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)

Translator tells of incident during interrogation states that when they stepped away from the interview booth Special Forces members entered the booth; all crouched around the prisoner; blew cigarette smoke in his face; and threatened him. The ...
Dec. 21, 2005
Investigative File, Interview (Transcript)
Physical assault, General, Threat, Assault/death, Use of electricity
FBI Memo from Behavioral/Operational Consultation Team to FBI Criminal Investigation Task Force (CITF) re: Assessment and Recommendations Regarding Interviewing, Debriefing, Interrogation of Al-Qaeda/Taliban detainees at Guantanamo. Contents ...
Washington Post Article re: Extended Detention in Cuba Mulled - Officials Indicate Guantanamo Bay Could Hold Tribunals, Carry Out Sentences
Dec. 30, 2004
Other
George W. Bush, Donald H. Rumsfeld
This State Department Cable is entitled "Subject: February 11 Transfer of Detainees to Guantanamo". There is no other discernible information or context.
DOS Cable states that the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) moved towards but ultimately moderated its position on the U.S. position on applying the Geneva Conventions to the Guantanamo detainees. The ICRC statement stated that ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
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.
This State Department Cable is entitled "Subject: February 13 Transfer of Detainees to Guantanamo". There is no other discernible information or context.
Army soldier/interrogator asks a detainee if he has health problems. Detainee stated that since he was taken in to custody he was abused. He stated he was stuck on his body, beaten, received "extremely poor" treatment and was "rough-handled" by ...
Dec. 21, 2005
Investigative File, Interview (Transcript)
Physical assault, General
A Detainee Screener states that a detainee complained of rough treatment and being hit. The detainee complained of being put in uncomfortable position on plane ride, guards were rough with him and pushed his hands and feet flat during in-processing.
Dec. 21, 2005
Interview (Transcript)
Physical assault, General, Cramped confinement
Statement of an interrogator who noticed cuts and bruises on detainee during an interview. The detainee stated that while he was in a holding pen in Afghanistan he was told to stand with other detainees, but sat due to weak legs. The detainee ...
Dec. 21, 2005
Investigative File, Interview (Statement)
Physical assault, General