Torture is an act that is inflicted mentally or physically to extract confessions or specific information that the detainee is believed to possess. Torture is however prohibited under the provision of international laws in most nations. The practice of torture adopted by the US in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center has brought to light the problems faced by the world community and human rights organizations in putting a check on the inhuman practice. It is estimated by Amnesty International that almost 75% of the governments throughout the world do use torture presently (Steven Kull et al, 2008). Opponents of such practices argue that tormenting detainees in this manner is forbidden by international laws and that torture is morally inhumane and not justified. However, those in favor of torture argue that the rules, terms, and conditions of the Geneva Convention should not apply to terrorism suspects because they too do not adhere to international laws. States also believe that in following international laws on torture they become extremely disadvantaged in dealing effectively with terrorists.
The American people have supported human rights and due process of law for terror suspects. Detainees ought to have the right to be represented by a lawyer, their treatment observed by the Red Cross and they should not be tortured in any way. Americans have also opposed the government’s policies regarding the astonishing instances of renditions whereby detainees are sent to detention centers in other countries which are known to use extreme methods of torture on prisoners. The majority of the public believes that the army should not be allowed to adopt such tactics and procedures. It is a matter of concern that the US risks undermining its efforts in getting international support for its war on terror in the wake of increasing incidents of torture coming to light on its part. Such treatment of detainees has annoyed the Muslim world thus enhancing support for opponents of America such as AL-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. There is a strong need to give support to detainees by way of protection under the law whether they are detained within the US or outside its borders. They should also be given legal protection as is available to normal US citizens.
Most terror suspects being of foreign origin are treated as non-citizens of the US and hence not given the legal protection that is given to a citizen. Since the process happens under provisions of the US law, it implies that all prisoners and detainees must be given the same status as US citizens. It is widely believed that torture does not result in true revelations by suspects since they ultimately speak what the soldiers want to hear from them. This appears to be the most immediate solution for torture victims to get relief from the painful experiences.
It is well known that the detainees kept at Guantanamo have undergone extreme torture and inhuman treatment, but the US government continues to insist that the prisoners are being kept by practices laid down by international law. Several instances of inhuman ways of torture have come to the forefront especially regarding the center at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Prisoners have been confined in small boxes with their arms tied to the ceiling while some were kept in cold and frosty cells and banged against the walls repeatedly. Medical workers present during such occurrences have been known to have given the go-ahead to military officers interrogating the suspects.
The UN Commission on Human Rights has found that international conventions are grossly violated at Guantanamo and that UN prescriptions are not being abided by. The inhuman treatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and other overseas US military prisons continues unabated without the culprits being brought to book as yet. It is however believed that lower rank soldiers have been acting on their own without having instructions to do so from their superiors. Nevertheless, it becomes the duty of the government to put a check on these occurrences which have been brought to light time and again.
Works Cited
Americans Support Full Due-Process Rights for Terrorism Suspects, 2006, Web.
Steven Kull et al, World Public Opinion on Torture, 2008, Web.