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)

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 ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
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 ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Pierre-Richard Prosper
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 ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Christian Fisher
William Farish
William Stamps Farish, IV
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 ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, James A. Larocco
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 ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
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 ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, Pierre-Richard Prosper
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 ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Ed Cummings
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, Pierre-Richard Prosper, Edward R. Cummings, William Howard Taft, IV, Beth Jones
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
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
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Susan Dietz
Pierre-Richard Prosper
Pierre-Richard Prosper
David Hicks
Herald Sun (Melbourne, Australia) News Article re: CIA Grills Aussie Traitor Aboard Ship - David Hicks
Dec. 30, 2004
Other
David Hicks
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Detainees in Cuba.
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Summary Combatants Get Humane Treatment.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Evan T. Bloom, David A. Kaye, Samuel M. Witten
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Detainees in Cuba.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Evan T. Bloom, David A. Kaye, Samuel M. Witten
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Al Qaida Terrorists Killed.
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 ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell, David A. Kaye
Interview with White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, including a discussion of Pakistan and the Daniel Pearl kidnapping.
Dec. 30, 2004
Interview
Ari Fleischer, Richard B. Cheney, Colin L. Powell, Donald H. Rumsfeld
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 ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Interview
Ari Fleischer, George W. Bush, Richard B. Cheney
State Department memo from Daveid Bowker to Beverly Holman to "Prepare ALDAC cable to NSC under cover of a Harty-Biegun memo."
Dec. 30, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Beverly S. Holman
David W. Bowker
David W. Bowker, Beverly S. Holman
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Humane Treatment of al Qaeda and Taliban Detainees
Washington Post Article re: Extended Detention in Cuba Mulled - Officials Indicate Guantanamo Bay Could Hold Tribunals, Carry Out Sentences
Dec. 30, 2004
Other
George W. Bush, Donald H. Rumsfeld
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 - ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Other
Richard A. Boucher
Richard A. Boucher, Beth Jones
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 ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Other
Richard A. Boucher
Richard A. Boucher
This is a DOS Routing and Transmittal Slip for DOS Officials to initial - re: UK Detainees at Guantanamo Bay: Application for Judicial Review
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 ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Non-legal Memo
George W. Bush, Donald H. Rumsfeld
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 ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Ann Clwyd
Glyn Davies
JoAnn J. Dolan
Fax Cover Sheet from Amnesty International to Secretary of State Powell re: Human Rights and the War in Iraq. No attachments included.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell
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
Dec. 30, 2004
Other
George W. Bush
David Hicks, Abdul Habib
Press article from an Australian newspaper concerning David Hicks, an Australian accused of being a Taliban fighter and his detention at Guantanamo.
Dec. 30, 2004
Other
David Hicks
News artice from The Australian concerning David Hicks, an Australian accused of being a Taliban fighter and his detention at Guantanamo.
Dec. 30, 2004
Other
David Hicks, Sha Mohammed Alikhel
U.N. Security Council Resolution 1538 (2004) welcomes the appointment of the independent high-level inquiry into the Oil-for-food Program.
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. ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell, Evan T. Bloom
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 ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Colin L. Powell, Pierre-Richard Prosper
Action request for appropriate handling of request by redacted government to interview detainees at Guantanamo
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 ...
DOS interagency delivery checklist for the appropriate handling and delivery of attached documents re: Request to interview detainees at Guantanamo.
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.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Paul Wohlers
James A. Whitmore
James A. Whitmore
DOS Cover Sheet re: Request to Interview Detainees at Guantanamo
DOS Cover Sheet re: Request to Interview Guantanamo Detainees
Fax Cover Sheet from Michael Fooks to Joann Dolan re: Wives II
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Michael Fooks
JoAnn J. Dolan
JoAnn J. Dolan, Michael D. Fooks
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].
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Karl Hofmann
James A. Whitmore
James A. Whitmore, Karl W. Hofmann, Harry R. Melone
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].
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Dan B. Smith
James A. Whitmore
Daniel B. Smith, James A. Whitmore, Harry R. Melone
This document appears to be a cover sheet for a request by [redacted] to interview detainees at Guantanamo.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Saadia Sarkis, Harry R. Melone, Daniel B. Smith
This document appears to be a cover sheet for a request by [redacted] to interview detainees at Guantanamo.
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
JoAnn J. Dolan, Saadia Sarkis, Harry R. Melone, Daniel B. Smith
This document appears to be a cover sheet for a request by [redacted] to interview detainees at Guantanamo.
Dec. 30, 2004
Cable
Saadia Sarkis, Harry R. Melone, Daniel B. Smith
This document appears to be a cover sheet for a request by [redacted] to interview detainees at Guantanamo.
DOS Fax Cover Sheet, the message description reads: Hoffman-Marriott Memo: Request for Permission for [redacted] team to visit detainees on Guantanamo
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Karl Hofmann
William P. Marriott
Karl W. Hofmann, William P. Marriott, Harry R. Melone, Jonathan L. Withers, II
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.