Archives, Torture and Terror, Amnesty International Australia

Lawyers found guilty of professional misconduct

Two former Bush administration lawyers have been condemned for their professional misconduct concerning a series of memos that sanctioned treatment considered torture.

CIA: impunity for war crimes

A new UN joint study has called for accountability for those involved and responsible for disappearance, torture and other cruel treatment in the ‘War on Terror’.

After the alleged attempted bombing of a US airliner on Christmas day 2009, worldwide attention was cast onto Yemen, resulting in a heavy handed response to counter terrorism by the Yemeni Government.

Questions emerge about apparent suicides

New revelations about the possible murder of three detainees in 2006 have come to light in an article recently published by Harpers Magazine.

Broken promises: indefinite detention at Guantanamo Bay

After a year in office, many promises made by the Obama administration remain un-kept. The internationally condemned facility at Guantanamo Bay remains open, and many remain detained without charge or prospect of release.

Selective Justice: No Remedy for Counter-Terrorism Abuses

Amnesty International remains concerned at the lack of effective remedy to human rights abuses perpetrated against those detained and ill-treated by the US Government and its agents.

Binyam Mohamed: UK orders release of previously secret material

In a landmark ruling, the UK high court has ordered that all redacted materials regarding Binyam Mohamed's detention and treatment whilst detained be disclosed.

The “New” Bagram Unveiled: But Will There be Change?

US Officials in Afghanistan have unveiled a ‘new’ detention facility within the US Military run Bagram Airbase called the “Detention Facility in Parwan”. Despite the new location within the base, Amnesty International remains concerned about the continued illegal detention and allegations of mistreatment, torture and abuse within the prison.

Federal Court Trials for Five Detainees

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has announced that five Guantanamo Bay detainees, including those accused of conspiring to commit the September 11 attacks, will be tried in Federal Courts.

Conditions Continue to Deteriorate at Guantanamo

Mr Abdul Rahman Shabali, who is being illegally detained in Guantanamo Bay, wrote a moving and pained letter to his lawyers outlining the deteriorating conditions within the US run prison. Read more about current conditions under President Obama.

Al-Marri: Justice Served?

On the 29th of October of this year, Ali Al Marri was sentenced by a U.S. District Court to eight and a half years imprisonment. The sentence comes after five years and eight months of illegal detention and being held in conditions amounting to torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

CIA Agents Convicted in Italy

The Court of Milan has convicted twenty three CIA agents for their role in the rendition of Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, also known as Abu Omar. Read more about this historic finding.

Cruelty Spreads

The export of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment has always been of major concern to torture experts. Read more about the treatment alleged by lawyers of a prisoner of conscience in the United States.

"The Road to Guantanamo"

“You Will Not Leave This Place Innocent”: Admissions of Torture

Last month, Fouad al-Rabiah was ordered to be released from Guantanamo Bay after admissions that the US Government tortured him to gain a false confession. With such an admission there should be no doubt that a full scale comprehensive investigation is necessary to ensure accountability for actions against the people illegally held and tortured in US run prisons.

Trials in Error: Military Commissions

On the 28th October President Obama signed off on the amended Military Commissions Act 2009. Whilst the amendments are a positive start, they still do not comply with internationally recognised fair trial standards.

Human Experimentation at Guantanamo Bay

Revelations continue to come to light regarding the CIA's extensive use of doctors whilst "interrogating" so called 'war on terror' detainees. Read more about the involvement of medical professionals in the torture of people detained by the CIA and the US military here.

Bagram: Still no Prospect of Justice

On the 14th September, the Obama Administration filed a brief which outlined its continued intention to prevent ANY detainee held in Bagram Airbase from challenging their detention. Read the Amnesty International report here

The Disappeared

30th August marks the International Day of the Disappeared. Disappearance, defined as abduction, arrest or detention by the state or its agents, is one of the cruellest forms of human rights violations and it impacts many people around the world.

Special Prosecutor Appointed

US Attorney General Eric Holder has appointed a Special Prosecutor, John Durham, to open a preliminary investigation into prisoner abuse cases which commenced as part of the "war on terror". Although this is a positive step, the scope of the investigation is limited to the investigation of only around a dozen cases of abuse and is not going to investigate the many others involved in the torture and abuse of men and women in US custody including high ranking Bush officials.

A CIA Horror Story

The internal 2004 CIA Inspector General's report investigating the cruel and illegal 'interrogation programme' run by the CIA after September 11th has been released. The heavily redacted shocking report includes details torture and cruelty including mock executions, threats of killing the detainee's children, the use of guns and power drills in interrogations and having their lives threatened if they did not speak.

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