The American Torture Story has been buried for far too long.
One year ago, a 6,900 page report was released exposing human rights violations. But shockingly, the Justice Department has apparently not even read the full report, and and is barring other federal agencies from reading it. The Justice Department can't bury the truth.
Join us in taking action against torture: use our new toolkit and participate in national days of action on December 9 and January 11
If they have not read the report we will send it to them - one page at a time!
The American Torture Story starts like this:
The U.S. disappeared more than 100 men from 2002 to 2008. Many were tortured, humiliated and otherwise abused. The government used clinical words like "enhanced interrogation" and "stress positions" to obscure the truth, including:
→ Forced rectal feeding used to humiliate and exert control over men;
→ Men hung naked except for diapers, shackled into positions where they were forcibly deprived of sleep -- in some cases lasting for several days;
→ One "technique" involved stripping men, wrapping their naked bodies in Mylar tape, and dragging them up and down hallways while punching and slapping them.
There are more than 6,000 pages to this American Torture Story: a Senate committee spent years reviewing millions of government documents to piece together a landmark report known as the "Senate torture report."
More than ever before, we know how and why these abuses occurred.This is a story that had to be told - and now it must be read. Shockingly, the Justice Department is apparently refusing to read it, even though the agency should be reviewing any new evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Instead, the Justice Department is keeping the report locked away in a sealed envelopeand urging other federal departments and agencies to do the same.
Join us in taking action and tell the Justice Department they can't bury the truth. It's time to #ReadTheReport!
Click here to access the new “American Torture Story” toolkit to take action!
This is the next chapter of the American Torture Story work. We are focusing our actions on three individuals. Each of these individuals alleges torture at the hands of the U.S. government and remains detained in Guantánamo.
They each represent the types of people that remain in Guantánamo, to make it easier for us to explain the plight of the detainees for those who simply do not know. All three of these men allege torture, and the Senate Torture Report tells us more about both Toffiq al-Bihani and Mustafa al- Hawsawi’s treatment.
- There’s Toffiq al-Bihani, who has been cleared for transfer since 2010 but still waits inside Guantánamo’s walls.
- There’s Mustafa al-Hawsawi, who faces charges before the unfair and unjust military commissions and faces the possibility of the death penalty despite a trial that does not comply with international fair trial standards.
- Lastly, there’s Obaidullah, who has not yet been cleared by the slow Guantánamo clearance process, but neither does he face charges.
Click here to learn more about these individuals
December 9: Take Action for Torture Accountability
December 9 marks one year since the executive summary of the Senate Torture Report was released. When it was released, it captivated national and global attention and shed new light on this American Torture Story. But one year later, the Justice Department hasn’t opened any new investigations or held anyone accountable for those crimes.
Click here to urge the Justice Department not to let them get away with torture.
Make your presence known on December 9, to mark one year since the release of the report. Show the public and the U.S. government that you are still here, calling for justice.
On December 9:
- Generate Petition Signatures
- Write a Letter to the Attorney General
- Make a Phone Call to the Justice Department
- Make a Phone Call to your Members of Congress
- Share the Stories on Social Media
Click here to access the toolkit for these actions!
January 11: Take Action to Close Guantánamo and End Indefinite Detention
January 11 is the fourteenth anniversary since the detention facility at Guantánamo opened for business. Soon it will have been open longer under President Obama than it was open under President Bush. To commemorate this anniversary, take action. Make yourself visible to the public and to government officials, letting them know both that the Guantánamo detainees are still there, and you’re still here, demanding justice.
On January 11:
- Organize/Attend a Demonstration
- Generate Petition Signatures
- Write a Letter to the White House
- Make a Phone Call to your Members of Congress
- Share the Stories on Social Media
Click here to access the toolkit for these actions!
Take Action Anytime
Any day is a good day to take action against Guantánamo and torture. Here are other resources – in addition to everything else on this page – that you can do any time:
- Write a Letter to the Editor
- Host a Film Screening or Event
- Lobby your Members of Congress
- Ask your City Council to Issue a Resolution
