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
The Deputy Assistant Director of the NCIS Counterterrorism Department reports on possible cases of abuse that might be referred to NCIS. The Deputy Assistant Director received a call from the Criminal Investigation Task Force (CITF) regarding ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Mohammed al Qahtani
Use of phobias
The NCIS Division Chief of the Personal Crimes Department reports that they have received three (3) referrals from the Criminal Investigation Task Force (CITF) regarding alleged detainee abuse at Guantanamo. NCIS held off initiating action ...
String of emails in response to NCIS inquiry into an incident mentioned in a USMC report regarding all Iraqi detainee abuse and death cases. The NCIS official had not heard of one incident concerning detainee who is suspected of dying of head ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Threat, Assault/death
An email forwarding detainee updates as of August 27, 2004. The author notes that NCISRU in Iraq has "opened #14."
The Division Chief of the Personal Crimes Department at NCIS requests information regarding a detainee death of which the Division Chief was previously unaware. The email provides a summary of an incident in which a detainee "died of unknown ...
NCIS Special Agent follows up on a previous email from the Division Chief of the Personal Crimes Department at NCIS, who had requested information regarding a detainee death of which he was previously unaware. The original email provides a ...
This email is from Army CID Headquarters to Army CID personnel requesting that they provide any information on Navy Military Working Dog (WMD) handlers involved at Abu Ghraib prison, including any statements they may have made to Army CID. The ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
William J.Kimbro
This email is from Army CID Headquarters to Army CID personnel following-up on a request that they provide information on Navy Military Working Dog (WMD) handlers involved at Abu Ghraib prison, including any statements the Navy personnel may have ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Antonio Taguba
These are emails between Navy NCIS and Army CID investigators concerning a Navy Military Working Dog (MWD) handler assigned to Abu Ghraib prison. The CID investigator is advising that NCIS contact HQ and interview the MWD handler because he gave ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Antonio Taguba, Donald H. Rumsfeld
These emails are an attempt by the Navy NCIS investigator contacting the Army CID Head Quarters in order to track down the Navy personnel with Military Working Dog (MWD) duties who served at Abu Ghraib prison. In addition, the investigator is ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Antonio Taguba
This email is from Army CID Headquarters to Army CID personnel following-up on a request that they provide information on Navy Military Working Dog (WMD) handlers involved at Abu Ghraib prison, including any statements the Navy personnel may have ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Antonio Taguba
This US Marine Corp spreadsheet lists twenty-one (21) cases of alleged detainee abuse. The table of cases includes ten (10) substantiated incidents and eleven (11) unsubstantiated incidents. The incidents include: beating detainees with fists; ...
These emails are between Marine Corp investigators seeking a marine who is suspected in a detainee abuse case. One officer concludes that the Marine they are looking for is located, but that the photo initiating the investigation was a staged ...
These emails are between Marine Corps officers concerning an updated version of the detainee abuse cases involving Marines. The email has a spreadsheet attached that is not readable in the document; however, the email alludes to details contained ...
This US Marine Corp spreadsheet lists twenty-one (21) cases of alleged detainee abuse. The table of cases includes ten (10) substantiated incidents and thirteen (13) unsubstantiated incidents. The incidents include: beating detainees with fists; ...
These emails are between Marine Corps officers concerning an updated version of the detainee abuse cases involving Marines. The email has a spreadsheet attached that is not readable in the document; however, the email alludes to details contained ...
These emails are between Marine Corps officers concerning an updated version of the detainee abuse cases involving Marines. The email has a spreadsheet attached that is not readable in the document; however, the email alludes to details contained ...
This US Marine Corp spreadsheet lists twenty-one (21) cases of alleged detainee abuse. The table of cases includes ten (10) substantiated incidents and eleven (11) unsubstantiated incidents. The incidents include: beating detainees with fists; ...
This US Marine Corp spreadsheet lists twenty (20) cases of alleged detainee abuse. The table of cases includes ten (10) substantiated incidents and ten (10) unsubstantiated incidents. The incidents include: beating detainees with fists; holding ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Chart/List
Physical assault, Sexual, General, Threat, Assault/death, Use of electricity
These emails are between Marine Corps officers concerning an updated version of the detainee abuse cases involving Marines. The email has a spreadsheet attached that is not readable in the document; however, the email alludes to details contained ...
This US Marine Corp spreadsheet lists twenty-one (21) cases of alleged detainee abuse. The table of cases includes ten (10) substantiated incidents and eleven (11) unsubstantiated incidents. The incidents include: beating detainees with fists; ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Chart/List
Physical assault, Sexual, General, Threat, Assault/death, Use of electricity

