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)

Army Questionnaire: Questions for the Commander of Forward Operating Base Chapman concerning his observations and experience in dealing with detainees, training before deployment and Rules of Engagement. The questionnaire appears to be in ...
Press release from the Office of the Spokesman, Richard Boucher, announcing the transfer of Russian nationals from U.S. military control at Guantanamo Bay to the control of the Russian Government in order to face criminal charges.
Dec. 30, 2004
Interview (Statement)
Richard Boucher
Richard A. Boucher, Theodore Sellin

DOD PowerPoint presentation on the detainee population, detention procedures, prosecutions, and transition issues in Iraq. The presentation provides the nationalities and numbers of detainees held, as well as other information about the ...

Jan. 14, 2014
Other
L. Paul Bremer
DOD PowerPoint presentation on the detainee population, detention procedures, prosecutions, and transition issues in Iraq. The presentation provides the nationalities and numbers of detainees held, as well as other information about the ...
June 15, 2006
Other
L. Paul Bremer
This March 2004 paper written by James Mitchell and John Jessen discusses the importance of knowing how human memory works for intelligence collection efforts. The paper also includes some interrogation and debriefing techniques to employ on ...
Dec. 20, 2016
Non-legal Memo
James Mitchell and John Jessen
James Mitchell , Bruce Jessen
Documents detainee interview at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan.ÿ Detainee mentions that he is only allowed to use the bathroom every six hours, which hinders his water intake, requests to be moved back to "general population".
Autopsy no: ME 04-100; Hassan Ekab Ahmed, a 61-year-old male Iraqi civilian, was a detainee held at the Detention Central Collection Facility, Tikirit, Iraq. He was discovered deceased in his bed when he failed to report to the morning head ...
Apr. 18, 2005
Medical (Autopsy, Death Certificate)
Hassan Ekab Ahmed
Autopsy No: ME 04-101; Saad Mohammed Abdullah, a 54-year-old male Iraqi civilian was a detainee at Abu Ghraib prison. He was brought to the main gate unconscious. Earlier in the day of his death, detainee had complained about an inability to ...
Apr. 18, 2005
Medical (Autopsy, Death Certificate)
Saad Mohammed Abdullah
Iraqi male civilian, Saad Mohammed Abdullah, was a detainee of the U.S. Armed Forces at Camp Ghanci, Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq. He was brought to the main gate unconscious by other detainees. The decedent reported an inability to urinate to medics ...
Apr. 18, 2005
Medical (Autopsy, Death Certificate)
Saad Mohammed Abdullah
Autopsy Report of Hassan Ekab Ahmed, 61 years old. Died February 8, 2004, Tikrit, Iraq. Mr. Ahmed was discovered deceased in his bed when he failed to report to the morning head count procedure. The decedent reported a medical history of diabetes ...
Apr. 18, 2005
Medical (Autopsy, Death Certificate)
Hassan Ekab Ahmed
Army Questionnaire: Questions for the Interrogators of Forward Operating Base Salerno concerning their observations and experience in dealing with detainees, training before deployment and Rules of Engagement. The questionnaire appears to be in ...
Army Questionnaire: Questions for the soldiers of Firebase Deh Rahwood concerning their observations and experience in dealing with detainees, training before deployment and Rules of Engagement. The questionnaire appears to be in response to the ...
reports results of interview conducted of detainee at Bagram Control Point, Bagram, Afghanistan.ÿ Detainee stated that he did not have knowledge of Usama Bin Laden, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed or Al Qaeda because no one is allowed to speak inside ...
Dec. 15, 2004
Interview (Summaries/Notes)
Khalid Shaikh Mohammed
Army Questionnaire: Questions for the Commander of Forward Operating Base Salerno concerning his observations and experience in dealing with detainees, training before deployment and Rules of Engagement. The questionnaire appears to be in ...
Army Questionnaire: Questions for the Detention Facility NCOIC and S2 of Forward Operating Base Salerno concerning their observations and experience in dealing with detainees, training before deployment and Rules of Engagement. The questionnaire ...
