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)

This investigative report was generated by the Criminal Investigative Task Force (CITF) Report of Investigative Activity and the interview of the detainee at Camp Delta was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Navy Naval ...
Dec. 21, 2005
Investigative File, Interview (Summaries/Notes)
Other Humiliation, Religious
Interview of a detainee at Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay. The detainee said he is currently on a hunger strike along with several other detainees because of the mistreatment of another detainee. He will be on the hunger strike for a minimum of forty ...
Office of the Legal Adviser routing and transmittal slip to Todd Buchwald, Josh Dorosin, JoAnn Dolan and Ed Cummings. No subject or attachements.
Letter from an activist denouncing the President's November 13, 2001 Military Order: Detention, Treatment, and Trial of Certain Non-Citizens in the War on Terrorism. The letter also expresses the author's regret that six detainees, including, ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Colin L. Powell, Frank E. Schmelzer
Feroz Ali Abassi, Moazzam Begg, David Hicks

An investigation into a detainee's complaint that $6,200 had been taken from him at a military checkpoint in Baghdad, Iraq.  The report states that investigators were unable to interview, resulting in an incomplete investigation.

USMC Investigation into incident of abuse where a superior officer ordered a subordinates to take a detainees’ money, strip them naked to their underwear and release them in their underwear. Some soldiers protested. Investigator recommends ...
May 15, 2006
Non-legal Memo, Investigative File
John F. Kelly
Threat, Assault/death, Nudity
Marine Corps inquiry in to alleged detainee abuse based on statements related by medical personnel. The medical personnel claim the Marine being investigated stated that he injured his hand while punching a detainee. The inquiry found that it was ...
AR 15-6 report on the proceeding against a soldier (name redacted) who was accused of contributing to the death of an Iraqi detainee. The matter was transferred to Ft. Hood from Iraq.
Apr. 18, 2005
Investigative File
Raymond T. Odierno
Other
This investigative report was generated by the Criminal Investigative Task Force (CITF) Report of Investigative Activity and the interview of the detainee at Camp Delta was conducted by the Navy Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). The ...
Medical records of a 26 year-old Iraqi male, Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW) admitted to hospital with gunshot wound to legs. The medical records do not give any indication as to how the detainee received his injuries or what detention facility he ...
Interview of a detainee at Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay. The detainee stated that he was engaged in a strike regarding talking with interrogators due to an alleged incident involving an interrogator humiliating the Koran during the interrogation of ...
Email states "[redacted] from HQ called and wanted to know if the following detainees have been profiled by BAU: [redacted]. Pls call him, and let him know by this afternoon. They're looking to possibly fly these guys out to Afghanistan."
There is a reference to a "good plan," but all contents are redacted.
This document appears to be a cover sheet for a request by [redacted] to interview detainees at Guantanamo.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Saadia Sarkis, Harry R. Melone, Daniel B. Smith
This investigative report was generated by the Criminal Investigative Task Force (CITF) Report of Investigative Activity and the interview of the detainee at Camp Delta was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Navy Naval ...
This FBI memo is listed as: Memorandum from FBI to Department of Justice - Re. REPATRIATION ISSUES, 07/29/2003 and is almost completely redacted except for two (2) lines: 1) "the FBI proposes that DOJ concur with DOD's recommendation to transfer ...
Memorandum with FBI recommendations to the Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice regarding detainees scheduled to appear before the Transfer Review Board. The contents are heavily redacted.
Dec. 15, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Jerry R. DeMaio
Jerry R. DeMaio
The document recommends one of three options for what to do with detainees: releasing detainees, transferring detainees for continued detention, or keeping detainees in US DOD controlled detention. While the document is heavily redacted, in ...
Medical records of a 37 year-old Iraqi male, Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW) admitted to hospital with gunshot wound to abdomen. The medical records do not give any indication as to how the detainee received his injuries or what detention facility he ...
Medical records of a 35 year-old Iraqi male, Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW) admitted to hospital with gunshot wound to head and torso. The medical records do not give any indication as to how the detainee received his injuries or what detention ...
Medical records of a 27 year-old Iraqi male, Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW) admitted to hospital with gunshot wound to right hand. The medical records do not give any indication as to how the detainee received his injuries or what detention facility ...
Letter is from a 29 year old British citizen, with copies sent to Colin Powell, Jack Straw (UK Home Secretary), William Farish (US Ambassador to UK), John Howard (PM of Australia) and his local MP (Member of Parliament) in the UK. The letter ...
No relevant text.
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Frank E. Schmelzer
Letter from a non-government official denouncing the President's November 13, 2001 Military Order: Detention, Treatment, and Trial of Certain Non-Citizens in the War on Terrorism. The letter also expresses the author's concern that six detainees, ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
George W. Bush | Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, George W. Bush, Frank E. Schmelzer
Feroz Ali Abassi, Moazzam Begg, David Hicks
State Department Cable re: Corrected Information Regarding Nationally of Detainees at Guantanamo – no other content or context
Jan. 12, 2005
Cable
Richard A. Boucher
State Department cable concerning the identification of detainees at Guantanamo. Specifically, the cable states "It was recently discovered that several detainees transferred to Guantanamo who were previously reported to be nationals of ...
