After September 11, 2001, U.S. officials authorized the cruel treatment and torture of prisoners held in Afghanistan, Iraq, Guantanamo, and the CIA's secret prisons overseas.

This database documents the U.S. government's official experiment with torture. At present, the database contains well over 100,000 pages of government documents obtained primarily through Freedom of Information Act litigation and requests filed by the ACLU, and through litigation of Salim v. Mitchell, a lawsuit brought by the ACLU on behalf of the survivors and the family of a dead victim of the CIA torture program. To learn more about the database, please read the About and Search Help pages. If you're a developer, you can also access this data through our API.

Search Result (6709)

RelevanceDateRelease Date
Interviewee arrived to AG on August 20, 2003 (left March 29, 2004) as the NCOIC of the Detention Facility Internal Reaction Force (core responsibility was riot control). Recalled that dogs-canine teams arrived at the camp after the riot in Camp ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Transcript)
Physical assault, General, Use of phobias

This document is part of the Taguba Report (Annex 83) and included here in the Fay Report. The interview is of Sergeant First Class Keith A. Comer, Platoon Sergeant of the 229th Military Police Company assigned to Abu Ghraib Prison in 2003. ...

Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Transcript)
Antonio Taguba, David D. McKiernan, Janis Leigh Karpinski, Donald H. Rumsfeld
Physical assault, Stomach/abdominal slap, General
This is a sworn statement by a Lieutenant Colonel with the 320th Military Police Battalion concerning his deployment to, and experience at Abu Ghraib prison. "It became obvious to me that the majority of our detainees were detained as the result ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
Thomas Pappas, Ricardo Sanchez, Janis Leigh Karpinski, Barbara G. Fast
This is the sworn statement of an Army officer with the 800th Military Police brigade Staff assigned to Abu Ghraib prison in October 2003. He explained that he retained responsibility for detainee operations. Discussed some of the rules set by ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
Geoffrey D. Miller, Thomas Pappas
Physical assault, General, Use of phobias, Sleep deprivation, Environmental manipulation, Hooding/Goggling, Nudity
This statement of a CACI civilian contractor hired as a Screener was assigned to Abu Ghraib prison in min-November 2003. He remained there for two (2) months. He states he was not properly trained in the Interrogation Rules of Engagement (IROE) ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
Thomas Pappas
Physical assault, General, Use of electricity, Sleep deprivation, Nudity, Other Humiliation, Forced grooming
Memo states in part "Senior Interrogator, JIDC to obtain all logs concerning JIDC operations between 15 July 2003 and 31 January 2004. [A]dvised that no such logs existed."
This statement is made by a civilian contractor assigned to Abu Ghraib prison in September 2003. He states "I did not receive any Geneva Convention training as it pertained to detainees at that time. I received it a week after I arrived when a ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
Physical assault, Use of phobias
Sworn statement of a Sergeant assigned to Abu Ghraib prison from August - December 2003. The SGT was a 97B Counterintelligence Agent with the 519th Military Intelligence Brigade assigned to set-up interrogation procedures and Rules of Engagement ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
Thomas Pappas
Use of phobias, Nudity, Other Humiliation, Sexual
The interviewee is a Major who was initially assigned to Camp Bucca, but was transferred to AG around September 23-27, 2003, after Camp Bucca consolidated with AG. The Major recounted general observations; did not recall seeing detainees abused ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Transcript)
Barbara G. Fast, Thomas Pappas, Ricardo Sanchez
Use of phobias, Nudity, Other Humiliation
Interview of a civilian contractor with the Titan Corp. assigned to Abu Ghraib prison as an interrogator. The gentleman recalls several incidents of detainees being inappropriately treated before, during and after interrogations. He specifically ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
Physical assault, Walling, General, Isolation, Environmental manipulation, Hooding/Goggling, Nudity, Other Humiliation, Sexual
This statement of a CACI civilian contractor hired as a Screener was assigned to Abu Ghraib prison in min-November 2003. He remained there for two (2) months. He states he was not properly trained in the Interrogation Rules of Engagement (IROE) ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
Thomas Pappas
Physical assault, General, Sleep deprivation, Nudity, Other Humiliation, Forced grooming
Contract interrogator from CACI assigned to Abu Ghraib from November 23, 2003 to the end of January 2004. The Interrogator stated "I never personally used or saw dogs being used in interrogations. My impression was that the dogs were used as an ...
Illegible handwritten notes.
"Techniques as sleep deprivation were a common thing. Sleep management was part of the extended IROE.. Of CACI interrogator: "he told me, ' I have been doing this for 20 years and I do not need a 20 yr old telling me how to do my job'. . . . ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Transcript)
Abdul Rauf Aliza
Use of phobias, Sleep deprivation, Nudity
An interview of a Sergeant, mail clerk, assigned to Abu Ghraib from October 20, 2003 until February 5, 2004. The SGT stated that he was assigned as the unit mail clerk. Was not aware of any abuse or humiliation of detainees. Only recalled an MP ...
Abu Ghraib translator's sworn statement and responses to questionnaire. The translator claimed to have witnessed detainees who were physically abused, shaken, thrown into doors, and hit with footballs. Detainees were undressed and forced into ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Transcript, Questionnaire)
Physical assault, Walling, General, Nudity, Other Humiliation, Sexual, Religious, Other
Sworn statement of a civilian contractor linguist from the Titan Corp. assigned to Abu Ghraib prison in July 2003. He states that he was one of the first group of linguists/translators to arrive at Abu Ghraib and the training on detainee ...
Telephone interview of [redacted] arrived in AG on October 20, 2003. Was made section leader of for the Force Protection Tiger Team. Recalled seeing detainees mopping the floors, saw civilian clothed men (told they were Iraqi Police) leading ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Summaries/Notes)
Abdul Rauf Aliza
Use of phobias, Nudity, Other Humiliation, Sexual, Forced grooming, Other
This is the sworn statement of a military intelligence civilian contractor from the CACI company assigned to Abu Ghraib prison as a Screene in mid-December 2003. He states that he did not recall directly observing any abuse at Abu Ghraib. He ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
Physical assault, Sexual, General, Other
Memorandum for record of a May 5, 2004 interview of a soldier interviewed concerning his "failure to report abuse" and "false testimony." The soldier invoked his right to counsel, the interview ended.
Mar. 03, 2005
Non-legal Memo, Interview (Summaries/Notes)
George R. Fay
