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
Aug. 21, 2003 | Non-US | ACLU-RDI 3702
Letter from Theo van Boven, U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture to Amb. Moley concerning the detention of Riduan "Hambali" Isamuddin. Mr. van Boven expresses his opinion that Mr. Isamuddin is in "secret" U.S. detention and is being held ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Theo van Boven
Kevin Edward Moley
Kevin Edward Moley
Riduan "Hambali" Isamuddin
Aug. 03, 2005 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3699
State Department cable with talking points addressing the concerns of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The cable states that the Working Group does not have a mandate or the competence to make an accurate assessment of the U.S. ...
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3700
State Department Information Memo from Kim Holmes (IO) and Lorne Craner (DRL) to the Secretary re: UNCHR's 6/25 public statement calling for visit of detainees and grounds where detainees are held to ascertain whether international HR standards ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Kim R. Holmes | Loren W. Craner
July 06, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3697
This email is a forward of a July 4, 2004 article in the New York Times entitled "Officials Detail A Detainee Deal By 3 Countries" which makes the claim that the U.S. released certain detainees from Guantanamo in consideration fro the Saudi ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Tom Malionek
JoAnn J. Dolan
JoAnn J. Dolan
Nov. 30, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3698
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
Dec. 02, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3696
This is a State Department form letter to be used as a template for addressing inquires and questions concerning how family members of Guantanamo detainees may or may not visit their relatives being detained at Guantanamo and the rational for the ...
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3693
DOS Memo re: Talking Points on Guantanamo Detainees Treatment and Status. These Talking points are to address questions and concerns of foreign governmants such as why families and consulates cannot visit detainees; why US cannot discuss the ...
May 28, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3691
DOS Memo re: Talking Points on Guantanamo Detainees Treatment and Status. Memo states i) all detainees are treated humanely; ii) they are given three (3) culturally appropriate meals a day; iii) International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) ...
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3692
Letter from Pierre-Richard Proper to redacted party re: decision to treat detainees as enemy combatants
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Pierre-Richard Prosper
Pierre-Richard Prosper
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3688
DOS Memo re: Talking Points on Release of Photo of Guantanamo Detainees.
Jan. 15, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3689
DOS Memo re: Talking Points on Guantanamo Detainees Treatment and Status. Memo states i) all detainees are treated humanely; ii) they are very dangerous people; iii) International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) has access to them; and iv) ...
Jan. 15, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3690
DOS Memo re: Talking Points on Guantanamo Detainees Treatment and Status. Memo states i) all detainees are treated humanely; ii) they are given three (3) culturally appropriate meals a day; iii) International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) ...
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3687
DOS Memo re: Talking Points and Issue Paper on Guantanamo Detainees. Statement of US position on Guantanamo detainees stating that: i) detainees are treated humanely; ii) detainees are not POWs; and iii) US is working with other countries whose ...
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3683
Questions for Secretary of State Colil Powell from Ben Barber, American Legion Magazine, with Powell's answers re: decision to deny POW status to detainees, status as enemy combatants, foreign criticism of this decision, etc
Dec. 30, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Colin L. Powell
Non-US | ACLU-RDI 3684
Letter from Alexander Karagiannis Director, United Kingdom, Benelux, and Ireland Affairs assuring UK MP Clark that detainees held under US control in Guantanamo are still treated humanely depsite their lack of POW status.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Alexander Karagiannis
Helen Clark
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3685
This State Department fact sheet of Guantanamo detainees, listing total number in custody, reasons for US authority to detain them, their status under the Geneva convention, their treatment and transfer to foreign governments also serves as a ...
Dec. 02, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3681
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 3682
State Department talking Points on relating to detainees at Guantanamo and the burden of bearing the sole responsibility for the War on Terror.
July 23, 2004 | Legislative | ACLU-RDI 3679
Letter from Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) requesting Sec. State Powell Dept's release several internal Administration documents regarding the treatment of enemy prisoners and combatants.
Oct. 15, 2004
Letter
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
Colin L. Powell
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Colin L. Powell
July 23, 2004 | Legislative | ACLU-RDI 3680
Letter from Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) requesting Sec. of State Powell to have the State Department provide the Committee on Foreign Relations with copies of documents, and any other legal memoranda prepared after September 11, 2001, that interpret ...
Oct. 15, 2004
Letter
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
Colin L. Powell
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Colin L. Powell
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3676
This State Department letter concerns an inquiry about a young man apprehended in Afghanistan by U.S. Forces and believed to be held at Guantanamo. The letter states that "It is not the he position of the United States government that it does not ...
Jan. 23, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3677
Congressional Correspondence Tasker Form from a member of Congress to Paul V. Kelly Asst. Sec. for Legislative Affairs at the State Department requesting an image of a document (not stated).
Oct. 15, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Paul V. Kelly
Paul V. Kelly
Jan. 22, 2003 | Legislative | ACLU-RDI 3678
Senator John Kerry's letter to Paul V. Kelly of the State Department, forwarding a letter sent to Sen. Kerry by Dr. Michael Grodin of the Boston Center for Refugee Health & Human Rights requesting an immediate investigation into allegations to ...
