An image allegedly of a prisoner at the Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad (Telegraph)
Ida B. Wells was an African-American journalist and social activist, daughter of slaves who led an anti-lynching campaign in the United States in the 1890s. She is quoted as saying,
“our country’s national crime is lynching, it is not the creature of an hour, the sudden outburst of uncontrolled fury or the unspeakable brutality of an insane mob.”
Wells’s observations ring true, torture for all it horrors is often carried out by rather more mundane individuals, carefully contemplating their actions. By giving a person the label of “monster” we are avoiding the fact that acts of calculated violence for political gain, personal pleasure or both can just as easily be carried out by the boy or girl next door, the foot soldier or the educated college student caught up in the theatre of war. To avoid acknowledging this fact is to distance ourselves from the uncomfortable reality that in certain circumstances many are capable of “crossing the line”.
Lynddie Rana England poses with naked detainee (Washington Post)
Consider Lynndie Rana England, one of eleven US military personnel convicted in 2005 by Army court martial in connection with torture and prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib prison, Baghdad during the occupation of Iraq. An image of England posing with a naked detainee is etched on the mind of many people. However the actions of this young woman from Ashland, Kentucky were a small part of a much greater entity of institutionalized brutality that went right to top of US society and became the calling card of the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency).
We now know the extent to which the CIA abused those held in US custody. The Guardian quoted the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Human Rights Watch as they wrote of their concerns,
“the agency’s rendition and treatment of terror suspects amounted to ‘a vast criminal conspiracy, under color of law, to commit torture and other serious crimes’”
“the lack of a full criminal investigation ‘would contribute to the notion that torture remains a permissible policy option for future administrations; undermine the ability of the US to advocate for human rights abroad; and compromise Americans’ faith in the rule of law at home’”
It is with this in mind that activist and politician Birgitta Jonsdottir is drawing attention in the Icelandic parliament this week to the revelations of former CIA analyst and case officer John Kiriakou who blew the whistle on state torture. This was not isolated incidents but carefully worded dictum, as human rights organizations claimed, a “deliberate, coordinated government program” crimes labelled as “shocking” and “corrosive to US democracy.”
Jonsdottir is highlighting the horrific abuse suffered by prisoners entrusted into the care of US authorities by presenting a “Parliamentary Resolution On Condemning Torture by the CIA post 9/11” see following link,
It is important that there is accountability now that the CIA torture report is released as for states to indulge in such behaviour is increasing the security risk to all. The recent acts of the Islamic State (IS) which have shocked the world are in a sense copy-cat torture and killings resembling those of America and her allies, “an eye for an eye”, “like for like”. There is nothing that IS is doing that hasn’t been done before, usually on a far grander scale. We see these “tit for tat” offerings in the symbolism of the IS videos. There are carefully orchestrated scenes of hostages fearful, helpless, on their knees in the familiar orange jumpsuits synonymous with images of detainees at Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba. By its own actions the US has unleashed a wave of retaliation attacks to rival their own abuses and now civilians are very much in the firing line.
Let us not forget also the alleged role of Britain in training police in Basra, Iraq that tortured at least two civilians to death with electric drills, The Independent on Sunday reported in 2005,
Matthew Alexander, leader of an interrogations team assigned to a Special Operations task force in Iraq in 2006 had the following to say on torture in the Washington Post which can equally be applied to Islamic State today,
“torture and abuse cost American lives…I learned in Iraq that the No. 1 reason foreign fighters flocked there to fight were the abuses carried out at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. Our policy of torture was directly and swiftly recruiting fighters for al-Qaeda in Iraq…How anyone can say that torture keeps Americans safe is beyond me — unless you don’t count American soldiers as Americans.”
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, infamous for dehumanizing and degrading detainees
IS carrying out recent beheadings of Copts, Egypt viewed as an American ally in bombing raids that kill civilians
The US is by no means alone in its actions and we must diversify from the War on Terror to a vigorous War on Torture. Another example of state sadism can be found in Pakistan, an ally of the US that can rival its master when it comes to ingenious injuries inflicted on prisoners. Enforced disappearances, torture, extra-judicial killings and “fake encounters” often associated with the police and military lead to termination of life. Only a few lawyers are brave enough to attempt to legislate for an anti-torture bill with punitive measures for those violating the law.
Express Tribune reports that, “although torture is prohibited in the Constitution of Pakistan under Article 14 (2), police and other law enforcement agencies are still running detention and torture cells”. Bushra Khaliq, focal person for the Anti-Torture Alliance Pakistan, in a Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) document released last year is reported as saying,
“with 1,300 police stations across Pakistan, it can be assumed that at least as many people are tortured every day“
States that torture lose all ethical standing and cannot then moralize to others. What is deeply disturbing is how an attitude of “anything goes” as far as detainees are concerned has permeated down to become a norm in society which is now supported by many citizens. Unfortunately what the “torture apologists” fail to grasp is that this is now coming back to haunt them.
