Petition Against Torture
Amnesty International will use this petition in our efforts to show the Bush Administration, Congress, and others that those living in the United States are strongly opposed to torture and ill-treatment in all circumstances. Torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment are despicable, immoral, illegal and always wrong. The highest authorities in my country should publicly denounce these acts in the strongest possible terms, and never utilize them, not least in my name. Governments around the world should not only condemn but prosecute to the full extent of the law any of these acts by our own agents, whether in this country or anywhere else we have control. No one should be held in secret, beyond the eyes of the law, where such acts can flourish. Governments around the world should not return anyone anywhere where such acts are known to be routine or possible. The use of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment does not ensure safety or yield good intelligence. Security is best achieved through governments' adherence to human rights and the rule of law, including the absolute prohibition on torture. The use of torture is an affront to human dignity that can never be justified and must be opposed in every country of the world. |
