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)

Email provides logistics concerning an upcoming workshop on techniques for FBI Officials on dealing with Muslim extemists. [E-mail from [Redacted] to Lamefford and [Redacted]]
State Department Cable re: October 18 Transfer of Detainees to Guantanamo – no other content or context.
Jan. 12, 2005
Cable
Richard A. Boucher
State Department cable with talking points to address concerns of foreign governments about their citizens being held at Guantanamo. The cable states; 1) These individuals pose a threat to the United States and international peace and security ...
Jan. 12, 2005
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
This article criticizes U.S. detainment processes in Iraq. It states, "Many [Iraqis] languish in prisons indefinitely...there is no judicial process for thousands of detainees."
Mar. 15, 2013
Other
Scott Blow, Clinton Reiss
Medical records for a 25 year-old Iraqi Male, Detainee, Baghdad, Iraq re: Gunshot Wound to buttocks and legs. On November 2, 2003 the patient became hemodynamically unstable and went in to cardiac arrest. the patient was given Advanced Life ...
Oct. 15, 2005
Medical (Physical (non-death))
Physical assault, General
A Central Command presentation slide entitled, "Iraq Detainee Population Categorization." The slide contains a pie chart categorizing the Iraq detainee population. Categories include: "Enemy Prisoners of War," "High Value Detainees," "Civilian ...
Medical records of an Iraqi male, Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW) admitted to hospital with gunshot wound to chest and associated injuries. The medical records do not give any indication as to how the detainee received his injuries or what detention ...
Medical records of a 25 year-old Iraqi male, Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW) admitted to hospital with gunshot wound to the head with associated injuries. The medical records do not give any indication as to how the detainee received his injuries or ...
Medical records of an Iraqi male detainee at Abu Ghraib prison, Iraq. The detainee suffered a fractured skull in an Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) blast. The medical records do not give any personal information on the detainee.
Medical records of a 20 year-old Iraqi male, Enemy Combatant and Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW) admitted to hospital with multiple gunshot wounds to the legs and associated injuries. The medical records do not give any indication as to how the ...
Oct. 15, 2005
Medical (Physical (non-death))
General, Physical assault
Letter to Human Rights Watch responding to HRW's November 15, 2003 letter (at CIA000008-CIA000009) requesting a visit to CIA detention facilities in Afghanistan. Letter does not respond to request to visit. States that "I can assure you ... that ...
May 18, 2004
Letter
Scott W. Muller
Brad Adams
Scott W. Muller
Death Certificate: 25-Year-Old Iraqi Male, Detainee, Baghdad, Iraq (Homicide)
Oct. 15, 2005
Medical (Death Certificate)
General, Physical assault
Medical records of an unidentified detainee in Iraq. The detainee suffered a gunshot wound (GSW) to his arm, abdomen and groin. These are medical records of his treatment and progress as a patient. The detainee was reported captured by coalition ...
Documents regarding interviewing detainee at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan.
Dec. 15, 2004
Interview (Summaries/Notes)
Amy Jo Lyons
Emails between State Department officials concerning a Guantanamo issue paper. Attachment not included.
Letter from an individual to Sec. of State Powell concerning the treatment of his uncle and US refusal to state where he was and if he was still alive. The gentleman states "Everything the government is doing to my uncle is against the US ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Letter
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
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

A soldier was found guilty of using excessive force during interrogation by ...

Feb. 15, 2006
Investigative File
Physical assault, General
This memo describes the standard operating procedures for the Tiger Base Detention Center in Iraq. The memo outlines instructions for bringing detainees to the base, guard force responsibilities, the detention center battle rhythm, and personnel ...
A CID Report reports the death of an un-named detainee on November 4, 2004 at 1000 hrs. The report states that the 10th Military Police Battalion (CID) was notified that a prisoner at Abu Ghraib died while in custody. The report concluded "The ...
Person died of multiple gunshot wounds to the chest. Date of death: 11/04/2003. Manner of death: Multiple gunshot wounds to the chest. Interval between onset and death: 10 minutes.
Emails discuss an OSCE meeting and the concerns of various human rights organizations over alleged torture and abuse of detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay. The original email has a report attached, which briefly discusses the death ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Francis M. Gaffney
JoAnn J. Dolan
JoAnn J. Dolan, Francis M. Gaffney, Sharon E. Ahmad, George W. Bush
John Walker Lindh, Dilawar, Habibullah
Stress positions
Email mentions an attached report, entitled "Torture and inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in Selected OSCE Participating States." [Document is not included].
Iraqi detainee at Abu Ghraib prison on a hunger strike was brought to the emergency room for treatment. He was re-hydrated via IV and returned to his cell.
Partially redacted log reporting activities and incidents during prison shifts in November 2003. Based on the date range recorded, this log may relate to the death of Manadel Al-Jamadi.
Jan. 14, 2014
Other
Manadel Al-Jamadi
This is a Special Incident Report by the 320th Military Police Battalion of the escape of two (2) male detainees from Abu Ghraib, Hard Prison Unit 3A, both were housed in Cell #144.
Oct. 19, 2004
Investigative File
ISN 9877, ISN 10739
Emails concerning medicine facilities, prisoner of war camps and detentions facilities with a focus on preventative treatment and responsive action.
Death certificate of Manadel Al-Jamadi accompanied by a CID executive summary of his death. The summary asserts that Al-Jamadi died of a heart attack after being released from Navy Seal Team #7 and the OGA interrogation team. The CID will ...
Jan. 14, 2014
Non-legal Memo, Medical (Death Certificate)
Manadel Al-Jamadi
Physical assault
Detainee asked ot be examined because he as oral cancer as a result of chewing tobacco for a number of years.The medical records do not give any indication as to any personal information on the detainee.
Reprimands a Staff Sergeant for failing to supervise interrogations. An inexperienced soldier assaulted a detainee during interrogations. Sergeant made statement in response which is next document.
Medical records of a 25 year-old Iraqi male detainee who suffered a broken jaw in an un-described assault eight (8) days earlier.
Oct. 15, 2005
Medical (Physical (non-death))
General, Physical assault
Powerpoint presentation given by MG Donald J. Ryder, Provost Marshal General. Includes observations and recommendations on how to treat detainees in Abu Ghraib.

