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. 07, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4356
State Department cable concerning the family of a detainee and his impending transfer from Guantanamo to his home country. The rights activists request that US not transfer any war prisoners because "torture, inhumane treatment and the death ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Lorne Craner
Sept. 29, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4353
State Department cable concerning a summary of the Yemeni Parliamentary Committee's investigation and detention of "hundreds" of suspects involved in the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen in October 2000. The Committee's report focused on ...
Nov. 08, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4354
State Department cable concerning European Asst. Sec. Elizabeth Jones meeting with Danish EU Presidency representatives concerning "Political Hot Spots" such as: Iraq; Afghanistan; and Central Asia. The Koreas were discussed as was southern ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Elizabeth Jones
Bill Taylor
Elizabeth Jones
Feb. 02, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4351
State Department cable concerning Secretary of State Powell's Meeting with EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana. They discussed, Balkins, the Middle East, Yassar Arafat, the Global Coalition Against ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Email
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, Richard A. Boucher, William Burns, Charles Ries, Craig A. Kelly
Apr. 09, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4352
State Department cable concerning a gentleman who approached the embassy to inquire about his son’s status in U.S. custody at Guantanamo. The father stated that he formed a group of detainee families to act collectively to seek information, ...
Jan. 28, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4349
State Department cable notes that a Foreign Minister contacted the DCM and delivered reports of "Harsh and inhumane treatment are meted out to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda prisoners" at Guantanamo. The cable is largely redacted, but indicates that ...
Jan. 31, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4350
State Department cable concerning the world's perception that the US was treating its detainees improperly was undermining the moral high ground upon which the anti-terror coalition stands. The cable also gives some insight to off-record meetings ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell, Daniel Ray Coats
Jan. 26, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4347
DOS Cable re: Update on Various Issues for the Secretary: Guantanamo; NATO; and Foreign Affairs
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
Jan. 26, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4348
DOS Cable re: Update on Various Issues for the Secretary: Guantanamo; U.S.-Canadian Relations; and Foreign Affairs.
Jan. 24, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4345
State Department cable concerning Australian Prime Minister Howard's upcoming trip to New York for the World Economic Forum. The cable states that PM Howard has expressed his support for Operation Enduring Freedom and the international effort ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
John Thomas Schieffer
Colin L. Powell
John Thomas Schieffer, Colin L. Powell, George W. Bush
Jan. 23, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4346
State Department cable concerning the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Staff meeting notes from January 23, 2002. Multiple topics, including detainees. "Public Reaction re detainees is turning very negative." Concerns of various countries ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, Paula J. Dobriansky
Jan. 17, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4343
State Department cable concerning the Tokyo Conference; the transfer of detainees to Guantanamo; the ability and schedule of the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) to visit Guantanamo facilities and the detainees; and the ability of ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Jan. 23, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4344
State Department cable to Washington informing them that a Foreign Minister has made a request for a visitation of one of his nation's citizens being held at Guantanamo. The cable is heavily redacted.
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
Jan. 14, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4341
State department Embassy cable informing Washington that they have informed a Foreign Affairs Minister of the transfer of some of his nation's citizens to Guantanamo. The Foreign Minister expressed concern over the reports of detainee’s abuse, ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
Jan. 16, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4342
State Department cable providing information to Washington about Assistant Secretary William Burns visiting Kuwait on January 11-12 for Consultations with the Kuwaiti Government Focused on Operation Enduring Freedom, Middle East Peace, the U.S. ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, John Dimitri Negroponte
June 07, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4339
State Department cable regarding the release of a biography of a former Danish Guantanamo detainee, Slimane Hadj Abderrahmane. Mr. Abderrahmane has not made any public statements alleging mistreatment, but the Danish press is highlighting the ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Slimane Hadj Abderrahmane
Physical assault, Use of electricity, Stress positions, Forced grooming, Other Humiliation
June 07, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4340
State Department cable from the U.S. Mission in Geneva to Washington containing a letter by Leila Zerrougui, the UN Special Rapporteur on Arbitrary Detention concerning persons being held by U.S. forces where the persons have not been charged ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Kevin Edward Moley
Colin L. Powell
Kevin Edward Moley, Colin L. Powell
May 13, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4337
State Department cable to the U.S. Mission in Venna to deliver remarks of Sec. Powell to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe May 13, 2003. The points to make are i) The Military Commissions will be impartial; ii) there is a ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell, George W. Bush
June 02, 2004 | Non-US | ACLU-RDI 4338
State Department cable from the U.S. Mission in Geneva containing a letter received by Ms. Asma Jahangir, UN Special Rapporteurs on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions and Torture and Mr. Theo van Boven the Special Rapporteur on ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Asma Jahangir
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
Sept. 16, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4335
This State Department cable provides talking points for a presentation to the Netherlands-Helsinki Committee meeting in the Hague in September 2003. The statement is about the military commissions and the Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters who will be ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
Feb. 18, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4336
The U.S. Mission in Geneva received a letter from Bertrand G. Ramcharan, Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights and passed the contents of the letter to Washington in cable form. The letter is addressed to Ass. Sec. Lorne Craner and concerning ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell, Kevin Edward Moley, Lorne Craner
Sept. 03, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4333
State Department cable giving direction to its Mission on presenting a statement at the PC Meeting in Vienna. The statement is one of general support and addresses the specific issues of Military Commisssions for Al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters. ...
