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)

CID Report of investigation concerning alleged abuse of detainee during interrogation. Detainee was captured on June 19, 2004 and transported “to what he described as one of the Presidential Palaces.” He was then interrogated. The detainee was ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Investigative File (CID)
Jacqueline J. Scott, John Peterson
Physical assault, General, Isolation
CID Report of investigation into alleged abuse and sodomy of detainee. Victim was captured on May 4, 2004 “by two males wearing green t-shirts, cargo pants and tan vests, who stated they worked for the Criminal Investigations."He was handcuffed, ...
CID Report of investigation regarding alleged assault on detainee. Detainee was captured on July 3, 2004 in Baghdad. He was transported to a detention facility near Al Satar City, on Rashad Base, where he stayed for one night. He was then ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Investigative File (CID)
Jacqueline J. Scott, John Peterson
Physical assault, General, Isolation
CID Report of investigation regarding alleged misconduct by six U.S. soldiers in Baghdad, Iraq between April 22 and May 18, 2003. Investigation “established cause to believe [two soldiers committed an unlawful weapons transfer to an Iraqi ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Investigative File (CID), Photograph
Nelson van Eck
CID Report of investigation into detainee’s alleged abuse while detained on a military base in Fallujah. Detainee alleged the Kurdish Military and Iraqi Linguish abused him. Specifically, the detainee alleged that the linguist hung him by his ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Investigative File (CID)
Jacqueline J. Scott, John Peterson
Physical assault, General
An investigation into the February 28, 2004 shooting of Muhamad Husain Kadir, an Iraqi cow herder who was flex-cuffed, by PFC Edward L. Richmond (name disclosed in later-produced court-martial records).  The platoon stationed at Taal Al Jal ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Investigative File (CID), Photograph
Edward L. Richmond, Jacqueline J. Scott
Muhamad Husain Kadir
Physical assault, General
Investigations into numerous alleged abuses at Abu Ghraib Prison and Al-Ademeya Palace based on reports from CACI and Titan translation employees. Alleged abuses include the physical beatings and humiliation of various detainees, forced exercise ...
Investigation into allegation by detainee at Abu Ghraib Prison who claimed to have been abused at at Al-Adhameyah Palace. Detainee alleged that he was hit in the head with a rifle butt and kicked in the shin. A doctor observed some swelling and ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Investigative File (CID)
Physical assault
Investigation into allegations by International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) of abuse of a detainee during arrest, internment and interrogation. Agent's Investigative Report notes the allegation that "unknown 61 year old person was tied, ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Investigative File (CID)
Physical assault, General, Stress positions
Investigation into allegations of abuse of a detainee at unknown location in Iraq on February 26, 2004. The investigation was initiated by CID after allegations surfaced on the National Detainee Reporting System (NDRS). Sworn statements of ...
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 on relating to detainees at Guantanamo and the burden of bearing the sole responsibility for the War on Terror.
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
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
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 ...
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 Memo re: Talking Points on Release of Photo of Guantanamo Detainees.
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) ...
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 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) ...
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 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 ...
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 ...
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
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 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. ...
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
Opinion Editorial on Guantanamo Detainees from Ambassador Pierre-Richard Prosper, Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues. The Op-Ed states that terrorists need not be granted POW status under Article 4 of the Geneva Convention but should be ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Pierre-Richard Prosper
Pierre-Richard Prosper
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
Fax cover sheet from Beth Ryley to Linda Muncy and Tom Johnson re: Working Group on Communications
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Beth Ryley
Linda Muncy | Tom Johnson
Fax from Beth Ryley to Linda Muncy and Tom Johnson re attached letter from Theo Van Boven. The letter is addressed to Kevin Moley and reminds him of the obligations to refrain from torture and to investigate allegations. The letter poses ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Beth Ryley
Linda Muncy | Tom Johnson
State Department Cable forwarding a letter to the U.S. Mission from Boven re: Riduan "Hambali" Isamuddin.
