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.
State Department cable regarding prosecution of non-Afghanis fighting with Al-Qaeda or the Taliban. The cable states that an investigation of such persons will be carried out and, in the event that it is established that criminal acts were ...
This State Department cable provides talking points concerning informing foreign governments about the transfer of their citizens/nationals to Guantanamo after they were picked-up on the battle field of Afghanistan. The cable instructs the ...
Several letters faxed to U.S. Amb. William Farish from Christian Fisher, Solicitors (UK) re: Status of British National Detainee at Guantanamo. The attorneys for the family of the detainee request information such as: what is the legal authority ...
DOS Memo concerning a UK court proceeding on the application by the family of Brittish national detained at Guantanamo. The court was asked to exercise jurisdiction over the detainee, as a brittish citizen, have him released from U.S. custody and ...
This State Department cable provides talking points concerning informing foreign governments about the transfer of their citizens/nationals to Guantanamo after they were picked-up on the battle field of Afghanistan, and policy guidance for ...
This State Department cable provides talking points concerning informing foreign governments about the transfer of their citizens/nationals to Guantanamo after they were picked-up on the battle field of Afghanistan, and policy guidance for ...
This State Department cable provides talking points concerning informing foreign governments about the transfer of their citizens/nationals to Guantanamo after they were picked-up on the battle field of Afghanistan, and policy guidance for ...
State Department memo on a meeting Amb. Prosper had with International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) President Kellenberger concerning a certain detainee and the need for "public knowledge" of discussions on his status to address concerns ...
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.
Fax Cover Sheet from the Australian Embassy Washington to Ambassador Prosper re: Australian Detainee David Hicks and an Australian press item of 18 December, 2001
State Department talking points on addressing questions about the legal status and treatment of detainees is addressed. The cable states that foreign governments should be told: The legal status of the detainees is currently being reviewed; all ...
Interview with White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer concerning the various legal issue involved in the applicability of the Geneva Convention as it pertains to detainees and the Vice President's traveling to Kuwait, Egypt, the United Arab ...
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Humane Treatment of al Qaeda and Taliban Detainees
DOS Daily Press Briefing Index. Lists topics to be discussed: Terrorism - Detainees at Guantanamo/Geneva Convention/International Committee for the Red Cross/Australian Situation Terrorist List; Mexico - General's release from prison; Venezuela - ...
DOS Daily Press Briefing conducted by Richard Boucher, with Q&A's from the press corps at the briefing. Subjects covered: Assistant Secretary Beth Jones, Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs recent trip to the countries of ...
DOS Memo re: Background on Detainee Policy. This is part of a larger memo that is not attached herein. The background information contained here states: On November 13, 2001, President Bush issued a Military order authorizing the detention of ...
This letter is from Ann Clwyd, Member of the British Parliament on behalf of an All-Party Parliamentary Human Group expressing concern over treatment of detainees held at Guantanamo. She voices concern over the "legal limbo" the detainees are in ...
Press release entitled "Government Accepts Military Commissions for Guantanamo Bay Detainees" concerning the matter of David Hicks, an Australian accused of being a Taliban fighter and held in Guantanamo
State Department notification to foreign governments of pending transfer of detainees to Guantanamo of their citizens. The cable gives the talking points that the transfer is to ensure safety and security of coalition forces and the detainees. ...
State Department cable to deliver a letter from Sec. of State Powell to Hubert Vedribe concerning Guantanamo detainees. The letter states "Dear Hubert: My government fully shares the view expressed in your letter of January 15 regarding the ...
The U.S. Mission in Australia received a letter from an attorney purporting to represent a detainee at Guantanamo. The letter states that that "We are greatly concerned that has not been given due process, natural justice and fairness. We believe ...
State Department Routing and Transmittal Slip cover sheet from Paul Wohlers to Alex, Colonel James A. Whitmore, subject Harty/Whitmore Memorandum Requesting Permission for Team to Visit Detainees on Guantanamo. No attachment.
This letter is from a U.S. Ambassador replying to a request on the status of six (6) detainees who were apprehended and currently being held at Guantanamo. The Ambassador does not discuss the individuals specifically, but does address the legal ...
The embassy of an unknown country sent a note seeking information about a national who is being detained by the U.S. at Guantanamo. The DOS note written in response to their note states that the DOS is not in a position to respond to inquiries of ...
Fax cover letter, regarding a memo to Colonel James A. Whitmore seeking permission for an unidentified team to visit detainees at Guantanamo. [Memo is not included].
Fax cover letter, regarding a memo to Colonel James A. Whitmore seeking permission for an unidentified team to visit detainees at Guantanamo. [Memo is not included].
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.