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)

DOS Cable discussing allegations that the U.S. Army abused prisoners at Guantanamo. An English newspaper, 'Bahrain Tribune,' reported that U.S. prison guards beat an ailing Bahraini detainee, Juma Al-Dossari.
This is a fax cover sheet from the Embassy of Australia discussing a press release on military commissions. [The press release is not included].
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Andrew Shearer
Pierre-Richard Prosper
Andrew Shearer, L.R. Lohman, Harry R. Melone, Pierre-Richard Prosper
Email refers to a Human Rights Watch report on abuse by U.S. forces at detention facilities in Afghanistan. The report alleges that U.S. forces operating in Afghanistan have arbitrarily detained civilians, used excessive force and mistreated ...
DOS Press Release of a CNN Interview of Richard L. Armitage discussing the administration's response to a "detainee scandal."
Dec. 30, 2004
Other
George W. Bush, Richard Lee Armitage, Colin L. Powell, Donald H. Rumsfeld
The hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee met on May 18, 2004 to continue their ongoing oversight of American policy toward Iraq. The hearing was held in anticipation of the U.S. handing over sovereignty to the Iraqi government six ...
Press release discussing, generally, the U.S. government's goal towards disarmament and democracy in Iraq.
Dec. 30, 2004
Other
James B. Cunningham
James B. Cunningham, George W. Bush, Frank E. Schmelzer
Roundtable interview with Secretary of State, Colin L. Powell. On May 26. 2004, Mr. Powell answered a series of questions from journalists regarding allegations of detainee abuse in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay.
Press release from the ICRC discussing the Geneva Convention's policy on a state's mistreatment of detainees, prisoners of war and internees.
Dec. 30, 2004
Other
Frank E. Schmelzer
This DOS memo appears to be talking points for a John Dimitri Negroponte interview with Jim Lehrer on topics, including detainee abuse, detainee policy, and Saddam Hussein.
Dec. 30, 2004
Non-legal Memo
George W. Bush, Frank E. Schmelzer , John Dimitri Negroponte
Radio Free Asia article about twenty-two Chinese-origin ethnic Uyghur detainees (they are a minority Muslim population in China) being held in Guantanamo. The article discusses allegations that the Uyghur detainees were abused/mistreated by a ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Other
Colin L. Powell
Address from Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to the Biennial Conference of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) in Berlin, Germany on August 27, 2004. The address discusses, generally, global terrorist attacks with ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Other
Louise Arbour
Frank E. Schmelzer , Sandra Day O'Connor
Yaser Esam Hamdi, Shafiq Rasul
UN News Centre article reporting a UN experts findings after visiting an "illegal prison" in Afghanistan. The expert reported that the detainees were originally detained by the Northern Alliance and some U.S. forces, he reported that the ...
Email refers to a news article, which discusses the U.S. Military's CID investigation into allegations of murder and torture of an 18-year-old Afghan Army recruit who was detained by the U.S. The article also discusses the torture of seven Afghan ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Todd F. Buchwald
Joshua L. Dorosin | Ed Cummings
Todd F. Buchwald, Frank E. Schmelzer , Joshua L. Dorosin, Edward R. Cummings

Email includes news articles about high level detainees, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and Abu Zubaydah and the "harsh" interrogation methods the CIA employs. The email includes another article, which reports specific accounts of abuse.

Email includes news articles about high level detainees, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and Abu Zubaydah and the "harsh" interrogation methods the CIA employs. The email includes another article, which reports specific accounts of abuse.

