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
Mar. 05, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3648
Email refers to the ICRC's February 2004 report on detentions in Iraq. [Content redacted; report not included].
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Carol T. Santos
Laura Parsky
Carol T. Santos, Laura H. Parsky, Piper Anne Wind Campbell, Lawrence E. Bartlett, Scott W. Busby, Richard L. Greene, P. Michael McKinley, Edward R. Cummings, Joseph P. Cassidy, Margaret J. Pollack, L. Paul Bremer, John Allen Buche
May 17, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3649
DOS Cable-Action request for Kabul Embassy from Colin L. Powell requesting that the government provide access to the ICRC to visit all detainees under usual ICRC conditions.
Nov. 23, 2004
Cable
Pierre-Richard Prosper, JoAnn J. Dolan, Jonathan S. Carpenter, P. Michael McKinley, Richard A. Boucher, Mitchell B. Reiss, Colin L. Powell, Zalmay Mamozy Khalilzad, Frank E. Schmelzer
May 23, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3650
Memo confirming Sec. Powell's meeting with International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) President Kellenberger on May 27, 2004. Meeting objectives include discussing ICRC’s ongoing concerns regarding the treatment of detainees in Afghanistan ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Arthur E. Dewey
Colin L. Powell
Arthur E. Dewey , Zalmay Mamozy Khalilzad, Frank E. Schmelzer , P. Michael McKinley, JoAnn J. Dolan, Ronald W. Miller, Carol T. Santos, Frank E. Schmelzer , Colin L. Powell
June 03, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3651
DOS Memo confirming a meeting with the ICRC on June 06.
Nov. 23, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Frank E. Schmelzer , P. Michael McKinley, John Allen Buche, Nicholas M. Miscione, Douglas Hunter
Mar. 12, 2003 | ACLU-RDI 3652
Memo from the International Committee of the Red Cross outlining international humanitarian laws and the role of the ICRC.
Nov. 23, 2004
Non-legal Memo
William E. Landfair
Mar. 25, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3653
No relevant text, refers to a document entitled "IM to S POWS 3 24 03 fina." [Document is not included].
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Beverly S. Holman, JoAnn J. Dolan, Shirley Hachey, Linda S. Landers, William E. Landfair
Jan. 14, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3654
Email refers to two documents; no relevant text. [Documents are not included].
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Beverly S. Holman
Beverly S. Holman, Diane McBride, JoAnn J. Dolan, William E. Landfair
Jan. 15, 2004 | ACLU-RDI 3655
ICRC Press Release regarding a meeting between the President of the ICRC, Jakob Kellneberger and Colin L. Powell. It states that during Kellenberger's meeting with government officials, the ICRC president will review in particular the situation ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Other
Colin L. Powell, Condoleeza Rice, Paul Wolfowitz, William E. Landfair
Jan. 16, 2004 | ACLU-RDI 3656
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Press Release summarizing a meeting between ICRC Kellenberger and DOS officials, including Colin L. Powell. It notes that Kellenberger, in his meetings with Powell, Rice and Wolfowitz, "lamented the ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Other
Colin L. Powell, Condoleeza Rice, Paul Wolfowitz, William E. Landfair
May 06, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3657
[Contents completely redacted].
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
JoAnn J. Dolan
Joshua L. Dorosin | Todd F. Buchwald
JoAnn J. Dolan, Todd F. Buchwald, Joshua L. Dorosin, Edward R. Cummings, Steven A. Solomon
Nov. 16, 2001 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3659
Letter refers to an attached memo regarding the historical treatment of detainees. [Letter is not included].
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Evan T. Bloom
William J. Haynes, II, Todd F. Buchwald, David W. Bowker, Joshua L. Dorosin, Harry R. Melone, Eric J. Pelofsky, Mary Comfort, Andre M. Surena, David Kay, Evan T. Bloom, Edward R. Cummings
Nov. 05, 2001 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3660
DOS Cover Sheet to attached papers requested by the Office of Global Criminal Justice from the Department Historian on Nuremberg and past U.S. detentions. [Documents are not included].
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Jonathan B. Schwartz, Edward R. Cummings, Todd F. Buchwald, David Kay, Andre M. Surena, Katherine M. Gorove, Evan T. Bloom, Thomas B. Heinemann, Ted A. Borek, D. Stephen Mathias, Marc Susser
Nov. 02, 2001 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3661
These two (2) memos are background and history of the Establishment of the Nuremberg Tribunal, and Detention of POWs, Unlawful Combatants, and Other Detainees. The memos are designed to address concerns and questions about the legal authority of ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Marc Susser
Pierre-Richard Prosper
Marc Susser, Pierre-Richard Prosper
Feb. 06, 2002 | ACLU-RDI 3662
DOS Cable from Colin L. Powell to U.S. Ambassador to Australia, John Thomas Schieffer. The Cable discusses the POW status or non-status of the Taliban and Al-Qaida detainees, and explains the specific privileges the detainees will be afforded.