A new generation saying no to torture in Pakistan
In the weeks preceding the Peshawar Army School (PAS) attack where a series of incidents of torture and killing in custody occurred, families were told to come to claim the dead bodies of young relatives showing signs of physical abuse with a message not to create trouble by filing complaints. To those that monitor insurgency closely, it was obvious that Taliban groups were ready to blow on this issue. They gave repeated warnings that if this didn’t stop they would target not only police and army alleged to be involved in such activities but possibly their families too.
What has become clear over the years is that it is not only known insurgents at risk in detention centres but locals not involved with insurgency that have been rounded up in terrorist “sweeps” and incarcerated. Taliban have even contacted rights activists to say they are aware that innocent men are in custody for their actions as Taliban that have committed certain acts remain free and they don’t want others being forced to take responsibility for their actions. In one incident where a special forces officer was beheaded, they were prepared to “prove” this by giving details that could only have been known by those at the scene of the crime.
Warnings related to torture and unlawful killing must be taken seriously as Taliban previously executed 23 Frontier Corps men after earlier warnings went unheeded… full details of this can be read here,
“Pakistan:Warning letter on human rights abuses in custody was ignored, Taliban kill 23 FC men”
Attack on police headquarters Lahore February 2015 in retaliation for prisoners “barbarically murdered” (image AFP)
Pakistan: Four examples of terrorist attacks in retaliation for state torture, unlawful killing of detainees according to reasons given by insurgents in statements and only the tip of the iceburg:-
The killing of police officer Chaudhry Aslam Khan, the killing of 23 Frontier Corps, the Peshawar Army School attack, and the Lahore police bombing yesterday can all be linked to statements where torture and or killing in custody was a major motivating factor. These incidents affect the general public who may not be a direct target but are unfortunate to be in the area of a bombing, suicide attack taking place. In the Peshawar case torture, unlawful killings were the “trigger” which pushed Tehreek-e-Taliban to chose what some term a “soft target” a school associated with the military. These are only four incidents mentioned as examples but are linked to serious loss of life.
January 2014… Killing of police officer Chaudhry Aslam Khan, statement from Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP),
“TTP Mohmand Agency claims the responsibility of FIDAI attack on CID S-P Chaudhry Aslam ,who was involved on torturing Mujahidden in prison and killed many of them while torture. This attack was to avenge killing of our friends by him.
We warn all those who torture our friends in jails, If they don’t stop their unlawful activities, we inform them that their future well be worse than Chaudhry. This attack we title with the name of our friends killed in Karachi in prison, Dr. Maqbool, Abdurrahman and all those who have been killed by forces in torture centers.”
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Mohmand Agency.
February 2014……Killing of 23 Frontier Corps men by TTP (before 2014 splinter of groups) reason given,
The FC men were executed in retaliation for killings of Taliban prisoners in state custody in Karachi and Peshawar as detailed in a written statement by Omar Khalid Khurrasani, (Mohmand TTP leader)…. attack was to avenge
“killing of Taliban prisoners in the government’s custody”
“we had urged the government to stop the killings of our comrades… [But] it has continued to do so against the backdrop of peace talks”
Communication was received from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) along with a video statement from their own media, then TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid also claimed that the Mohmand Agency killings were,
“in response to killing of 23 colleagues in state custody”
December 2015….. attack on Peshawar Army School by Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) statement reason given,
Mullah Fazlullah video transcript, giving extracts explaining reasons for attack. There were other factors mentioned in statements such as military operation Zarb-e-Asb, drone and jet attacks on civilians but torture in custody, extra judicial killings appear to have been the “trigger” for crossing over to a “soft target”. It is too easy to dismiss as propaganda without addressing root causes of violence… (translation via Pakistani source) :-
“First thing is about the army and the current situation. What the army has done everyone knows. We conveyed our message of peace through each and every forum to the government but—-you know that we are in war with you. If you are killing our people, those were unarmed, and then remember every action has its reaction. We are following the teaching of Allah otherwise we would teach you a lesson that how people are being killed.
Pakistan is already ruined neither the US nor the infidel Pakistani army can save it. What you (army) has done with our prisoners and women, you know what you have done. If you are killing our people then be brave and do everything with evidences and in front of people. Don’t kill them in fake encounters. We do everything with evidences. We have no lust for killing of people, bloodshed. But you have killed our people all around the country and released the dead bodies in different squares and termed them encounters. You have started torturing our women but we are not making it public or complaining but we complain to Allah.”
“The war will continue and we could not be eradicated with such killing of our men in fake encounters with jails and martyrdoms.”