Sept. 04, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4334
State Department cable with talking points and guidance for answering questions from the press regarding; i) the Saudi detainees at Guantanamno; ii) Libia/Pan-Am 103 UN santions and Possible French Veto; iii) Jordan Investigation into shooting of ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
Aug. 05, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4332
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
July 19, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4330
State Department cable summarizes the American Ambassador's Presentation of U.S. Policies on Iraq to 80 Mid-Level Arab Military Personnel. The officers also posed questions concerning U.S. visa policy, but the tone of the questioning was "mild".
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Richard L. Baltimore, III
July 23, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4331
State Department cable describing the historic session of the newly formed Governing Council Participating in discussions with the United Nations on implementing UN Security Council resolutions post-war. UN Special representative Sergio Vieira De ...
Mar. 21, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4328
State Department cable concerning a Report from the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, Entitled "Situation of Muslim and Arab Peoples in Various Parts of the World in the ...
June 02, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4329
State Department cable concerning the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe considering a Resolution calling the U.S. to task for holding persons in custody in Afghanistan and at Guantanamo Bay without the formal procedures normally ...
Mar. 19, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4327
DOS Cable re: State Department Press Statement. Document Contains Press Statements on the Regional Securities Ministerial Meeting held in Bogota, Columbia; A bi-lateral statement by the U.S. and Mexico on climate change; and the Canadian prime ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Richard A. Boucher
Richard A. Boucher
Jan. 03, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4325
State Department cable concerning the government of Sweden releasing "Report on the State of Human Rights Worldwide and in the U.S." The Report covers the Israel/Palestinian conflict and is critical of Israel. The Swedish Foreign Minister was ...
Mar. 18, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4326
This DOS cable is to provide guidance in addressing questions concerning the treatment of detainees under U.S. control. The cable states that the U.S. Anticipates Receiving Questions About Torture During the Current Session of the Commission on ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
Nov. 12, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4323
State Department cable providing an update on world events. The main point covered concerns an arms smuggling investigation in Bulgaria concerning prohibited weapons being shipped to Iraq and how this might impact Bulgaria's application to NATO. ...
Dec. 20, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4324
State Department cable for reporters questions on mtters such as: i) Israel/Palestinians: Upcoming Quartet Meeting; ii) Violence in the Mid-East Region; iii) Algeria; and iv) Access to Guantanamo Detainees. On the Guantanamo detainee issue the ...
Mar. 21, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4322
State Department cable concerning the procedures for U.S. Military commissions that may be established to try suspected Taliban and Al-Qaeda terrrorists. This State Department cable provides talking points for US mission & Embassy officials to ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, George W. Bush
Feb. 08, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4320
State Department cable discussing a European Parliament Plenary Session of Feb. 4-7, 2002. "Reaffirming the European Parliament's solidarity with the U.S. in the fight against terrorism and recognizing that the detainees do not fall within the ...
Feb. 08, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4321
State Department cable stating that the Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters are enemy combatants and will not be afforded the Geneva Conventions, but will be treated humanely and in accordance with the principles of the Geneva Convention. "The U.S. is ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
George W. Bush, Colin L. Powell
Jan. 22, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4319
State Department cable from the U.S. Mission in Strasburg. Details meeting between U.S. Congressman James F. Sensenbrenner, Jr., with officials of the Council of Europe regarding law enforcement issues related to the war on terrorism, notably ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Pierre-Richard Prosper
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, Pierre-Richard Prosper, Frank James Sensenbrenner, Jr.
May 07, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4317
Email from Katherine MGorove to Vernell Staten and Mark P. Lagon re: Time Sensitive Request: PA Tasking. Partially redacted; involves setting up a meeting to discuss the OHCHR to release a report on human rights in Iraq.
Dec. 17, 2004
Email
Katherine M. Gorove
Mark P. Lagon | Vernell Staten
Katherine M. Gorove, Mark P. Lagon, Robert K. Harris, Steven A. Solomon, Edward R. Cummings, Michael T. Peay, Michael G. Kozak
Jan. 16, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4318
State Department cable updating diplomatic posts and providing talking points on a variety of subjects that may be inquired about, such as: i) Fugitive Christian Longo being captured in Mexico; ii) U.S. Venezuela relations; iii) War on Terror; ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Cable
Richard A. Boucher
Aug. 05, 2004 | Non-US | ACLU-RDI 4315
Email from David P. Stewart to James Hergan, Ronald J. Bettauer, Gilda M. Brancato and Others re: Lawyers Against Torture. Email states that some of the recipients' good friends are signatories of a Lawyers Against Torture statement.