This NCIS memo summarizes six (6) separate investigations and one preliminary inquiry regarding the death or alleged mistreatment of enemy Prisoners of War (EPWs). Portions of the report are redacted in full, but the portions that are ...

Nov. 23, 2004
Non-legal Memo, Investigative File (NCIS)
Farhad Mohamed, Manadel Al-Jamadi, Hemdan Haby Heshfan El Gashame, Naeem Sadun Hatab
Physical assault, Face slap or insult slap, General, Other
Email between Marines concerning a detainee case spreadsheet and the investigations underway. The attachment is not viewable.
Email from Division Chief, Personal Crimes Department, NCIS Headquarters, dated May 25, 2004. Recipient redacted. No text in email. Email sent with attached file "EPW Case Summaries.doc."
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Physical assault, General

NCIS Report of investigation commenced on June 13, 2003 after officer at Camp Pendleton contacted an NCIS Special Agent to make a statement regarding alleged war crimes committed by a marine, who “was overheard bragging about stabbing ...

Nov. 23, 2004
Investigative File (NCIS)
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Physical assault, General

NCIS Report of investigation commenced on March 31, 2003 after receipt of report that Mr. El Gashame, an Iraqi detainee, had been shot and killed on March 29, 2003. Mr. El Gashame was “a suspected Fedayeen member” (based on a ...

Nov. 23, 2004
Investigative File (NCIS)
Hemdan Haby Heshfan El Gashame
Physical assault, General

NCIS Report of investigation initiated on June 13, 2003 following notification from officers at Camp Pendleton that, on the morning of June 13, a member of a unit “reported that on the previous evening (12 Jun 03) at a unit party, a ...

Nov. 23, 2004
Investigative File (NCIS)
Physical assault, General
This Memo from the Army is dismissing, with prejudice, charges brought in a Court-Martial proceeding in exchange for the soldier pleading guilty to two (2) charges brought in an Article 15 proceeding. The investigation was in regards to ...
Mar. 23, 2005
Legal Memo, Photograph, Interview (Statement), UCMJ (Court-Martial, Article 15)
Face slap or insult slap, Walling, General, Assault/death, Physical assault, Threat

Executive Summary of NCIS Report of investigation regarding alleged assault of one or more Enemy Prisoners of War (EPW) by U.S. Navy employee in Iraq. Alleged abuse first reported in counseling session in early October 2003 at Naval Hospital ...