Oct. 15, 2004
Letter
John Kerry
Paul V. Kelly
John Forbes Kerry, Paul V. Kelly
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3674
This letter from Amb. Prosper to Margot Kessler of the European Parliament is in response to a letter Ms. Kessler sent to Sec. of State Powell concerning the status and treatment of detainees at Guantanamo. Amb. Prosper states that "The United ...
Dec. 02, 2004
Letter
Pierre-Richard Prosper
Margot Kessler
Pierre-Richard Prosper, George W. Bush, Colin L. Powell
| ACLU-RDI 3675
This letter from Amb. Prosper to Helmut Hausle is in response to a letter Mr. Hausle sent to Sec. of State Powell concerning the status and treatment of detainees at Guantanamo. Amb. Prosper states that "The United States and its Coalition ...
Dec. 02, 2004
Letter
Pierre-Richard Prosper
Dr. Helmut Hausle
Pierre-Richard Prosper, George W. Bush, Colin L. Powell
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3673
State Department talking points memo on addressing the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo. The memo gives guidance on addressing: Factual Inquiries Concerning welfare/whereabouts of individual detainees; Mail delivery; Visits of a Consular ...
Jan. 15, 2002 | DOD | ACLU-RDI 3671
State Department talking points memo on addressing the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo. The memo poses potential questions and answers to be given in response.
Dec. 02, 2004
Non-legal Memo
David A. Kaye, Evan T. Bloom
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3672
This letter from Amb. Prosper to an un-named person is a response to a letter the recipient sent to Pres. Bush concerning the legal status of the detainees at Guantanamo. The letter states "Under international law the detainees at Guantanamo are ...
Dec. 02, 2004
Letter
Pierre-Richard Prosper
Pierre-Richard Prosper, George W. Bush
Nov. 16, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3669
This State Department document is a talking points memo addressing the Guantanamo detainees and their treatment. It states: The United States has detained al-Qaida, Taliban, and other enemy combatants who pose a threat to the U.S. and our allies; ...
Nov. 16, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3670
State Department memo addressing the release of January 2002 photographs of unidentified Guantanamo detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The memo states that although there was criticism of the release of the photo(s) the release was not a ...
| ACLU-RDI 3666

Interview of Colin L. Powell regarding the U.S. decision to deny detainees at Guantanamo prisoner of war status. Mr. Powell explains the U.S. government's rationale and explains that by definition detained Taliban and Al-Qaida personnel are ...

Dec. 02, 2004
Interview (Questionnaire)
Colin L. Powell, Sharon E. Ahmad
Nov. 10, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3667
This is a letter from U.S. representative in the UK as the Director of United Kingdom, Benelux, and Ireland Affairs to Ms. Helen Clark, MP, UK House of Commons thanking her for her recent letter and concerns over the detainment and treatment of ...
Dec. 02, 2004
Letter
Alexander Karagiannis
Helen Clark
Alexander Karagiannis
DOS | ACLU-RDI 3668
This letter is from Paula J. Dobriansky, State Department Under Secretary for Global Affairs to Sen. Bingaman (D-NM) responding to the Senator’s recent letter raising concerns over an article in the Washington Post concerning allegations of ...
Dec. 02, 2004
Letter
Paula Dobriansky
Jeff Bingaman | Charles E. Grassley
Paula J. Dobriansky, Jesse Francis Bingaman, Jr., Charles E. Grassley
Feb. 27, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3664
Email refers to a paper from the National Security Council that discusses the legal status of detainees. [Document is not included].
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Evan T. Bloom
Stephen D. Mathias
D. Stephen Mathias, Samuel M. Witten, Linda Jacobson, Thomas B. Heinemann, David W. Bowker, Eric J. Pelofsky, Andre M. Surena, Katherine M. Gorove, JoAnn J. Dolan, Ted A. Borek, Catherine Mary Malin, Harry R. Melone
Dec. 11, 2002 | DOJ | ACLU-RDI 3665
DOJ Fact Sheet discussing their investigation of terrorist organizations and groups since 9/11/2001. Also, the fact sheet explains the necessity for withholding the names, dates, and locations of arrest of detainees.
Nov. 23, 2004
Other
Harry R. Melone
Feb. 06, 2002 | ACLU-RDI 3662
DOS Cable from Colin L. Powell to U.S. Ambassador to Australia, John Thomas Schieffer. The Cable discusses the POW status or non-status of the Taliban and Al-Qaida detainees, and explains the specific privileges the detainees will be afforded.