Powerpoint presentation providing "a proposed way-ahead to develop policies that govern how the Army/units/Soldiers handle detainees from point of capture to conviction or release, to include a review of common task training and specialized MP ...
Memorandum referring to "operation." Contents Completely Redacted.
Oct. 15, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Barry Sabin
Barry Sabin
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 ...
Press release contains talking points on the transfer of seven Russian nationals from Guantanamo bay detention to the Russian government.
Dec. 30, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Theodore Sellin
Emails refer to a document apparently described as or entitled Jul 1 info paper. [Document is not included].
Army AR 15-6 investigation in to the death of a detainee at Camp Patriot; FOB Ironhorse. A detainee was brought to FOB Ironhorse for detention on February 5, 2004. He was complaining about being sick and an Army medic examined him on February 7, ...
Apr. 18, 2005
Investigative File
Raymond T. Odierno
Other
This DOD memo discusses and addresses the legality of detaining people in Iraq after the assumption of Iraqi governmental authority on 06/30/2004.
This Powerpoint presentation describes U.S. strategies for "assist[ing] Iraqis in beginning investigations and prosecutions of selected major crimes by Saddam Hussein and key members of his regime" and "aid[ing] in establishing Iraqi Special ...
Mar. 15, 2013
Other
Robert G. Ulrich
Army After Action Memo reviewing the operation and problems encountered to be overcome. The document is almost entirely redacted.
Email from Ronald Miller to Jeremy Caddel and ohers re: Revised BM for S - GTMO Detainees." No attachments included.
Ms. Sanford attacheda document with notes on the Guantanamo detainee issue from the American Bar Association meeting of February 24, 2004 with the following comment: "Marc Bonora (an attorney at Kirkland Ellis and classmate of mine) and I ...
White House memo from Alberto R. Gonzalez, Counsel to the President, concerning detention Issues in the War on Terrorism.
May 04, 2005
Non-legal Memo
Alberto Gonzalez
George W. Bush
George W. Bush, Alberto R. Gonzales, Donald H. Rumsfeld
Yaser Esam Hamdi, Jose Padilla
Autopsy no: ME04-38; Detainee Baker Yassen Rashed Mahmed Al Hussen, a 25-year-old male, collapsed while performing morning prayers. Cause of Death: Myocarditis (jnflammation of the heart). Manner of Death: Natural. No evidence of significant ...
Apr. 18, 2005
Medical (Autopsy, Death Certificate)
Baker Yassen Rashed Mahmed Al Hussen
This is a letter from Pierre-Richard Prosper, Ambassador-At-Large for War Crimes Issues, to Tausif Paracha regarding the Treatment of detainees in Afghanistan. In the letter Amb. Prosper states: Let me assure you... President Bush has affirmed on ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Letter
Pierre-Richard Prosper
Tausif Paracha
George W. Bush, Pierre-Richard Prosper, Colin L. Powell
Testimony of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Edward J. Rivas, 205th Military Intelligence Brigade assigned to the Iraqi Military Intelligence Requirement project (IMIR). CW2 Rivas stated that "I'm aware of the Geneva Convention, and I've received ...
DoD Questionnaire: Questions for soldiers concerning their observations and experience in dealing with detainees, training before deployment and Rules of Engagement. The questionnaire appears to be in response to the accusations of detainee abuse ...
DoD Questionnaire: Questions for Officer concerning their observations and experience in dealing with detainees, training before deployment and Rules of Engagement. The questionnaire appears to be in response to the accusations of detainee abuse ...
DoD Questionnaire: Questions for Officer concerning their observations and experience in dealing with detainees, training before deployment and Rules of Engagement. The questionnaire appears to be in response to the accusations of detainee abuse ...
DoD Questionnaire: Questions for Officer concerning their observations and experience in dealing with detainees, training before deployment and Rules of Engagement. The questionnaire appears to be in response to the accusations of detainee abuse ...
