Congress Strongly Urged to Pass Anti-Torture Bill

Washington, D.C. -- December 11, 2007 -- The U.S. Congress should vote in favor of the legislation currently before the House and Senate outlawing harsh interrogation techniques and requiring all U.S. intelligence agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, to abide by the U.S. Army Field Manual, Freedom House said today.

The provision, which is part of the Intelligence Authorization Bill, would prohibit interrogation techniques such as waterboarding and other cruel, inhumane or degrading tactics. The legislation passed a Congressional conference committee last week. However, President Bush has threatened to veto the legislation if it passes both houses of Congress.

Article continues below...

“Torture and other inhumane interrogation techniques are the hallmark of dictatorships. In a free society, there is absolutely no place for them in any form,” said Jennifer Windsor, executive director of Freedom House. “While the fight against terrorism raises many complex policy issues, this is not one of them. No part of the U.S. government should engage in torture.”

“Freedom House applauds those members of Congress who voted in favor of the legislation, and we strongly encourage all members to do the same when it comes up for a vote by the full House and Senate,” continued Ms. Windsor. “In an era when dictators around the world are gaining traction and questioning the significance of democracy, the U.S. should be modeling the best aspects of a free society.”

The U.S. is rated Free in the 2007 edition of Freedom in the World, Freedom House’s annual survey of political rights and civil liberties. In early 2008, Freedom House will be releasing a special report, Today’s American: How Free?, that will provide an in-depth evaluation of the state of political rights and civil liberties in the U.S. today.

Source: Freedom House