er for the interrogator to treat a
.etainee so harshly an. still &e a&le to sleep at night, he nee.s to learn to see the victim as less than h+manPi3e3 to
.eh+mani:e the .etainee3 *eh+mani:ation tactics can incl+.e i.entifying the .etainee only &y a n+m&er, p+tting a
hoo. over his face, or e9erting the interrogatorEs po1er over the .etainee &y forcing the .etainee to perform some
h+miliating act3 0ccor.ing to *r3 0llen S3 Oeller
#/
, an e9pert in the treatment of tort+re victims, interrogators that
.o not .eh+mani:e the .etainees may Xe9perience some long%term effects of g+ilt 1hich corro.es their
conscio+sness3 They constantly are replaying the acts 1hich they enforce.3E
#?
0s a res+lt some interrogators self%
m+tilate their &o.ies, to signify e9ternally the conflict 1ithin3 X!y tort+ring others, interrogators are in t+rn tort+ring
themselves3E
#9
#5
The Effects of Tort+re RD05 *o+glas Iohnson3 http5$$1113osce3org$item$883html
#H
The Center for the Nictims of Tort+re % Eight Messons on Tort+re
http5$$1113cvt3org$main3php$0.vocacy$TheCampaigntoStopTort+re$WhatCNT"no1sa&o+tTort+re
#/
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4. ?ora" and t'ica" Considerations
0 principal concern a&o+t the +se of tort+re is that la1s alone are falli&le, an. la1s can &e interprete.
.ifferently &y vario+s nations, governments, an. in.ivi.+als3 4n the #?th thro+gh 2th cent+ries, the &o.y of la1
'national an. international) has &ecome far less tolerant of tort+re, &+t the 1e, as mem&ers of the 1orl.Es civili:e.
societies, are no1 confronte. 1ith an enemy 1ho .oesnJt play &y o+r esta&lishe. r+les of engagement, .oesnJt
recogni:e o+r treaties, an. is intent on .estroying +s3 We also "no1 the 1illf+l infliction of pain is not something to
&e ta"en lightly3 Wrongf+lly inflicte. 'or 2rightf+lly2 if that is possi&le), tort+re .estroys lives3 =+r ne1 enemies are
1illing to +se tort+re against +s, an. have traine. to o+r +n1illingness to +se tort+re against them, as co.ifie. in the
&o.y of international la1 1e s+&scri&e to3 We have international governmental &o.ies an. organi:ations 1hich
monitor a.herence to h+man rights stan.ar.s3 So 1e are left 1ith a moral an. ethical .ilemma of 1hether the
historical pen.+l+m m+st no1 s1ing &ac" an. legitimi:e 'or con.one or allo1) tort+re to meet o+r c+rrent enemies3
The trace of the pen.+l+mJs s1ing is 1ritten in the &o.y of la1, &oth international 'e3g3 (eneva Conventions, C0T,
etc3) an. national 'e3g3 US 0nti%Tort+re 0ct)3 We have alrea.y 1itnesse. a faile. e9periment 'see earlier .isc+ssion
of the Man.a+ Commission) 1ith the legitimi:ation of tort+re3 4f 1e .o not legitimi:e tort+re, are 1e t+rning o+r
&ac" on the practice an. allo1ing it to occ+r o+tsi.e the legal frame1or"S =r is it &etter to +se it +n.er very strict
g+i.elinesS 4s it even possi&le to infalli&ly legali:e tort+reS
4n this section 1e e9amine an. post+late +pon the arg+ments an. .isc+ssions posite. &y *ersho1it: in
2Sho+l. the Tic"ing !om& Terrorist !e Tort+re.S2
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4n the Tic"ing !om& Scenario
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5
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*ersho1it:, 0lan, Why Terrorism Wor"s, Chapter 8, 22, Kale University Press, pp3 #7#%#H73
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*ersho1it: cre.its this .escription to ,ichael Wal:erJs article 2Political 0ction5 The Pro&lem of *irty Fan.s3
/// a decent leader of a nation plagued with terrorism is as.ed %to authoriHe the torture of a captured rebel
leader who .nows or probably .nows the location of a number of bombs hidden in apartment buildings across
the city, set to go off within the ne$t twenty'four hours/ Ce orders the man tortured, convinced that he must do
so for the sa.e of people who might otherwise die in the e$plosionsAeven though he believes that torture is
wrong, indeed abominable, not ,ust sometimes, but always/
*ersho1it: s+&titles his .isc+ssion 2a case st+.y in ho1 a .emocracy sho+l. ma"e tragic choices32 4n.ee.