Nov. 23, 2004
Investigative File (NCIS)
Physical assault, General
Unlabed photographs of soldiers and military vehicles.
Court-Martial charge package for soldiers accused of detainee abuse. This court-martial setms from incidents where Iraqi detainees were stripped of their clothing and released.There is also an allegation of a detainee being shocked.
Standard Operating Procedures for detention of civilians, including rules of who may be detained, proper handling of detainees, transfer and property seizure.
Standard Operating Procedures for Detainees including humane treatment (including protection against "assault, insults, public curiosity, bodily injury, and reprisals of any kind") strip-searches, detainee personal property, fingerprinting, ...
Mar. 23, 2005
Non-legal Memo
Raymond Odierno
Raymond T. Odierno
Army Presentation re: 3rd Brigade Combat Team Detainee Cage Operations Operation Iraqi Freedom. Standard Operating Procedure and Forms for Detention, including staffing, intake, detainee property, detainee rules (no speaking, no written ...
This memo records the detention of one detainee and then details the Standard Operating Procedure and guidelines for 2nd Brigade Holding Area including meal schedules, transport, detainee punishment (limited to isolation and blindfolding), ...
This Army email is to update units who will handle detainees on their roles and responsibilities. It is required for all such deploying units. Discussion of guidance and schedules for pre-deployment training.
Mar. 23, 2005
Email
Geoffrey D. Miller
Investigation into four (4) allegations: 1) commander gave orders not to take POWs and kill all enemies whether they are fighting, injured, or surrendering; 2) a commander giving the order to kill an enemy WIA after an engagement; 3) illegal ...
Investigation into commands by officers to beat detainees. Sworn statements by soldiers and officers claim that such orders would have been made in jest, though some soldiers admit to having taken the orders seriously. Report does not make any ...
Mar. 23, 2005
Investigative File
Physical assault, General
Investigation into abuse during prisoner transfer. Finds that one handcuffed and blindfolded detainee was either allowed to fall or pushed from the transport vehicle, resulting in injury as he landed on his side on the ground; that two detainees ...
Mar. 23, 2005
Investigative File
General, Other, Physical assault
Investigation into three (3) instances of abuse: one in which a looter were stripped of his clothing and released from custody; another where an Iraqi was accidently shot; and a third in which a detainee was repeatedly hit in the head with a ...
Mar. 23, 2005
Non-legal Memo, Investigative File (AR 15-6), Interview (Statement), UCMJ (Court-Martial)
Physical assault, General, Nudity
Investigation into the abuse (hitting and kicking) of several detainees. The detainees were captured for supposedly threatening soldiers with weapons and making false passports. Includes sworn statements of soldiers and detainees.
Mar. 23, 2005
Investigative File
Face slap or insult slap, General, Physical assault
Abu Malik Kenami was detained in Iraq on December 5, 2003. He was interrogated and then placed in to the general population at Abu Ghraib prison. From the 5th of December through the early morning of 9th of December Kenami was not obeying the ...
Mar. 23, 2005
Non-legal Memo, Investigative File (AR 15-6), Photograph, Interview (Statement)
Abu Malik Kenami
Isolation, Environmental manipulation, Hooding/Goggling, Forced physical training
AR 15-6 investigation into a suspected incident of assault. On November 29th, 2003 members of the 187th Infantry Regiment detained in Iraqi male for questioning. The soldiers took a video of themselves assaulting the detainee. The chain of ...
Mar. 23, 2005
Investigative File (AR 15-6)
Physical assault, Stomach/abdominal slap, Other Humiliation
Commander's report of a 15-6 Investigation and Courts-Martial, dated December 2003. This document pertains to allegations that U.S. soldiers broke the jaw of an Iraqi high school boy. There is evidence that suggests the 311th MI personnel and/or ...
Emails concern a report conducted by Fmr. Def. Sec. James Schesinger on the training necessary for Military Police units when handling detainees.
Memo concerns the appointment of an investigating Officer for an informal inquiry of Task Force Iron Gunner Detainee Operations. Iron Gunner looked at procedures for identifying Iraqi national's for detention; Tactics, techniques, and procedures ...
Mar. 23, 2005
Non-legal Memo
Raymond Odierno
Raymond T. Odierno
Requests guidance for specific pre deployment training required for units going over to perform detainee mission. Comments on training for all soldiers before deployment. Attachment is a training support package task list outlining training topics.
Mar. 23, 2005
Email
Jerry R. Curry, Raymond D. Barrett, Jr
Email concerning Detainee Operations at Abu Ghraib prison before and after May 2004. This email contains information, chronology and talking points in response to a 60 Minutes report on detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib prison.
Mar. 23, 2005
Email
David D. McKiernan
Memo outlines standard operating procedure for detention facilities, including treatment of detainees with dignity, proper filing of paperwork, staffing, use of minimum force necessary, feeding schedules, uniforms, medical treatment, special ...