Jan. 12, 2005
Cable
Colin L. Powell
This document is a heavily redacted message concerning a White House meeting on enhanced techniques, and mentions that the Justice Department memorandum provides a legal "safe harbor" where conduct is lawful and no prosecutions will be mounted.
June 10, 2016
Non-legal Memo
Scott W. Muller
EIT
Sworn statements of investigation of detainee abuse at Ramadi Palace, Iraq – July 11-12, 2003. Two soldiers were seen kicking bound detainees who were in custody. The soldiers were told that the Geneva conventions apply to all captured EPWs, but ...
May 16, 2005
Investigative File (AR 15-6), Interview (Statement)
Physical assault, Face slap or insult slap, Stomach/abdominal slap, General
Email regarding FBI preparations for a more permanent presence at Guantanamo. The email states "Things are in transition as the FBI prepares for a more permanent presence. I believe we must give serious consideration to pulling NCAVC people out ...
Dec. 15, 2004
Email
Stephen R. Wiley
Stephen R. Wiley
Interview of a detainee at Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay. The detainee the interviewer asked the detainee about alleged sexual assaults he heard about occurring in the camp. The detainee explained he heard that female interrogators were sexually ...
May 18, 2005
Non-legal Memo, Interview (Summaries/Notes)
Physical assault, Sexual
State Department talking points on 1) Isreal/Palestinians: Roadmap Progress; 2) Iraq: World Bank loans for reconstruction; 3) Iraq: Appointment of governing council President, return of Iraqi refugees, Amnesty International report on internal ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
State Department talking points on 1) Isreal/Palestinians: Roadmap Progress; 2) Iraq: World Bank loans for reconstruction; 3) Iraq: Appointment of governing council President, return of Iraqi refugees, Amnesty International report on internal ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
Log Book for the 72nd Military Police Company at Abu Ghraib Prison, Aug. 2003
Appointment of investigating officer for allegations of detainee mistreatment during Operation Thunder Payback at Ramadi Palace, Iraq – July 11-12, 2003. The appointment letter incorrectly states the date of the operation and events as July 29, ...
Email states "I just briefed the SAC on your e-mail." and "I will talk to SC Battle as soon as possible upon his return from OCONUS travel on Sunday 8/3 unless he calls me before then. I'll also try to reach you by phone. I'll keep you posted." ...
Dec. 15, 2004
Email
Frankie Battle
This cable seems to provide the Director of Central Intelligence's guidelines for the operation of detention facilities, and specifically for COBALT, a CIA black site in Northern Kabul, Afghanistan. Almost everything but the acknowledgement is ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Non-legal Memo, Cable
George J. Tenet
Detainee treatment logs from the Detainee Treatment Logs from Area Support Medical Battalion, Baghdad International Airport . The treatment logs list ailment and disposition columns. Heavily Redacted.
Army document entitled "Report of Proceedings by Investigating Officer/Board of Officers". Document is Blank or redacted except for recommendations, "At PLT level, the company will conduct the following training: EPW 5S, implied responsibilities ...
Email describes a new, streamlined screening process for detainees and lists 175 detainees cleared for release from Abu Ghraib, Al-Salhiva, Camp Bucca, Camp Cropper and Tasferrat [detainee names and numbers redacted].
June 16, 2005
Email
Janis Leigh Karpinski
These emails concern having all deploying soldiers receive training in detainee operations as well as the Laws of War and the Geneva conventions concerning the handling and treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs).
Feb. 15, 2006
Email
Julian H. Burns
Form for AR 15-6 proceedings. Appointed by MG Raymond Odierno. A detainee died while in custody at the DCCP. The deceased was seen by a cardiologist at the 28th CSH and diagnosed with coronary artery disease, angina and type II diabetes. He died ...
Nov. 30, 2005
Investigative File
Raymond T. Odierno
DOD lists of detainees who are cleared for release from Abu Ghraib, Al Salhiya, Camp Bucca and Tasferrat [detainee names/numbers redacted].
State Department cable on addressing the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention report that was critical of the U.S. and the detention of Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters in Guantanamo. The cable instructs the U.S. representatives that the "U.S. ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Email
JoAnn J. Dolan, Katherine M. Gorove
State Department cable with talking points on responding to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention opinion concerning the detention of four (4) specific persons held at Guantanamo. The U.S. respectfully disagreed with the characterization of ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
Khaled Ben Mustafa, Nizar Sassi, Mourad Benchellali, Ahmad Abd al Rahman Ahmad
Medical records of a 25 year-old Iraqi male, Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW) admitted to hospital with gunshot wound to abdomen, arms and legs. The medical records do not give any indication as to how the detainee received his injuries or what ...
Coalition Provisional Authority memo prescribes standards to be applied in the Iraqi prison system under authority of the Ministry of Justice. States "Basic Principles and Control" for detention. Includes 32 sections with headings such as ...
This memo focuses on a discussion and reporting in the UK that the British officials do not want their citizens returned to the UK for trial on terrorism charges and are willing to allow them to be tried at Guantanamo. the memo points out what ...
This series of emails discusses the addition of ATF agents in the interrogation of Guantanamo detainees. it also lays out the new interrogation plan of assigning specific detainees to agents for a continuous interrogation relationship.
This email refers to Guantanamo. The only unredacted text in the document is: "This is totally unacceptable, if in fact it is occurring. Please advise."
Dec. 15, 2004
Email
Stephen R. Wiley
Stephen R. Wiley
The email states "Steve: What is the status of determining the facts about DHS personnel identifying themselves as FBI Agents? This is totally unacceptable, if in fact it is occurring. Please advise. srw"
May 18, 2005
Email
Stephen R. Wiley
Stephen R. Wiley
Manipulation of interrogator’s identity