Nov. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
John Thomas Schieffer
John Thomas Schieffer, Zalmay Mamozy Khalilzad, Howard H. Leach, Daniel Ray Coats, Ryan C. Crocker, James C. Oberwetter, William Stamps Farish, IV, Alexander R. Vershbow , Paul Cellucci, Tom C. Korologos, Pamela Willeford, Colin L. Powell
Feb. 07, 2002 | WH | ACLU-RDI 3663
Press release from the Office of the White House Press Secretary, discussing the status of Taliban and Al-Qaeda detainees at Guantanamo. The press release outlines that detainees are not POWs and while they will be treated humanely and in ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Other
Ari Fleischer, George W. Bush
Feb. 27, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3664
Email refers to a paper from the National Security Council that discusses the legal status of detainees. [Document is not included].
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Evan T. Bloom
Stephen D. Mathias
D. Stephen Mathias, Samuel M. Witten, Linda Jacobson, Thomas B. Heinemann, David W. Bowker, Eric J. Pelofsky, Andre M. Surena, Katherine M. Gorove, JoAnn J. Dolan, Ted A. Borek, Catherine Mary Malin, Harry R. Melone
Dec. 11, 2002 | DOJ | ACLU-RDI 3665
DOJ Fact Sheet discussing their investigation of terrorist organizations and groups since 9/11/2001. Also, the fact sheet explains the necessity for withholding the names, dates, and locations of arrest of detainees.
Nov. 23, 2004
Other
Harry R. Melone
May 04, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4620
This State Department Cable is entitled "Subject: Secretary's May 6, 2004, Conversation with ICRC (International Committee for the Red Cross) President Jakob Kellenberger". There is no other discernible information or context.
Nov. 23, 2004
Cable
Richard A. Boucher
Mar. 16, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4621
This letter is from William H. Taft, IV of the State Department to Jakob Kellnberger, President of the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) concerning an Opinion Editorial a member of the ICRC's legal staff wrote for the Financial ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
William Howard Taft, IV
Jakob Kellnberger
William Howard Taft, IV
May 11, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4622
This letter is from William H. Taft, IV, State Department Legal Adviser, to Christophe Girod, the Head of Delegation of the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) concerning the U.S. transfer of Russian nationals from Guantanamo to ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
William Howard Taft, IV
Christopher Girod
William Howard Taft, IV, Christophe Girod
Jan. 27, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4623
This State Department cable is a synopsis of a meeting held at Sec. of State Powell's offices on January 15, 2004. The meeting was attended by: Sec. of State Powell; A/S Arthur E. Dewey; Craig Kelly; JoAnn Dolan and Carrie Santos on the U.S. ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell, Christophe Girod, Arthur E. Dewey , Craig A. Kelly
Jan. 27, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4624
This state Department cable is a redacted page with no context or information. It shows the U.S. DOS locations it is intended for, but no other text or information.
Apr. 22, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4625
This State department cable concerns a meeting between Amb. Pierre-Richard Prosper and Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee for the Red Cross. The discussion focused on detention issues regarding Guantanamo, Iraq, and ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Cable
Pierre-Richard Prosper, Edward R. Cummings
May 13, 2003 | ACLU-RDI 4626
This State Department cable provides insight on a trip to Baghdad, Iraq by President of the International Committee for the Red Cross Kellenberger. Mr. Kellenberger privately shared his impressions of the situation in Iraq with U.S. Ambassador ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Cable
Kevin Edward Moley
Sept. 30, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4627
This is a State Department talking points memo on how to address the issues of detainees and detainee abuse. It references speeches and interviews that President Bush and other administration officials have given to describe and give context as ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Non-legal Memo
George W. Bush, Scott McClellan, Mark Traecey Patrick Kimmitt, L. Paul Bremer, Colin L. Powell, Donald H. Rumsfeld, Condoleeza Rice
May 17, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4628
Emails between DOS Officials briefly discussing an Indian citizen custody at Abu Ghraib and email forward of an Associated Press article discussing the release of Saddam Hussein from U.S. control to Iraq control.