Sworn statement by a CACI Contractor who was a Translator at Abu Ghraib Prison from December 8, 2003 through the making of this statement on June 15, 2004. He stated: "Detainees also talk about bad treatment from Iraqis and Coalition forces at ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
George R. Fay
Physical assault, General
Sworn statement from CACI civilian Contractor, recalled statements made to him/her by female detainee(s). The detainee(s) recounted their experiences at Al Azimiyah Palace. He stated "have never witnessed and physical abuse in Abu Ghraib. I have ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
Physical assault, Sexual, General, Threat, Assault/death, Nudity, Other Humiliation, Sexual
This is a sworn statement by a civilian contractor, screener assigned to Abu Ghraib prison in December 2003. He stated that he made a statement in reference to an incident involving a family of Iraqi civilians, a sister and two (2) brothers, one ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
Physical assault, Sexual, General, Environmental manipulation, Hooding/Goggling, Other Humiliation, Sexual
Memo of a telephonic interview with Military Intelligence Officer concerning statements made in his sworn statement. Interviewee stated his comments were rumors he overheard and did not believe those comments would be construed as first hand ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Non-legal Memo, Interview (Summaries/Notes)
Other Humiliation, Sexual, Other
Sworn statement of an Army Specialist intelligence analyst assigned to Abu Ghraib prison as a member of the Tiger Team of Interrogators. He stated that he did not conduct interviews initially and was very aware of the Rules of Engagement ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
Physical assault, General, Use of phobias, Nudity, Other Humiliation, Sexual
Interviewee was an Assistant Interrogation Analyst with the 302nd Military Intelligence Brigade. Recalled one occasion in which a MP pushed a hooded-"untruthful" against a railing, causing the detainee to bleed. "I saw a naked detainee who ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Transcript)
Physical assault, General, Threat, Isolation, Nudity, Forced physical training
Sworn statement of a Captain with the 372nd Military Police Company. The Captain states "I was shocked when I noticed that the detainees in Wing 1 were naked. There was one with women's underwear. . . . " Was told the nudity of detainees and ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
Janis Leigh Karpinski
Physical assault, General, Nudity, Other Humiliation, Sexual, Manipulation of interrogator’s identity
Sworn statement, interviewee stated, I was asked to observe an interrogation which possibly fell on the border line [of inappropriate techniques]. Also, stated that he/she "heard of an unauthorized interrogation by three interrogators in SEP 03. ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Transcript)
Physical assault, Nudity, Other Humiliation, Sexual
Summary of phone interview of a surgeon with the 28th Combat Army Surgical Hospital (CASH) concerning the medical support of Abu Ghraib prison. The interviewer sought and received a list of all PAs or doctors assigned to the CASH from ...
Sworn statement from civilian contractor with the Titan Corp. concerning his role and duties in the interrogation of detainees at Abu Ghraib prison in October 2003. Stated that he/she did not witness nudity, use of dogs (heard them) and heard ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
Physical assault, General, Sleep deprivation, Nudity, Other Humiliation
A Military Intelligence Officer was interviewed at Camp Victory by Major General Fay in regards to interrogation plans in place at Abu Ghraib Prison in 2003. The deponent discussed his arrival at Abu Ghraib and the duties he performed while ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Transcript, Statement)
George R. Fay
Use of phobias, Sleep deprivation, Nudity
This sworn statement by a Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2), Platoon Leader at Abu Ghraib prison from September 2004 until May 2004 stated that "I heard of an unauthorized interrogation by three interrogators. The interrogators took a female ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
Thomas Pappas
Nudity, Other
This document is an interview conducted via telephone with a a civilian interrogator with the Defense Intelligence Agency concerning his experience at Abu Ghraib prison. The gentleman stated "All of the Iraqi Survey group (ISG) debriefings he was ...
Sworn statement from a Civilian assigned to AG as an interrogator. He/she did not recall observing abuse at Abu Ghraib prison. The gentleman did say "I did not witness or know about any detainee abuse or any photos of detainees. I did not witness ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
Thomas Pappas
Use of phobias
Sworn statement from a 97B Counterintelligence Agent. Witnessed use of dogs in interrogations; thought it was approved by Pappas. Does not recall abuse, but does remember an occasion where the line of questioning was not smooth. Recalled the ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Transcript)
Thomas Pappas
Use of phobias, Environmental manipulation, Temperature, Nudity
Civilian contractor for CACI working at Abu Ghraib prison as a Screener on October 8, 2008. The gentleman did not recall receiving Geneva Convention training, but was experienced in military operations and was aware of the general provisions of ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
Other
Sworn statement of a Captain, Commander of the 72nd Military Police Company who was deployed to Abu Ghraib prison from May 23, 2003 until October 15, 2003. The Captain stated his mission was to prepare the prison for transition to Iraqi control. ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
Geoffrey D. Miller
Environmental manipulation, Temperature, Nudity, Other
Sworn statement. Interviewee arrived to AG on October 15, 2003 for the purpose of conducting interrogation operations. The interviewee recalled requesting and receiving approval for the use of dogs for an interrogation, stated that the dogs were ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Transcript)
Thomas Pappas
Use of phobias
Sworn statement of sergeant at Abu Ghraib including a description of his surprise that "certain approaches" were acceptable. He witnessed a detainee left in cold temperatures without clothes or a blanket and with untreated wounds. The sergeant ...
This memo is a summary of a telephone interview of an Army National Guard physician who was deployed to Abu Ghraib prison in late 2003 and supervised a staff of medics and Physician Assistants at the Hard Site and Camp Vigilant. The physician ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Non-legal Memo, Interview (Summaries/Notes)
Other
Sworn statement of a Sergeant First Class (E7 - SFC) with A Company; 202 Military Intelligence Battalion assigned to Abu Ghraib Prison in October 2003. The SFC stated that "The document flow on detainees worked as follows. The interrogators would ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
Use of phobias, Nudity
Sworn statement of Staff Sergeant Deployed to Abu Ghraib Correctional Facility, Abu Ghraib, Iraq October 2003. The SSG stated they were given a tour of the facility including the screening sites, Hard Site, and Camp Vigilant, but did not observe ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement)
Thomas Pappas, Ricardo Sanchez
Use of phobias

