Amnesty International steps up campaign against torture in 'war on terror'

In recent days, Amnesty International has campaigned on behalf of a 19-year-old Uzbekistani facing execution despite strong indications that he was brutally beaten into making a murder confession; a detained bride, groom, and wedding party of 200 guests belonging to a banned Christian minority church in Eritrea, all of whom are at grave risk of being tortured in order to make them renounce their faith; and a prominent Kurdish imam in Syria who was apparently tortured to death.

Amnesty International Senior Campaigns Director Denise Searle said:

"Torture is the ultimate corruption of humanity.

"Attempts at justification and the use of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in the ‘war on terror’ threaten the global ban on torture and ill-treatment, with traditional ‘torture states’ taking comfort from the actions and rhetoric of their former critics.

"We need to tackle torture and ill-treatment in the ‘war on terror’ if we are to reassert the global ban on these practices."

Amnesty International urges governments and groups around the world to use International Day in Support of Victims of Torture Day to make a commitment to end torture and ill-treatment for once and for all.

The organisation is calling on the USA to lead the way, by setting up a full independent investigation into US detention and interrogation policies and practices around the world.