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Aaron M. Cope
Aaron W. Jost | James P. Seevers | Nicholas J. Dean
Frank E. Schmelzer , Aaron M. Cope , Aaron W. Jost, James P. Seevers , Nicholas J. Dean, Brian T. Neubert, John R. Waters, Cara L. Abercrombie
June 16, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4629
Emails between DOS Officials discussing the return of control to Iraq, particularly their control over prisons.
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Aaron W. Jost
John C. Stevens | Mikael C. McCowan | Cara L. Abercrombie
Todd F. Buchwald, Elizabeth H. Richard, Richard G. Olson, Cara L. Abercrombie, Rexon Y. Ryu, Jonathan S. Carpenter, Joshua L. Dorosin, Aaron W. Jost, John C. Stevens, Mikael C. McCowan
June 30, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4630
Emails between DOS Officials discussing the death of an Egyptian scientist, Mohamed Abdel Moneim Al-Azmeerly, who was killed while in U.S. custody at Abu Ghraib.
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Joel M. Rubin | Cara L. Abercrombie | Carrie W. Hernandez
Cara L. Abercrombie | Carrie W. Hernandez
Joel M. Rubin, Cara L. Abercrombie, James C. Martin, Carrie W. Hernandez, James C. Martin, Alaa O. Farrag
Mohamed Abdel Moneim Al-Azmeerly
Physical assault, General
July 02, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4631
Emails between DOS Officials regarding detainees at Abu Ghraib (AG). The more recent email discusses an Israeli national, George Ben-Baki, who is believed to be a detainee at AG, however, the officials are unsure and awaiting confirmation from ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Cara L. Abercrombie
Daniel J. Wartko
Richard G. Olson, Cara L. Abercrombie, Donald A. Blome, Daniel J. Wartko, Dorothy C. Shea, David J. Greene , Norman H. Olsen , David B. Berns, Thomas E. Williams, Frank E. Schmelzer
George Ben-Baki
May 17, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4632
Email discusses the detention of Jordanian's in Iraq. It mentions that the Jordanian Parliament alleged that more than 1000 Jordanians were in Coalition custody in Iraq, whereas the Jordan Ministry of Foreign Affairs believed 19 Jordanians were ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Stephanie T. Williams, Aaron W. Jost, Mikael C. McCowan, Richard G. Olson, Edward Gnehm, Colin L. Powell
June 28, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4633
Emails between DOS Officials discussing the death of an Egyptian scientist, Mohamed Abdel Moneim Al-Azmeerly, who was killed while in U.S. custody at Abu Ghraib. There is concern that the death of Al-Azmeerly will gain publicity in Egypt and ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Cara L. Abercrombie
Joel M. Rubin | Carrie W. Hernandez
Joel M. Rubin, Cara L. Abercrombie, Carrie W. Hernandez, Robin D. Meyer
Mohamed Abdel Moneim Al-Azmeerly
June 29, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4634
Emails between DOS Officials discussing the death of an Egyptian scientist, Mohamed Abdel Moneim Al-Azmeerly, who was killed while in U.S. custody at Abu Ghraib. Joel M. Rubin wrote that there was not much discussion in Egypt on Al-Azmeerly's ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Cara L. Abercrombie, Joel M. Rubin, Carrie W. Hernandez, Robin D. Meyer, Frank E. Schmelzer
Mohamed Abdel Moneim Al-Azmeerly
Physical assault, General
May 06, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4635
Email from a DOS Official to DOJ Officials. The email includes a New York Times article, which discusses the Justice Department's investigation into the CIA and their contractors for their possible involvement in the death of three detainees, one ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
JoAnn J. Dolan
David Nahmias | Patrick Philbin
Patrick Philbin, David E. Nahmias, JoAnn J. Dolan, Pat Roberts, Antonio Taguba
Abed Hamed Mowhoush
Jan. 11, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4636
Initial email mentions the treatment of Al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects in US custody in Afghanistan.
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Charmaine D. Coleman
Adrian Daniel | Lynda M. Walker-Johnson
Charmaine D. Coleman, Lynda M. Walker-Johnson, Adrian Daniel, Colin L. Powell, Jonathan S. Carpenter, Maria B. Pica, Christopher Sibilla, Frank E. Schmelzer
Nov. 03, 2003 | ACLU-RDI 4637
Letter from Tausif Paracha, U.S. citizen, to Colin L. Powell regarding the detainment of his/her uncle, Saifullah Paracha. Mr. Paracha was taken into custody on July 5th by U.S. soldiers and according to a letter sent by the International ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Colin L. Powell
Saifullah Paracha
Jan. 06, 2004 | Non-US | ACLU-RDI 4638
Letter from International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) to Mike McKinley, Deputy Assistant U.S. Secretary of State re: Persons Detained in Afghanistan. The letter states "Dear Mike: Enclosed is an ICRC Verbal Note concerning the situation of ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Mike McKinley
John B. Bellinger, III, Mike McKinley
May 13, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4639
DOS Note discussing letters sent by UN Rapporteurs asking for explanations regarding allegations of torture at detention facilities in Iraq. Refers to one letter that discusses the detention of four Iraqis allegedly being held incommunicado in Basra.