1e are presente. 1ith tragic choices fe1 h+mans 1ant to ma"e3 4n this case either possi&le choice has tragic
conseC+ence3 4f the lea.er ma"es the choice to not tort+re the s+spect '&ase. on national principles) many people
1ill .ie3 Conversely, if he chooses to tort+re, then he has violate. those national principles, an. f+rther
##2
if the
s+spect still .oes not .iv+lge the information +n.er press+re of tort+re, he has not save. any lives either3 T1o other
interesting possi&ilities arise5 #) The s+spect .oes not have the information
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, &+t the interrogator &elieves he .oes,
the s+spect then tells the interrogator something to stop the tort+re, an. again no lives are save.6 2) The s+spect
"no1s the correct information, &+t he also "no1s he can stop the tort+re &y provi.ing any information even tho+gh
false, an. again no lives are save.3 *isting+ishing among the possi&ilities is s+..enly very .iffic+lt3 (iven the
C+ality of strategic intelligence in the real 1orl., ho1 can 1e "no1 1ith certainty the s+spect act+ally "no1s the
information .esire.S The very legitimi:ation of the single case co+l. open the .oor &oth 1ithin the co+ntry an.
a&roa. to more +se of tort+re3 4n.ee. there are tragic conseC+ences to all the options in this hypothetical case3
So ho1 .o 1e resolve this .ilemmaS The .ecision is clear for *ersho1it:J stra1 man
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, &+t more .iffic+lt
for others3 The Septem&er ##th attac"s have, perhaps, ma.e the .ecision to +se non%lethal tort+re 'in the tic"ing
&om& case) more palata&le to 0mericans3 ,ost 0mericans .early treas+re their free.oms, yet a significant fraction
##2
The case that tort+re .oes not 1or" is not a..resse. in *ersho1it:J analysis of the possi&le tragic conseC+ences,
an. it is the one .o+&ly tragic3
##7
Recall 2333 capt+re. re&el lea.er 1ho "no1s or )ro(a("y "no1s3332
##8
2The case against tort+re, if ma.e &y a R+a"er 1ho opposes the .eath penalty, 1ar, self%.efense, an. the +se of
lethal force against fleeing felons, is +n.erstan.a&le32
'75L)
##5
feel the nee. to compromise those free.oms 'a+thori:ing tort+re of terrorism s+spects) in some case's) for
the greater goo.3 Will the police, the A!4, the military an. the C40 +se these techniC+es off%the%recor.3 an. in an
+nreg+late., non%transparent, non%acco+nta&le, non%.emocratic manner 1hen sit+ations ariseS =r is it &etter to
create a legislative frame1or" to a+thori:e tort+re, in very limite. circ+mstances, +n.er a 2tort+re 1arrant,2 1ith
strict j+.icial oversightS
*ersho1it: arg+es that the rights of the s+spect are &etter protecte. 1ith the tort+re 1arrant, an. that
s+spects might &e more amena&le to provi.ing information if they "no1 tort+re is in the realm of possi&ility3
Ultimately, he &elieves there 1ill &e less tort+re &eca+se to +se tort+re, an official 1o+l. have to apply for a tort+re
1arrant thro+gh an official proce.+re 1ith acco+nta&ility, rather than .o it off%the%&oo"s an. .eny it occ+rre.3 =ne
.anger *ersho1it: .isco+nts is that j+.icial a+thori:ation of tort+re co+l. set prece.ents3
Still tro+&ling in all of this is that o+r criminal j+stice system is &ase. on pres+mption of innocence3 There
is no pres+mption of innocence for those to &e tort+re.3 *ersho1it: provi.es, in part, for that 1ith imm+nity from
criminal prosec+tion3 !+t even imm+nity, may not compensate if the s+spect has .one nothing 1rong3 The .iffic+lty
arises that a person to &e tort+re. may not act+ally "no1 the information or may simply &e the 1rong person .+e to
fa+lty intelligence3
##H
The scenario .oes not allo1 for all the possi&ilities, some of 1hich co+l. have 2tragic2
conseC+ence3 S+ppose.ly the information is to &e e9tracte. for the goo. of o+r society, &+t there remains the
##5
4n an 0!C Be1s Poll 'http5$$a&cne1s3go3com$sections$+s$Polls$tort+reGpollG852/3html) con.+cte. in the
aftermath of the 0&+ (hrai& scan.al, 75L of 0mericans felt tort+re of terrorism s+spects 1as accepta&le in
some cases3 This is clearly smaller than the near +nanimity *ersho1it: reports for his spea"ing a+.iences3 !+t,
75L is still a large percentage of the 0merican pop+lace3
##H
Recall that US Senator Te. Oenne.y 1as on a no%fly list &eca+se of same or similar name3 (rante. this 1as a
proce.+ral error 1ith trivial conseC+ence, &+t 1e have no g+arantees s+ch proce.+ral errors 1ill not occ+r 1ith