DoD Questionnaire: Questions for Officer concerning their observations and experience in dealing with detainees, training before deployment and Rules of Engagement. The questionnaire appears to be in response to the accusations of detainee abuse ...
DoD Questionnaire: Questions for soldiers concerning their observations and experience in dealing with detainees, training before deployment and Rules of Engagement. The questionnaire appears to be in response to the accusations of detainee abuse ...
DoD Questionnaire: Questions for soldiers concerning their observations and experience in dealing with detainees, training before deployment and Rules of Engagement. The questionnaire appears to be in response to the accusations of detainee abuse ...
Discusses questions posed to soldiers and enlisted officers with the 3/17th CAV, 10TM Mountain Division (LI) as part of an inspection on detainee operations conducted on 19 February 2004. The questions are only proposed and not answered.
DoD Questionnaire: Questions for an Officer of the Deh Rahwod Detention Facility concerning his observations and experience in dealing with detainees, training before deployment and Rules of Engagement. The questionnaire appears to be in ...
Army Questionnaire: Questions for the Commander of the Gereshk Detention Facility concerning his observations and experience in dealing with detainees, training before deployment and Rules of Engagement. The questionnaire appears to be in ...
Army Questionnaire: Questions for the Intelligence Sergeant at the Deh Rahwood Detention Facility concerning his observations and experience in dealing with detainees, training before deployment and Rules of Engagement. The questionnaire appears ...
Col. describes how he received his assignment to Iraq and the conditions he found at Abu Ghraib prison. He also describes and an incident where he referred an "unauthorized detainee interview" to Gen Pappas and that was eventually given to Capt. ...
Cpt. Reese was the commander of the soldiers directly involved in detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib. He said of his men “I'm appalled by what I saw from my soldiers; 2 out of the 7 here are correctional officers. And they were specifically put there ...
Testimony of First Sergeant Dawn J. Rippelmeyer, 977th Military Police Company. 1st Sgt. Rippelmyer went over how she and her unit received their assignment and generally described the military discipline at Camp Bucca as lax and lacking military ...
Oct. 19, 2004
Interview (Transcript)
Antonio Taguba, David D. McKiernan, Dawn J. Rippelmeyer
The purpose of the memo is to lay out the effort to conduct a functional analysis of Detainee Operations using Doctrine, Operations, Training, Materiel, Leadership, Personnel, and Facilities and to focus on the Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures ...
Email from JoAnn Dolan re: Guantanamo Detainees and Other War Crimes Issues; no content (no attachment).
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
JoAnn J. Dolan
Shahnaz Gheibi
JoAnn J. Dolan, Shahnaz Gheibi

This memo refers to the CIA Office of Inspector General's investigation into the "facts and circumstances surrounding the death in U.S. custody of Iraqi detainee Manadal Al-Jamaidi. Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, Mona B. ...

Mar. 15, 2013
Non-legal Memo
Mona B. Alderson
Christopher A. Wray | Bruce Swartz
Mona B. Alderson, Christopher A. Wray, Bruce Swartz, Barry Sabin
Manadel Al-Jamadi
DOS Cable discussing allegations that the U.S. Army abused prisoners at Guantanamo. An English newspaper, 'Bahrain Tribune,' reported that U.S. prison guards beat an ailing Bahraini detainee, Juma Al-Dossari.
This email from JoAnn Dolan forwardeding a transcript of UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's statements regarding UK citizens detained at Guantanamo.
Email between Ronald Miller and Jeremy Caddel concerning media attention surrounding the transfer of Danish and UK detainees from Guantanamo. Mr. Miller states that "the UK detainees are really in a different category from the Danish detainee and ...
Dec. 17, 2004
Email
Ronald W. Miller
Ronald W. Miller, Henry Bisharat