Interview intended to "clarify possibly conflicting statements concerning detainees being stripped naked and held in cells in the 1A area." Stated that stripping detainees "might have been an interrogation tactic that could ...

Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Summaries/Notes)
Ricardo Sanchez, George R. Fay
Nudity, Other Humiliation, Other
Sworn statement by 97B counterintelligence agent stating the he "overheard someone making a statement about a detainee dying while being interrogated by an Other Government Agency (OGA) official. The OGA then packed the detainee in ice and ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Transcript)
Thomas Pappas, Ricardo Sanchez
Physical assault, Other
Interviewee tated that he/she never witnessed abuse, but once saw "use of dog but I do not know who used them or for what. The event happened at WOODSIDE." Also stated that "[t]here was another time in November when an MP used loud music which ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Transcript)
Thomas Pappas
Use of phobias, Sleep deprivation, Environmental manipulation, Light or sound
This document is the condensed notes of an interview of at Screener in Abu Ghraib Prison from Mid-December 2003 through January 2004. The interview is a verbatim rendition of the Screener’s statement and it is noted that the statement is to be ...
Mar. 03, 2005
Interview (Statement, Summaries/Notes)
George R. Fay
Use of water, Other, Physical assault, Walling, Sexual, General, Use of electricity, Stress positions, Use of phobias, Sleep deprivation, Isolation, Nudity, Other Humiliation, Sexual, Religious, Other
Sworn statement from a CACI contractor who screened detainees arriving at Abu Ghraib from Asamiya Palace (alternate spelling: Adhamiya Palace) from mid-December 2003 through January 2004. The Screener describes in her statement hearing ...
This is the deposition of Brigadier General Janis L. Karpinski regarding conditions at Abu Ghraib Detention Facility. In her interview, Gen. Karpinski testified that she visited cell blocks 1A and 1B regularly; that Abu Ghraib housed juveniles ...
Two (2) suspects in the theft from the Iraqi National Guard (ING) Training Camp at Camp Junction City, allege being abused while in custody. Both suspects provided facts "proven to be false and established patterns of not providing the truth". ...
[Redacted] mistreated Iraqis under his charge, endangering the welfare of his Marines by opening them to Iraqi retaliation. In the first incident on 06/23/2003, [redacted] ordered his Marines to strip four Iraqi detainees to their underwear and ...