Nov. 23, 2004
Notes
Kim R. Holmes
Kim R. Holmes, L. Paul Bremer, Jeffrey DeLaurentis
May 02, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4640
Email from Carol A. Santos discussing the ICRC's concerns about Guantanamo detainees. [Contents redacted].
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Carol A. Santos
Arthur E. Dewey | Peter M. McKiinley | Margaret J. Pollack | Piper A. Campbell
Carol T. Santos, Arthur E. Dewey , Carol T. Santos, P. Michael McKinley, Margaret J. Pollack, Piper Anne Wind Campbell, Frank E. Schmelzer
DOS | ACLU-RDI 4641
This State Department memo appears to be a set of talking points to respond to possible questions relating to Guantanamo. The memo discusses the classification of detainees and explains why the Al-Qaida and Taliban detainees do not qualify for ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Katherine M. Gorove, Harry R. Melone
Nov. 23, 2004 | DOJ | ACLU-RDI 4642
Letter from David N. Kelley, DOJ, to Lawrence S. Lustberg, of Gibbons, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione, P.C., attorneys for the ACLU re: the ACLU's FOIA Request. The letter states that the document production requested is being complied ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter, Judicial
Sean H. Lane | David N. Kelley | Peter M. Skinner
Lawrence S. Lustberg
David N. Kelley, Sean H. Lane, Peter M. Skinner
Feb. 27, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4750
This State Department Cable is entitled "Subject: February 7 Transfer of Detainees to Guantanamo". There is no other discernible information or context.
Feb. 17, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4751
This State Department Cable is entitled "Subject: February 9 Transfer of Detainees to Guantanamo". There is no other discernible information or context.
Feb. 11, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4752
This State Department Cable is entitled "Subject: February 11 Transfer of Detainees to Guantanamo". There is no other discernible information or context.
Feb. 13, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4753
This State Department Cable is entitled "Subject: February 13 Transfer of Detainees to Guantanamo". There is no other discernible information or context.
Mar. 24, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4755
DOS Cable regarding a letter from Special Rapporteur on Torture, Theo van Boven, to Ambassador Bremen regarding the detention of four individuals in Basra, Iraq. The letter reports that the detainees are being held incommunicado by the UK ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
L. Paul Bremer, Colin L. Powell, Thomas A. Johnson
May 05, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4987
DOS Press Release asking if the ICRC has access to detainees in Iraq, including detainees at Abu Ghraib. The answer is yes.
Nov. 23, 2004
Other
Jonathan S. Carpenter, P. Michael McKinley, Frank E. Schmelzer
Nov. 10, 2001 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4754
DOS cover letter for six page document(s) discussing Afghanistan detention of captured persons.
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Maura Harty
Maura A. Harty, Frank E. Schmelzer
Aug. 24, 2004 | CID | ACLU-RDI 40

CID investigative report and accompanying documents into an incident of rioting during which detainees were shot and killed by Marines at Abu Ghraib prison, Iraq. The investigation concluded that the detainees had been attempting to escape. ...

Nov. 08, 2004
Investigative File (CID), Photograph
Khalid Abbas Mahmood, Musa Abbas Farhan, Abbas Khalid Hamed, Khaled Aposs
June 04, 2004 | CID | ACLU-RDI 41

CID report of investigation and accompanying documents into the death of a detainee at Abu Ghraib prison, Iraq. The cause of death was determined to be natural.

Nov. 08, 2004
Investigative File (CID)
John Peterson, Jacqueline J. Scott
Wathik Salah Mihdy
Feb. 07, 2004 | CID | ACLU-RDI 42

CID report of investigation and accompanying documents into the alleged theft of money from an Iraqi civilian by a U.S. soldier during a search of the Iraqi’s vehicle at a check point in Baghdad, Iraq. Investigation determined there was ...

Nov. 08, 2004
Investigative File (CID)
Jacqueline J. Scott