tragic conseC+ence3
possi&ility of error3
4n the instance of the Man.a+ Commission, legali:ation arg+a&ly le. to the point 1here the (SS entere. the
slippery slope on the contin++m of coercive techniC+es3 Megitimation of tort+re, even +n.er a very prescri&e. set of
con.itions 1o+l. &e a tragic choice, &+t is the alternative any less tragicS *ersho1it:Js stra1 man 'the R+a"er)
"no1s his ans1er +neC+ivocally3 The Aa+stian &argain to legali:e tort+re has no g+arantees of s+ccess, nor can it &e
sec+rely safeg+ar.e.3 The loss to the s+spect might &e estima&le after the fact, &+t, a&stractly, in a.vance 1e .o not
"no1 eno+gh a&o+t the components to C+antify their costs3 Even the &enefits si.e is .iffic+lt to meas+re in a.vance3
Consi.er the C+estion, 1hat is the pro&a&ility of s+ccessf+l e9traction of information '1e m+st factor in the time the
information is reC+ire., the s"ill of the interrogator, the resistance of the s+spect, not to mention the pro&a&ility the
s+spect is the correct person)3 4t is more than ironic that if &y legitimi:ing tort+re, 1e collectively lose a little &it of
each of o+r free.oms3 Fere, it is easy to fall into the trap of .ivi.ing the cost over the pop+lation, there&y generating
a very small per capita n+m&er3 !+t, the moral high gro+n. a&hors economic analysis, so 1e come aro+n. again to
1hether 1e allo1 o+r enemyJs moral level to esta&lish o+r o1n3 4f 1e lo1er o+r &ar, then 1hat is to prevent o+r
a.versary from going even lo1erS
5. CONC6USION
Tort+re as a means of coercing information from h+man &eings in interrogation has a long history3 Until
the #?th cent+ry it 1as 1i.ely con.one. an. +se. for interrogation as 1ell as for p+nishment3 Since then, the +se
an. acceptance of tort+re has .ecline. 'at least officially) +ntil very recently3 The #9th an. 2th cent+ries heral.e.
the esta&lishment of organi:ations s+ch as the Re. Cross an. the Unite. Bations3 These organi:ations have
emphasi:e. the h+mane treatment of prisoners an. all h+man &eings in general3 This has res+lte. in a &o.y of
international la1 'conventions, treaties, protocols, .eclarations) increasingly protective of h+man rights3 *+ring the
2th cent+ry, governments have gra.+ally come to accept the h+man rights mantle, at least in part, .+e to the
presence of 1atch.og organi:ations '0mnesty 4nternational, F+man Rights Watch, 0CMU, et al) an. committees of
the Re. Cross an. UB3 This monitoring activity has greatly re.+ce. the 2official2 +se of tort+re3
0s the nations of the 1orl. meet their ne1est enemyPglo&al terrorist organi:ationsP1ith .ifferent moral
val+es, there has &een a rene1e. +sage of coercive techniC+es, incl+.ing tort+re, &y these nations3 The nations .o
not necessarily a.mit they engage in tort+re, &+t evi.ence persists an. points to its e9istence, even if 1e .o not
agree on the e9act magnit+.e of the pro&lem3 There has &een a call for legitimi:ation 'if not legali:ation) of tort+re
in the 1ar on terrorism3 This call has &een lo+.est in those nations most effectively targete. &y the terrorist
organi:ations, namely the Unite. States, R+ssia, an. 4srael3 4n the US, there has &een a mo.erately resonant
response from the p+&lic, 1hile in E+rope an. !ritain, o+r allies have seen a mar"e.ly less positive response3
4t is too soon to tell if the pen.+l+m 1ill s1ing &ac" to1ar. more acceptance of tort+re in interrogations,
an. if it is accepte., 1hether it 1ill &e effective3 4f accepte., 1e have a premonition &ase. on recent events, that it
may &e over+se. or a&+se.3 =+r e9aminations of its nat+re, history, +sage, an. of the case for legitimi:ation .i. not
i.entify compelling arg+ments for its contin+e. +se or legali:ation, th+s 1e concl+.e the +sage is not j+stifia&le3
The +se of tort+re in interrogations is a comple9 topic, an. others hol. .ifferent opinions an. interpretations of the
same information3 Some nations +p against the j+ggerna+t of terror may fin. compelling arg+ments for its +se in the
tic"ing &om& scenario or as a reaction to massive or contin+ing terrorist attac"s3 Ket other nations 1ill reject tort+re
on ethical an. moral gro+n.s3 There is certainly a lac" of international cohesiveness an. agreement s+rro+n.ing the
+se of tort+re an. other h+man rights violations3 0t the moment, it is clear that nations simply .o not agree a&o+t
the iss+e an. only time 1ill sho1 if they ever 1ill3