Faithful Against Torture

As a matter of law and ethics, it should be clear and unequivocal that torture is an unacceptable act that can never be justified. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights makes this clear in a provision stating that: “no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” This provision is a bright line— simply put it is one of the most basic and fundamental human rights. Unfortunately, the current administration has used the war on terror as an opportunity to label the Geneva Conventions “quaint” and outdated. Ignoring the Geneva Conventions, this administration has engaged in a damaging course of action where they justify torture as a necessary instrument of war. The additional authorities granted to the President after the heinous acts of September 11, 2001, have led to an abuse of power that directly contradicts international and domestic law and treaty obligations, thereby, undermining U.S. national security and the country’s rightful standing as responsible world leader. The Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the Convention), to which the United States is a party, defines torture as “any act by which severe pain or suffering … is intentionally inflicted on a person … when such pain or suffering is inflicted by … a public official or other person acting in an official capacity.” Furthermore, it explicitly requires each member country to “take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent acts of torture.” However, the Iraq invasion and the broader war on terror have provided an excuse for the government to sanction severe prisoner abuse such as that seen in Abu Ghraib, which directly contradicts the Convention. These measures weaken the solid foundations of freedom and justice that America has worked tirelessly to build over the years. The human rights community, legal community, and retired members of the military have joined together to make the case that the decision by the Bush administration to use torture is blatantly illegal. In addition to these voices are the voices of religious leaders who represent a broad range of faith traditions. Here, they seek to make the moral case against torture. Our hope is that the following essays by religious leaders will clearly illustrate that from a religious, ethical, and moral standpoint torture is unacceptable. These religious leaders represent a wide spectrum of Judeo-Christian values. Our hope is that by amplifying the voices of the faithful, we can show that there is a consensus against torture in this country.