Torture can be defined as “an action of inflicting immense pain to a person as a punishment or for the pleasure of the one inflicting pain, or by forcing them to act or say something” (Costanzo 179). Therefore torture in any manner, physical or psychological, is dehumanization to both the victim and to the person responsible. Torture can put lifetime physical and mental scar on the victim. Some of the psychological effects of torture include; memory loss, insomnia, post trauma stress disorder, depression, and nightmares. Sullivan notes that for the perpetrator, torture can lead to stress, and a great decline in ethics and morals of anyone inflicting pain on another.
According to Costanzo the organization “Torture Abolition and Survival Support Coalition International (TASSC) that was established in 1998 is the sole organization that defends the rights of torture survivors in the United States”(180). Costanzo further indicate that “TASSC’s mission is to end torture practices and to empower survivors of torture, their family, as well as, the entire community everywhere” (180). Notably, the survivors of torture came together and formed the organization that work in close terms with the United Nations and human right groups globally. TASSC is a non-profit establishment that operates independently from any economic interests, government or ideology.
There is a great difference between national security interrogations undertaken by the intelligence agencies or the military. Such differences often make the danger obtaining false information greater for the national security compared to criminal investigations. Arguably, factors like coerciveness, suspect resistance, and capacity to verify information greatly affect the process involved in interrogation in particular ways. For instance, force coercion increases the chances of obtaining false confessions.
In 2003, Costanzo notes that; “the world was bewildered by several photographs that showed how prisoners were abused at an Iraqi prison, Abu Ghraib” (p180). These were photos taken by some of the American marine on digital cameras and cell phone and that showed how prisoners were subjected to humiliation and cruel treatment in the hands of the American troops in Iraq. Some photos showed terrified prisoners, who had been handcuffed and cornered by a grumbling military dog. Other photos had naked prisoners who were forced to lie on top of one another to conjure up sexual act. Some of the victims of torture in the photos had bleeding wounds while showed soldier both men and women next to the victims of torture in a sadistic pleasure from the abuse. The soldier involved in the act had been instructed to soften up the prisoners for interrogation.
Costanzo notes that “other revelations of torture have been in the Guantanamo Bay, and U.S. detention facility in Afghanistan” (180). In 2005, more information regarding extraordinary rendition were exposed. Extraordinary rendition is a vague bureaucratic term referring to the U.S. practice of taking alleged terrorists in secret places in other countries that are known for torture. Costanzo (180) indicates that the “most disreputable interrogation technique used by U.S. is referred to as “waterboarding”. The technique is borrowed from the medieval torture compartments and leaves the victim with physical bruises, scars and can lead to unconsciousness.”
In keeping with Benjamin and Ross (874) “torture-based interrogations are usually conducted in secret, as such; there lack direct research on the relationship between false confessions and torture confessions.” Nonetheless, there has been refutable proof from civilian criminal justice system that other techniques that are not as ruthless are torture have produced verifiably untrue confessions in numerous cases. Benjamin and Ross (876) also indicate that “exoneration of guiltless but mistakenly convicted criminal defendants has exhibited false confessions and such are major cause of wrongful convictions.”
Arguably, the decision to interrogate squarely lies on solid evidence linking the alleged to terrorist activities or an indication that the alleged possesses critical information. Nonetheless, often, the decision to interrogate is dependent on whether the suspect appears to fit the profile of a terrorist. Perceived deception often triggers to use of torture and based on flawed or genuine information many suspects become classified as terrorists’ sympathizers (persons of interest) or threat to national security. When such individuals are being interrogated, the interrogation escalates intensity when the interrogators start assuming that someone is lying or withholding classified information.