February 2015…..Lahore Police attack Tehreek-e-Taliban Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (TTP JA) statement reason given,
Statement from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taliban Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (TTP JA) includes the reason for attack,
“we dedicate this operation to the shuhada who are being taken out of prisons and barbarically martyred or are hanged” (referring to Nawaz Sharif’s “revenge hangings) Ehsanullah Ehsan (TTP JA spokesperson)
Taliban groups tend to be very clear in their warnings (if anyone is listening) and after attacks issue statements claiming responsibility and giving reasons. This is not to justify any acts of violence but to address the cause. Rather than government and military facing the alleged illegal actions of the state, they suddenly took the decision to lift the stay on the death penalty and hang those unrelated to the Peshawar incident which has only accelerated the violence.
Legal case
Prisoners claim to have been threatened with electric drills
According to award winning human rights activist Amina Masood Janjua (Defence of Human Rights) those tortured in Pakistan are often too afraid to take cases forward or know if they do, they are unlikely to get anywhere. Even to write about it is to be subjected to abuse and threats in “shoot the messenger” style attacks. There is likely to be a guilt element too in those that tortured and unlawfully killed, knowing their actions contributed to the deaths of many children. However, according to the Guardian, Salahuddin Amin, a British man from north of Luton is pursuing a legal case in the UK after claims he was questioned by MI5 following alleged torture by Pakistani intelligence officers. He claims to have been,
“beaten, whipped and deprived of sleep by officers of Pakistan’s notorious Inter-Services Intelligence agency, and on one occasion threatened with an electric drill.”
Another case that comes under scrutiny is that of Ammar al-Baluchi, convicted for his role in an al-Qaida plot, Bloomberg View notes;
“it’s hard to imagine that al-Baluchi’s interrogation by the Pakistanis met Geneva standards. A former senior Pakistani diplomat who spoke to me on condition of anonymity said it’s likely that al-Baluchi and other detainees mentioned in the report were tortured; threatened with torture; or told that their family members would be in danger if they did not cooperate. “After 9/11, there was enormous pressure on the Pakistani services to produce intelligence for the Americans,” this diplomat said. “I cannot believe al-Baluchi’s interrogation in 2003 would have met international standards.”
Whatever crime a person may have committed, when he is in custody of the state, there is a duty of care to protect that individual according to the law. Evidence obtained under torture should not be admissible in court. While a prison guard or intelligence officer may get their kicks from stringing up a prisoner, extracting their fingernails, or beating someone half to death, their irresponsible actions may in fact be signing a death warrant for their own family members or ordinary members of the public. Those torturing then become a severe menace to society to rival the so called “terrorists” themselves. When torture and extra judicial killing is linked to incidents like the Peshawar School attack, there is a serious problem with state institutions that must also be held accountable for their actions.
Media often collude to play this down. They publish a one liner stating that a particular group has accepted responsibility for a terrorist attack but omit the wider statement of reason. The state encourages not to report what terrorists say and websites, social media links are pulled down quickly. However some counter-terrorist analysts recognize that this pushes things further underground and messages can predict past or emerging security risks. Media are also under threat by opposing sides, insurgents slate journalists for being “biased” on the other hand, those who report insurgency in more depth are labelled as apologists no matter how peaceful they may be as individuals simply wanting to analyse and understand key incidents.
Even human rights organizations can practice a “selective” version of human rights, mindful not to upset the state and funders may not be as independent as we would like to believe. There is an automatic assumption by some that if an insurgent is reporting a rights violation is must be propaganda even as they try to document alleged civilian killings by the state in their regions. Insurgents are often more open to giving access to research and will pass on information of deaths for documentation. As TTP stated they openly claim their killings … the state on the other hand may be far from open on their own torture and terminations. Why would they be… when the next question is accountability? Only insurgents can be held to account, state killers manufacture their own private authorization for torture and murder and ensure they stay out of court.
Whether its the CIA, foreign intelligence services or military, the public ought to be asking more questions and calling for increased accountability. They may choose to live in a bubble but should bear in mind that the actions of those in power can impact heavily on the security of their own lives and those of their family and the wider community.
Links
“Torture friendly Pakistan needs effective laws”
http://www.dawn.com/news/1028174/torture-friendly-pakistan-needs-effective-laws
“Pakistan bill moved in senate to extend jurisdiction of courts to FATA and bill to prevent torture custodial deaths and custodial rape”
“Torture in Pakistan, 2014” (International Rehabilitation Council For Torture Victims)
Click to access CF%20Pakistan%20-%20PUBLIC%20EDIT%20pdf.pdf
Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad. She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.
Carol Anne Grayson (Radical Sister) blog 
great published… Thanx and Long live for truth
Thanks for comment… I pray this issue is addressed as there is no question that torture, killing in custody is inciting terrorism…