Comment & Debate
On May 19 2006, the UN Committee against Torture issued a report stating the U.S. should stop, what it concludes, is “ill-treatment” of detainees, since such treatment, according to the report, violates international law. It also calls for cessation of the US-termed “enhanced interrogation” techniques, as the UN sees these methods as a form of torture. The UN report also admonishes against secret prisons, the use of which, is considered to amount to torture as well and should be discontinued.[1]
US president Jimmy Carter is among those who publicly stated in an interview on October 10, 2007: “The United States tortures prisoners in violation of international law.”[2]
А report by Human Rights First (HRF) and Physicians for Human Rights (PFH) stated that the aforementioned ten techniques constitute torture. Their press release said: “The report concludes that each of the ten tactics is likely to violate U.S. laws, including the War Crimes Act, the U.S. Torture Act, and the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005.”[3]
According to HRF, PFH and Stephen Soldz et al. medical and psychological literature shows that torture may have “profound long-term negative effects upon individuals, including psychosis, depression, suicidal ideation and/or post-traumatic stress disorder.”[4] They also cite the Office of the Inspector General report which concluded that, “SERE-type interrogation techniques constitute “physical or mental torture and coercion under the Geneva conventions.”[5]
According to HRF, PFH and Stephen Soldz et al.. medical and psychological literature shows that torture may have “profound long-term negative effects upon individuals, including psychosis, depression, suicidal ideation and/or post-traumatic stress disorder.”[6][7] They also cite the Office of the Inspector General report which concluded that SERE-type interrogation techniques constitute “physical or mental torture and coercion under the Geneva conventions.”[19]