Email redacted. Attached Washington Post article, "Lawyer for State Dept. Disputed Detainee Memo."
Email discusses a recent speech by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour to the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Mr. Solomon states that the Ambassador would like to respond to the speech. The Ambassador is particularly ...
Email is in response to a previous message from Steven Solomon, which discusses a recent speech by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour to the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). The reply is redacted.
Email from Todd F. Buchwald, the opening of the email is completely redacted, but included is a press release entitled "Statement of Senator Edward M. Kennedy on pending nomination of William Haynes." In the press release, Senator Kennedy ...
Emails discuss the Department of Defenses' recent release of documents, the documents apparently explained the types of interrogation techniques the U.S. employed in Guantanamo. However, the documents are being criticized as insufficient. The ...
Bloomberg News Article re: US Holds Terror Suspects at Secret Location, Red Cross Says
Dec. 30, 2004
Other
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Khalid Shaikh Mohammed
Other
Email from Robert K. Harris reads: "For your information and possible L/PM and/or L/FO coordination." The original email is a "Press Gaggle" by Scott McClellan, it includes three questions about the International Committee of the Red Cross' ...
Emails discuss the House Representative request to the Attorney General to transmit documents in his possession relating to the treatment of prisoners and detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay.
Email forward of a paper written on the three War on Terror cases decisions issued by the Supreme Court in 2004. The paper summarizes Rumsfeld v Padilla, Hamdi v Rumsfeld and Rasul, et al v Bush. All three cases were brought by, or on behalf of, ...
Emails discuss an upcoming OSCE meeting. The author of the original email believes the treatment of detainees at Abu Ghraib will be a central focus of the meeting and wants to come up with a plan to discuss the issue and move onto other business.
Emails discuss a statement by Colin L. Powell regarding Uyghur detainees. Mr. Powell apparently stated in an article (link provided) that the Uyghur detainees would not be sent back to China.
Letter from Margaret P. Grafeld, DOS to Amrit Singh, ACLU re: the ACLU's FOIA Request. The letter states that the document production requested is being complied with in some parts and denied or withheld in part.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter, Judicial
Margaret P. Grafeld
Margaret P. Grafeld
State Department talking points memo on the status of Guantanamo detainees as Unlawful Combatants vs. Prisoners of War (POWs). The memo cites the Geneva Convention's POW requirements that POWs wear a uniform with a distinctive insignia, that they ...
State Department interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Summary of Conclusions from the Principals Committee Meeting on Terrorism December 20, 2001.
DOS Memo re: Talking Points on Military Tribunals and Due Process for Terrorists, Insurgents, and Others Engaged in Subversive Activities. The memo covers the military tribunals that are to be used to try terrorists, insurgents, or civilians ...
Interagency fax coversheet from DJY to Maura Harty
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Maura Harty
Maura A. Harty
State Department talking points memo on the treatment of detainees in Guantanamo and difference between POWs and illegal combatants. The memo presents the question: What are the legal differences between POWs and illegal combatants? And answers ...
White House Press Release on the status of detainees at Guantanamo with a fact sheet from the on the treatment, housing, access and medical treatment of detainees. The press release makes a specific point of stating "neither the Taliban nor ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Other
George W. Bush
This memo is to address questions and concerns over the status and treatment of Guantanamo detainees. The memo states that the detainees are illegal combatants, and not Prisoners of War (POWs). It states Al Qaeda is a foreign terrorist group and ...
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: requesting copy fo ALDAC cable to NSC under cover of Harty-Biegun memo.
DOS Memo re: Talking Points on International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) Report on the Treatment of Guantanamo Detainees. The memo is to address the question of whether the U.S. will release the ICRC report. The answer is "No" because it ...
Questions for Powell sent from Ben Barber, State Department Bureau Chief, The Washington Times to Cynthia Church, Public Affairs Office, Department re: POW status and effects on US troops, for American Legion Magazine.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Ben Barbara
Cynthia Church
Cynthia Church
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Armitage-Rice memo.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Richard Lee Armitage, Condoleeza Rice
State Department fax cover sheet re: Cable on Prosecution of Non-Afghans Aiding Al-Qaeda and Taliban. Remarks: Per discussion at this afternoon's SVTS. Clearance would be appreciated by 00B Monday.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Evan T. Bloom
Daniel P. Collins | John Bellinger
Evan T. Bloom, Daniel P. Collins, John B. Bellinger, III
State Department talking points on military tribunals for Prosecution of Terrorists in Military Commissions.
State Department talking points on answering questions concerning the transfer of six (6) Bosnian detainees from Bosnia to Guantanamo.
State Department Routing and transmittal slip for Sam Witten, David Kaye, David Bowker, Peter Mason, Mike Mattler re: VOA Editorials
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
David Kaye | Samuel M. Witten | David W. Bowker | Peter Mason | Mike Mattler
Samuel M. Witten, David A. Kaye
DOS Memo re: Questions Taken at January 23, 2002 Daily Press Briefing. International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) - Question: Will the International Committee of the Red Cross submit a formal report of the results of its visit to Guantanamo ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Mike McKinley, David A. Kaye
State Department cable from the Paris Embassy re: French judge dismisses Guantanamo detainees’ case. On October 31, a French judge dismissed the case brought by the families of two French nationals being held at Guantanamo base. The families were ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, Bruce Swartz
Cover letter from Cob Blaha to Joann Dolan re attached dipnote from Spanish Embassy.
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Cob Blaha
JoAnn J. Dolan
JoAnn J. Dolan
Letter from the Bruce Donahue to John Evans, Mike Morrow, Gladys Boluda re: Attached the Procuracy General's response on GTMO detainees. We have included an informal translation. Points to Note: The letter names eight rather than seven ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Bruce Donahue
John Evans | Mike Morrow | Gladys Boluda
John D. Ashcroft