According to Benjamin and Ross (874) there are “various aspects that influence the public attitude toward torture, a major aspect being the presidential policy regarding torture.” In the contemporary society, public support for torture has rise significantly among the American citizens. Benjamin and Ross (874), “the American citizen did not change their opinion towards torture after transiting from a government that strongly endowed enhanced interrogation practices, to the Obama government that is opposed to the practices and that has labeled them as torture” (875). In addition, public opinion is not affected by the rising criticism of torture in general. There are those who are opposed to specific techniques of interrogation while there are those who support torture in totality. Arguably support of torture and specific methods is affected most strongly by partisanship ideology (Benjamin & Ross, 877).
In keeping with Mendez (2), “death penalty can be terms as taking of a person’s life as an administration-sanctioned punishment.” Notably, in recent years, many of the world’s governments have abolished or restricted execution as a way of punishment. Abolition of such death sentence has risen in a context of earth-shattering social, political, and legal changes. Arguably, the new changes that have been established in many nations are in total support of abolition of execution. In addition, powerful European institutions have made abolishment of death sentence as fundamental requirement for membership. To correspond with this, European campaigns have had less impact in china which is the world’s worst executioner. Due to be politico legal structure, china has endeared death penalty in a way that is exceedingly hard to abolish (Mende 6).
According to Benjamin and Ross, “government sanctioned torture has been approved in a third of the countries globally” (439). In the Middle East, torture victims get their treatment as the Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims located at Copenhagen (Jeremy & David 440). Torture pain is catered for by a pain specialist who evaluates unclear pain troubles. In most torture victims’ neuropathic and nociceptive pain has been depicted. Jeremy and David note that specific neuropathic pain conditions include; positional torture, kicking of the head, and falanga beating. According to Jeremy and David, when one is treating torture pain, it is fundamental to understand torture methods used. A person involved in the activity must think different on pathogenetic and etiological factors and always think about neuropathic pain
Benjamin and Ross, “regardless of the ubiquitous disposition of the discourse on human rights, little has been researched on the emergence of disclosure by international corporations on regulatory dynamics or human rights obligations that lie behind the torture” (875). In the current times, human rights has been established a discourse of public accountability. In keeping with TASSC, torture is a violation of human rights and citizens are obliged to observe a wide range of conventions, treaties both national and international, and laws prohibiting torture. Arguably, the 1948 United Nations, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, alongside several other fundamental international treaties comprise of an international bill of human rights that assures freedom from inhuman, cruel or degrading treatment and torture.
There have been numerous attempts to justify torture most of which falsely maintain that torture is effective when obtaining critic al information. Notably, torture is often aimed at breaking a person’s spirit and the entire community as a way of control or punishment. Benjamin and Ross (875) indicate that “increased use of physical and psychological techniques that leave no physical evidence of torture is often used.” Such methods leave long-lasting harm to the survivors of torture.
In conclusion, torture and other cruel and inhumane treatment that have been used to interrogate detainees must be condemned. The military should explicitly refrain from such treatment and law and regulations should be enforced to prohibit its usage. There should be independent investigation to the extent that psychologists have been involved in using torture as interrogative tool. Psychologist involved in such acts should be sanctioned by the American Psychological Association (APA) for the involvement. The APA and other professions of psychologists must openly condemn use of inhuman treatment and torture as interrogative devices. The organization should also forbid the psychologists from formulation, designing or assisting in such interrogations that involve violence.
Works Cited
"Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition Intl." Home Builders Care Foundation of Maryland. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2015 http://www.hbcf.org/tassc.html
Benjamin F, Ross K. “Death Penalty”. International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences (Second Edition), 2015, Pages 874-878 http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/290/3/the-death-penalty-and-mental-retardation
Méndez M. “Globalization and Human Trafficking.” International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences (Second Edition), 2015, http://www.unagb.org/attachments/article/24/UNAWomensReport2004.pdf
Costanzo A. The Effects and Effectiveness of Using Torture as an Interrogation Device: Using Research to Inform the Policy Debate. Social Issues and Policy Review, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2009, pp. 179—210 https://www.cgu.edu/pdffiles/sbos/costanzo_effects_of_interrogation.pdf