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Theo van Boven
Riduan "Hambali" Isamuddin
Fax from Beth Ryley to Linda Muncy and Tom Johnson re: Correspondence Received from UNHCHR
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Beth Ryley
Linda Muncy | Tom Johnson
Letter to the U.S. Mission from Theo van Boven, Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on torture, requesting that the U.S. respond to previous correspondence concerning allegations of mistreatment of detainees in U.S. custody.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Theo van Boven
Kevin Edward Moley
Kevin Edward Moley
Fax cover sheet from Beth Ryley to Linda Muncy and Tom Johnson re: Correspondence Received from UNHCHR
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Beth Ryley
Linda Muncy | Tom Johnson
Fax cover sheet from Beth Ryley to June Carter-Perry re letter from Boven on torture.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Beth Ryley
June Carter-Perry
State Department Cable stateing that the U.S. Mission received a letter from Theo van Boven re: Letter equesting to visit Guantanamo to investigate information regarding "the physical and mental integrity of persons held at the Guantanamo Bay ...
This document is a fax from Eric Schwartz, CEO of OHCHR to Amb. Moley forwarding a Letter from Betrande Ramcharan (CHR) to Lorne Craner requesting information re: juvenile detainees at Guantanamo including ages, nationalities and measures being ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Eric Schwartz
Kevin Edward Moley
Kevin Edward Moley, Lorne Craner
Letter from Jeffrey De Laurentis to Asma Jahanglr responding to a letter Mr. Jahangir sent asserting that the U.S. operations in Iraq are subject to the Special Rapporteur's mandate. He states in his letter "U.S. military personnel are operating ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Jeffrey DeLaurentis
Asma Jahangir
Jeffrey DeLaurentis
This cable is from Stated Department Headquarters to the U.S. Mission in Geneva to give guidance to U.S. Amb. Jeffrey DeLaurentis in responding to U.N. Special Rapporteur Asma Jahanglr concerning a letter Mr. Jahanglr wrote to the U.S. about the ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Jeffrey DeLaurentis
This letter is from U.N. Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights and Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions Asma Jahanglr to U.S. Ambassador Moley, the U.S. Permanet Representative of the U.S. to the U.N. in Geneva. the ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Asma Jahangir
Kevin Edward Moley
Jeffrey DeLaurentis
Fax cover sheet from S. Randi-Azarakhchi to Kevin Moley re press release by Boven on reports of abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Soussan Raadi-Azarakhchi
Kevin Edward Moley
Kevin Edward Moley
Theo van Boven, U.N. Special Rapporteur issued press release expressing concern about reports of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of Iraqi detainees by United States of America and United Kingdom military forces serving ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Other
Theo van Boven
Letter from Douglas Davidson, U.S. Deputy Representative to the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) re: Revelations of Abuse and Humiliation of Iraqi Detainees by U.S. & Coalition forces in Iraq. Amb. Davidson expressed ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Douglas Davidson
George W. Bush, Geoffrey D. Miller, Mark Traecey Patrick Kimmitt, Douglas Davidson
State Department memo on treatment of detainees in Iraq during the U.S. occupation. This is a talking points memo to address concerns and questions about the U.S. role, commitment and treatment of certain persons in accordance with international ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Non-legal Memo
George W. Bush
This State Department cable is to assist the U.S. Mission in Geneva in addressing a report by the Acting U.N. High Commissioner on Human Rights that was critical of the U.S. role, action in Iraq and the U.S. commitment to its international ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
This is a cable to the U.S. Mission in Geneva, forwarding letters received by U.N. Representatives Theo van Boven, Leandro Despouy and Paul Hunt. The letters from Messrs.’ Boven, Despouy and Hunt focus on the treatment of detainees and the ...
Fax cover sheet from Beth Ryley to U.S. Mission to International Organizations re: fax received from the Chairperson of the 1 Vh meeting of rapporteurs addressed to Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Beth Ryley
Colin L. Powell
Fax cover sheet from Soussen Azarakhchi to U.S. Mission re attached letter to Powell from Boven.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Emmanuelle Gilland | Soussan Raadi-Azarakhchi
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
Letter from Theo van Boven as Chairperson of the Eleventh Meeting of Mandate Holders to Sec. of State Colin Powell re: Special Rapporteurs/Representatives statement.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Theo van Boven
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell