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 (157)

RelevanceDateRelease Date
Jan. 28, 2003 | CIA | ACLU-RDI 4562
This CIA memo provides guidelines on interrogations of detainees, Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters. The memo is divided into the following sections: 1) Permissible Interrogation Techniques; 2) Medical and Psychological Personnel; 3) Interrogation ...
Aug. 24, 2009
Non-legal Memo
George Tenet
George J. Tenet
EIT, Use of water, Waterboarding, Physical assault, Face slap or insult slap, Stomach/abdominal slap, Attention grasp, Facial hold, Walling, Stress positions, Cramped confinement, Use of phobias, Sleep deprivation, Isolation, Dietary manipulation, Environmental manipulation, Light or sound, Other
Apr. 28, 2003 | CIA-OGC | ACLU-RDI 4563

A letter from Scott Muller, general counsel of the CIA, to John Yoo, OLC, enclosing a list of legal principles applicable to the CIA's detention and interrogation of detainees, including the use of the "enhanced interrogation ...

Aug. 24, 2009
Legal Memo, Letter
Scott W. Muller
John C. Yoo
John C. Yoo, Scott W. Muller
EIT, Use of water, Waterboarding, Physical assault, Face slap or insult slap, Stomach/abdominal slap, Attention grasp, Facial hold, Walling, Stress positions, Cramped confinement, Use of phobias, Sleep deprivation, Isolation, Dietary manipulation, Environmental manipulation, Light or sound
June 16, 2003 | CIA | ACLU-RDI 4564

A list of bullet points discussing legal principles applicable to the CIA's detention and interrogation of detainees, including the use of the "enhanced interrogation techniques."  Many of the principles listed appear in the ...

Aug. 24, 2009
Legal Memo, Chart/List, Letter
Patrick Philbin
Patrick Philbin
EIT, Use of water, Waterboarding, Physical assault, Face slap or insult slap, Stomach/abdominal slap, Attention grasp, Facial hold, Walling, Stress positions, Cramped confinement, Use of phobias, Sleep deprivation, Isolation, Dietary manipulation, Environmental manipulation, Light or sound, Other
Feb. 25, 2003 | CIA | ACLU-RDI 4612

Lengthy, but almost entirely redacted, document that apparently discusses the CIA’s detention and interrogation program for “high value targets.” The document provides some detail regarding the “standard” and ...

Aug. 24, 2009
Non-legal Memo
Abu Zubaydah
EIT, Use of water, Waterboarding, Physical assault, Face slap or insult slap, Stomach/abdominal slap, Attention grasp, Facial hold, Walling, Stress positions, Cramped confinement, Use of phobias, Sleep deprivation, Isolation, Dietary manipulation, Environmental manipulation, Light or sound, Other
July 04, 2003 | DOA | ACLU-RDI 4807
FRAGO 383A is a fragmentary Order directing soldiers to treat Iraqi civilians and detainees in a professional manner. The order prohibits the maltreatment of civilians or detainees in Iraq, the order defines maltreatment and provides a number of ...
Jan. 02, 2007
Other
Martin E. Dempsey
Physical assault, Face slap or insult slap, General, Other Humiliation
Sept. 02, 2003 | DOA | ACLU-RDI 4808
This report provides detailed information into the death of Zaid Muhammed Tariq, an Iraqi national detainee. On August 22, 2003, at the Dakota EPW Holding Cell officers found Mr. Tariq on the floor of his cell, cell 14, having convulsions. The ...
Jan. 02, 2007
Investigative File (AR 15-6), Interview (Statement)
Zaid Muhammed Tariq
Physical assault
Nov. 23, 2003 | DOA | ACLU-RDI 4825
This memo discusses an official's appointment to Investigating Officer for the purpose of conducting a formal investigation, pursuant to Army Regulation 15-6, into the circumstances surrounding the capture and detention of three Iraqis (a man and ...
Jan. 02, 2007
Non-legal Memo
Physical assault, General, Other
Nov. 23, 2003 | DOA | ACLU-RDI 4834
This is an Army Regulation 15-6 report into a November 22, 2003 raid. Included in the report are sworn statements from individuals involved in the raid. It is stated that the home of an Iraqi target was raided for the purpose of detaining and ...
Jan. 02, 2007
Investigative File (AR 15-6)
Physical assault, General
July 19, 2003 | FBI | ACLU-RDI 4941
FBI Interview of an Afghan detainee interviewed at Guantanamo Bay. He complained of being mistreated by U.S. forces while in detention in Bagram, Afghanistan and during his transit to Camp Delta. He pointed to marks on his wrists that he claimed ...
Jan. 02, 2007
Non-legal Memo, Interview (Summaries/Notes)
Physical assault, General, Environmental manipulation, Hooding/Goggling
Apr. 21, 2003 | FBI | ACLU-RDI 4958

Detainee interviewed at Camp Delta, Guantanamo does not complain of his own treatment, but does relate a story he heard occurred at Guantanamo where a female interrogator removed her blouse, embraced the detainee from behind and put her hand ...

Jan. 02, 2007
Non-legal Memo, Interview (Summaries/Notes)
Physical assault, Sexual, Threat, Assault/death, Other Humiliation, Sexual, Religious