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
Jan. 17, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3903
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Summary of Conclusions for Deputies Committee Meeting on Detainees 10/18/02
Oct. 16, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3899
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Summary of Conclusions for Deputies Committee Meeting on Detainees 10/16/02
Oct. 24, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3900
DOS Office of the Legal Advisor interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Summary of Conclusions for Deputies Committee Meeting on Detainees 10/16/02
Oct. 23, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3901
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Summary of conclusions for Deputies Committee meeting on detainees - 10/16
Oct. 15, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3896
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Deputies Committee Meeting on Detainees 10/16
Oct. 17, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3897
State Department cable re: Principals Committee Meeting on Detainees on: 10/18/2002 at: 14:00. Remarks: Please prepare a briefing memo with annotated agenda and checklist for Principals Committee Meeting on Detainees, Friday, October 19, ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell, JoAnn J. Dolan, Beverly S. Holman
Oct. 18, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3898
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Deputies Committee Meeting on Detainees
Aug. 07, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3893
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Deputies Committee Meeting on Detention Issues 8/8
Aug. 08, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3894
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Deputies Committee Meeting on Detention Issues 8/8
Sept. 24, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3895
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Deputies Committee Meeting on High-Interest: Detainee 9/26 12:30-1:00 pm
June 25, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3891
State Department Cable re: Repatriated Russian Guantanamo Detainees Released by Russian Procuracy. The seven Russian detainees from the Guantanamo military base that were previously handed over by the United States to the Russian Government have ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, Bruce Swartz
Dec. 28, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3892
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
Feb. 06, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3888
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Request to Interview Detainees at Guantanamo
Mar. 04, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3889
DOS Cable re: Families of Guantanamo Detainees Increase Pressure on Government of France. This cable expresses the French government's preference to have French citizens returned to France to face the French judicial system and to pursue that ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Sharon A. Wiener
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, Sharon A. Wiener
Mar. 23, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3890
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Request to Interview Detainees at Guantanamo
May 06, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3885
DOS Fax Cover Sheet re: Request for Officials to Visit Detainees at Guantanamo
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Marcia Wong
Samuel D. Cox
Samuel D. Cox
Sept. 11, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3886
State Department cable from Kuwaiti Embassy to State Department re: Ambassador Pierre-Richard Prosper Discusses Iraqi War Crimes and Guantanamo. The cable states that Amb. Pierre-Richard Prosper met with Committee for Missing and POW Affairs ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Pierre-Richard Prosper, Colin L. Powell
Dec. 02, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3887
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Request to Interview Detainees at Guantanamo
Nov. 19, 2002 | Non-US | ACLU-RDI 3883
French letter from Paul Albert Iweins to Howard Leach with b7© redaction
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Paul-Albert Iweins
Howard H. Leach
Howard H. Leach
Apr. 17, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3884
Request to Col. James Whitmore-DOD for permission for team to visit Guantanamo detainees.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Carol A. Rodley
James A. Whitmore
James A. Whitmore
July 12, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3880
Fax cover page from Sharon Wiener Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, Paris to John Crock re: French Diplomatic Note of 6/30 concerning French detainees at Guantanamo.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Sharon A. Wiener
Jonathan M. Crock
Sharon A. Wiener
July 27, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3881
Fax cover page from Jonathan Crock to JoAnn Dolan, no subject or attachments.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Jonathan M. Crock
JoAnn J. Dolan
JoAnn J. Dolan, Jonathan M. Crock
Nov. 14, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3882
Request to Col. James Whitmore-DOD for redacted group to visit detainees.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Whitney Baird
James A. Whitmore
James A. Whitmore
Mar. 04, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3878
Email from Katherine Gorove to Joann Dolan "re: families of GTMO detainees increasing pressure on GOF". This email is a forward of a previous email sent from Anne R. Sorensen to Michael A. Butler with an attachment. Ms. Gorove adds a comment to ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Katherine M. Gorove
JoAnn J. Dolan
JoAnn J. Dolan, Katherine M. Gorove
July 08, 2004 | Non-US | ACLU-RDI 3879
Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs re: Swedish Citizen at Guantanamo Base Released
Jan. 14, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3875
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
Sept. 26, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3876
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
Feb. 27, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3877
Talking points on transfer of Russian detainees from Guantanamo and assurances from Russia. This memo covers potential questions and appropriate answers for dealing with the press when asked about the Russian detainees held at Guantanamo. The key ...
Jan. 31, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3872
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
Jan. 23, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3873
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
Oct. 31, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3874
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
Nov. 15, 2001 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3870
State Department talking points on military tribunals for Prosecution of Terrorists in Military Commissions.
Jan. 22, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3871
State Department talking points on answering questions concerning the transfer of six (6) Bosnian detainees from Bosnia to Guantanamo.
Feb. 27, 2002 | Non-US | ACLU-RDI 3867
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
Aug. 18, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3868
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
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3869
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
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3864
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 ...
Feb. 02, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3865
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.
Feb. 11, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3866
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 ...
Jan. 28, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3862
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 ...
Feb. 07, 2002 | WH | ACLU-RDI 3863
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
Jan. 04, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3860
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 ...
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3861
Interagency fax coversheet from DJY to Maura Harty
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Maura Harty
Maura A. Harty
Dec. 29, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3857
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
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3858
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 ...
Dec. 28, 2001 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3859
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.
Aug. 27, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3856
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.
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
JoAnn J. Dolan
Joshua L. Dorosin
Colin L. Powell, Monica J. Tillery, Joshua L. Dorosin, JoAnn J. Dolan, Ronald W. Miller, Christopher N. Camponovo, Frank E. Schmelzer
Aug. 16, 2004 | DOA | ACLU-RDI 3855
This document is a US Army Press Release of August 16, 2004. the Press Release discussing a new review process that incorporates the interim Iraqi government's Ministries of Justice, Interior and Human Rights.
Dec. 30, 2004
Non-legal Memo, Other
Frank E. Schmelzer , Barry Johnson
July 22, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3853
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, ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Katherine M. Gorove
Joshua L. Dorosin | JoAnn J. Dolan | Curtis A. Bradley
Katherine M. Gorove, Joshua L. Dorosin, JoAnn J. Dolan, Curtis A. Bradley, Donald H. Rumsfeld, George W. Bush, Janice A. Smith
Jose Padilla, Yaser Esam Hamdi, Shafiq Rasul
Sept. 21, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3854
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.
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Joshua L. Dorosin
JoAnn J. Dolan | Robert K. Harris | Ashley S. Deeks
Joshua L. Dorosin, JoAnn J. Dolan, Robert K. Harris, Frank E. Schmelzer , Heather Troutman , Ashley S. Deeks, Sarah F. Ozkan, Jeffrey Dienno, Edward R. Cummings, Alberto M. Fernandez, Brook E. Milton, Frank Ruggiero