This memorandum addresses the detention and correction facilities, policies, and procedures carried out by the United States Military in Iraq.. Assessments for this memorandum were conducted from Oct. 13, 2003-Nov. 6, 2003. The memorandum ...

Oct. 19, 2004
Non-legal Memo, Oversight Report
Donald J. Ryder
Mark Inch, Michael Shannon, Donald J. Ryder
CIA copy of Colorado Springs Gazette article concerning the 1st Squadron of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment's economic assistance efforts in an Iraqi combat zone.
Mar. 15, 2013
Other
Mario Franco, Dan Ruecking, Mario Vasquez, Chris Bandel, Stephen Moore
Emails regarding prison conditions in Iraq. Discussion includes water supply/distribution system; sewer systems; dealing with garbage dumped outside of jail; and overcrowding in jails. Discussions on how to transfer control to jails over to ...
Death Certificate of unknown Iraqi Male of unknown age. The deceased appears to have been a detainee and was shot multiple times to the back, chest and pelvis.
Oct. 15, 2005
Medical (Death Certificate)
Physical assault, General
Medical records of a 36 year-old Iraqi male, Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW) admitted to hospital with gunshot wound to chest, groin, torso and associated injuries. The medical records do not give any indication as to how the detainee received his ...

Report of the International Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights to the Special OSCE Meeting on the Prevention of Torture, Vienna, 6-7 November 2003. The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights is a non-governmental organization ...

Email refers to a cable that needs clearance. [Document is not attached].
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
John F. Goldener
JoAnn J. Dolan
JoAnn J. Dolan, Theodore Sellin
This is a Special Incident Report by the 320th Military Police Battalion of the escape of six (6) male detainees from the Baghdad Correctional Facility
Oct. 19, 2004
Investigative File
ISN 115089, ISN 151623, ISN 151624, ISN 116734, ISN 116735, ISN 116738
This letter from Lt. General McKiernen directs action on the charges against Sergeant McKenzie. Specifically, the charges are referred for trial by a General Court-Martial.
July 01, 2005
Legal Memo, UCMJ (Court-Martial)
David D. McKiernan
David D. McKiernan, Scott A. McKenzie
This is a U.S. Army Foreign Claims form for monetary compensation. The claimant is an Iraqi citizen whose father was arrested in Iraq by U.S. forces, taken to Abu Ghraib prison and died while in custody. He claims that the body of his father was ...
Feb. 15, 2006
Legal Memo, Letter
Physical assault, Other
A Sergeant who received a Written Reprimand disagrees with characterization of his responsibility for incident.
Article 32 Proceeding Charge Sheet for additional charges against Scott McKenzie for his role in abusing detainees at Abu Ghraib prison. The additional charges are: 1) obstruction of justice; and 2) attempt to impede investigation.
July 01, 2005
UCMJ (Article 32)
Scott A. McKenzie, David D. McKiernan
CIA copy of a Chicago Tribune article detailing industrial shortages and Army investments in the Al Anbar province.
Mar. 15, 2013
Other
Keith Mines, Greg Reilly
CIA Copy of the Preliminary autopsy report of Manadel Al-Jamadi who died while detained at Abu Ghraib Prison. This document is also attached to the CID Report (Death): 0237-03-CID259-61219 released by the DOD. This version contains different ...
Jan. 14, 2014
Medical (Autopsy)
Manadel Al-Jamadi
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
State Department cable to Washington describing a letter left off at the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey by a human rights group written to President Bush with accusations of human rights violations and actions in contradiction to the Geneva ...
Dec. 23, 2004
Cable
George W. Bush, Colin L. Powell
Medical records of an Iraqi male, Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW) admitted to hospital with shrapnel wounds to his chest and buttocks and associated injuries. The medical records do not give any indication as to how the detainee received his injuries ...
Medical records of an Iraqi male, Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW) admitted to hospital with gunshot wounds to his lower back. The medical records do not give any indication as to how the detainee received his injuries or what detention facility he ...