Nov. 23, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
John Thomas Schieffer
John Thomas Schieffer, Zalmay Mamozy Khalilzad, Howard H. Leach, Daniel Ray Coats, Ryan C. Crocker, James C. Oberwetter, William Stamps Farish, IV, Alexander R. Vershbow , Paul Cellucci, Tom C. Korologos, Pamela Willeford, Colin L. Powell
Feb. 07, 2002 | WH | ACLU-RDI 3663
Press release from the Office of the White House Press Secretary, discussing the status of Taliban and Al-Qaeda detainees at Guantanamo. The press release outlines that detainees are not POWs and while they will be treated humanely and in ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Other
Ari Fleischer, George W. Bush
Nov. 05, 2001 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3660
DOS Cover Sheet to attached papers requested by the Office of Global Criminal Justice from the Department Historian on Nuremberg and past U.S. detentions. [Documents are not included].
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Jonathan B. Schwartz, Edward R. Cummings, Todd F. Buchwald, David Kay, Andre M. Surena, Katherine M. Gorove, Evan T. Bloom, Thomas B. Heinemann, Ted A. Borek, D. Stephen Mathias, Marc Susser
Nov. 02, 2001 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3661
These two (2) memos are background and history of the Establishment of the Nuremberg Tribunal, and Detention of POWs, Unlawful Combatants, and Other Detainees. The memos are designed to address concerns and questions about the legal authority of ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Marc Susser
Pierre-Richard Prosper
Marc Susser, Pierre-Richard Prosper
Nov. 16, 2001 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3659
Letter refers to an attached memo regarding the historical treatment of detainees. [Letter is not included].
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Evan T. Bloom
William J. Haynes, II, Todd F. Buchwald, David W. Bowker, Joshua L. Dorosin, Harry R. Melone, Eric J. Pelofsky, Mary Comfort, Andre M. Surena, David Kay, Evan T. Bloom, Edward R. Cummings
Jan. 15, 2004 | ACLU-RDI 3655
ICRC Press Release regarding a meeting between the President of the ICRC, Jakob Kellneberger and Colin L. Powell. It states that during Kellenberger's meeting with government officials, the ICRC president will review in particular the situation ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Other
Colin L. Powell, Condoleeza Rice, Paul Wolfowitz, William E. Landfair
Jan. 16, 2004 | ACLU-RDI 3656
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Press Release summarizing a meeting between ICRC Kellenberger and DOS officials, including Colin L. Powell. It notes that Kellenberger, in his meetings with Powell, Rice and Wolfowitz, "lamented the ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Other
Colin L. Powell, Condoleeza Rice, Paul Wolfowitz, William E. Landfair
May 06, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3657
[Contents completely redacted].
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
JoAnn J. Dolan
Joshua L. Dorosin | Todd F. Buchwald
JoAnn J. Dolan, Todd F. Buchwald, Joshua L. Dorosin, Edward R. Cummings, Steven A. Solomon
Mar. 25, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3653
No relevant text, refers to a document entitled "IM to S POWS 3 24 03 fina." [Document is not included].
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Beverly S. Holman, JoAnn J. Dolan, Shirley Hachey, Linda S. Landers, William E. Landfair
Jan. 14, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3654
Email refers to two documents; no relevant text. [Documents are not included].
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Beverly S. Holman
Beverly S. Holman, Diane McBride, JoAnn J. Dolan, William E. Landfair
June 03, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3651
DOS Memo confirming a meeting with the ICRC on June 06.
Nov. 23, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Frank E. Schmelzer , P. Michael McKinley, John Allen Buche, Nicholas M. Miscione, Douglas Hunter
Mar. 12, 2003 | ACLU-RDI 3652
Memo from the International Committee of the Red Cross outlining international humanitarian laws and the role of the ICRC.
Nov. 23, 2004
Non-legal Memo
William E. Landfair
Mar. 05, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3648
Email refers to the ICRC's February 2004 report on detentions in Iraq. [Content redacted; report not included].
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Carol T. Santos
Laura Parsky
Carol T. Santos, Laura H. Parsky, Piper Anne Wind Campbell, Lawrence E. Bartlett, Scott W. Busby, Richard L. Greene, P. Michael McKinley, Edward R. Cummings, Joseph P. Cassidy, Margaret J. Pollack, L. Paul Bremer, John Allen Buche
May 17, 2004 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3649
DOS Cable-Action request for Kabul Embassy from Colin L. Powell requesting that the government provide access to the ICRC to visit all detainees under usual ICRC conditions.
Nov. 23, 2004
Cable
Pierre-Richard Prosper, JoAnn J. Dolan, Jonathan S. Carpenter, P. Michael McKinley, Richard A. Boucher, Mitchell B. Reiss, Colin L. Powell, Zalmay Mamozy Khalilzad, Frank E. Schmelzer
May 23, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3650
Memo confirming Sec. Powell's meeting with International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) President Kellenberger on May 27, 2004. Meeting objectives include discussing ICRC’s ongoing concerns regarding the treatment of detainees in Afghanistan ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Arthur E. Dewey
Colin L. Powell
Arthur E. Dewey , Zalmay Mamozy Khalilzad, Frank E. Schmelzer , P. Michael McKinley, JoAnn J. Dolan, Ronald W. Miller, Carol T. Santos, Frank E. Schmelzer , Colin L. Powell