Dec. 17, 2004
Email
David P. Stewart
Christopher N. Camponovo | Ronald J. Bettauer | Katherine M. Gorove | Gilda M. Brancado | Samuel M. Witten | Jonathan B. Schwartz | James Hergen
Christopher N. Camponovo, James G. Hergen , Ronald J. Bettauer, Robert K. Harris, Gilda M. Brancato, Katherine M. Gorove, Samuel M. Witten, Jonathan B. Schwartz, Wynne M. Teel , Richard G. Olson, Michael G. Kozak, Michael J. Dennis
Non-US | ACLU-RDI 4316
Letter from Lawyers Against Torture to President George W. Bush re" Lawyer's Statement on Bush Administration's Torture Memos stating that the torture memoranda circumvent long established and universally acknowledged principles of law and common ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Letter
George W. Bush | Richard B. Cheney | Donald H. Rumsfeld | Ashley A. Larsen
George W. Bush, Donald H. Rumsfeld, Richard B. Cheney, John D. Ashcroft
June 04, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4313
Emails between June C. Perry, Katherine L. Starr, Mark P. Lagon and Others re: State Final Press Guidance on Ramcharan Human Rights Report on Iraq. Ms. Perry's comments to Ms. Starr are "Great work, Kate."
Dec. 17, 2004
Email
June Carter-Perry
Winston E. Mann | Katherine L. Starr | Mark P. Lagon | Michael G. Kozak | Brook E. Milton
Katherine L. Starr, June Carter-Perry, Mark P. Lagon, Brook E. Milton
June 04, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4314
DOS Memo talking points on United Nations Report on Human Rights in Iraq. Guidance states that the some of the report's findings related to alleged human rights violations are based on generalized allegations that fail to indicate where or when ...
June 01, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4311
Email from June C. Perry to Michael G. Kozak re: Draft Report from AHCHR
Dec. 17, 2004
Email
June Carter-Perry
Michael G. Kozak
Michael G. Kozak
June 03, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4312
Email from Tamara K. Fitgerald to Winston E. Mann, Katherine M. Gorove and Sandra L. Hodgkinson re: Final Ramcharan Report on Iraq
Dec. 17, 2004
Email
Tamara K. Fitzgerald
Winston E. Mann | Katherine M. Gorove | Sandra L. Hodgkinson | Richard Pregent
Katherine M. Gorove
June 05, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4308
Email from Diana Valderrama to Jonathan Crock and Ronald W. Miller in response to the Embassy in Mexico City requesting guidance in answering an Amnesty International inquiry on the treatment of detainees who are children. Ms. Valderrama's ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Email
Diana Valderrama
Jonathan M. Crock | Ronald W. Miller
Christopher N. Camponovo, Jonathan M. Crock, Ronald W. Miller
Oct. 05, 2004 | Non-US | ACLU-RDI 4309
United Nations Press Release: Iraq - UN Rights Report Delayed so Coalition Governments Can Provide Input
May 27, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4310
Fowarded message from Mark Lagon, Dep. Asst. Sec. Of State for International Organization Affairs states that Kim Holmes wated to see a final version of the edits to the US government submission on detainees to clear before it was dispatched.
Dec. 17, 2004
Email
Michael A. Butler
Winston E. Mann
Michael G. Kozak, Katherine M. Gorove, Mark P. Lagon
Feb. 13, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4306
Email from Betsy Lippman to State Department officers concerning discussions with the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) legal division in a follow-up to discussions with ICRC President Kellenberger. The email is heavily redacted.
Dec. 17, 2004
Email
Bessy A. Lippman
Edward R. Cummings | David W. Bowker | Alan Kreczko | Arthur E. Dewey | James B. Foley | Kevin Edward Moley | Michael T. Peay | Nicholas M. Miscione | Dona R. Tarpey | Douglas Hunter
Michael T. Peay, Edward R. Cummings, David W. Bowker, Alan Kreczko, Douglas Hunter, Arthur E. Dewey , James B. Foley, Kevin Edward Moley, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Nicholas M. Miscione, George W. Bush
June 04, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4307
Emails between Ronald W. Miller and Christopher N. Camponovo in response to a query by the Mexico City Embassy requesting information on children detained at Guantanamo. Mr. Miller responds that the DoD will only acknowledge that all detainees at ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Email
Ronald W. Miller
Christopher N. Camponovo
Ronald W. Miller, Christopher N. Camponovo