image from Robin Dude
Most days, I do my best to try to follow someone who was tortured by an Empire who branded him as an enemy of the State.
I live in a country, viewed by many as an empire, where 40% of people condone torture, at least when used on terrorists in order to save lives.
The faith that sustains me and brings meaning to my life is built upon the understanding that there are no outcasts, no one who I can treat as "the other", that no fear is worth torturing someone in hopes of making that fear go away.
Today is the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, a day when thousands of dedicated individuals and many dozen organizations campaign in honor the victims of this cruel human rights violation and to educate decision-makers and ordinary people alike about the prohibition against torture.
The date also marks the anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT), which came into force on 26 June 1987. The convention obliges governments to prevent torture; to prosecute those responsible; and to ensure generous redress and rehabilitation for survivors of torture.
As David P. Gushee, president of Evangelicals for Human Rights and a professor of Christian ethics, has said:
The issues transcend international relations and national interests. For me, they are fundamentally moral and religious. Every human being is a person of immeasurable worth, made in the image of God, and a bearer of an intrinsic dignity. This dignity must be respected in all circumstances, especially when we are most tempted to violate it. The torture and dehumanization of human beings violates their God-given dignity and offends the Creator who made them.
Torture is an issue that cuts to the soul of a nation and exposes its moral center. Unfortunately, it seems that the soul of our nation and many others have all too often been laid bare, brutally exposed. I am so thankful that an impressive lineup of leaders from different faiths and political philosophies called on President Bush to ban torture. A bipartisan group of respected leaders have endorsed the Declaration of Principles for a Presidential Executive Order On Prisoner Treatment, Torture and Cruelty, including Former Secretary of State George Shultz, Former Secretary of Defense William Perry, Ambassador Richard Armitage, Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski and a number of faith & civic leaders. Endorsers of the Declaration support six principles of humane treatment:
- The "Golden Rule." Do not employ any interrogation methods that would be unacceptable if used against Americans.
- One national standard. Adopt one national standard for treatment of prisoners.
- The rule of law. Acknowledge all prisoners to our courts or the International Red Cross. Allow prisoners to prove their innocence through a fair and just process.
- Duty to protect. Do not transfer any person to countries that use torture.
- Checks and balances. Allow Congress and the courts access to information necessary to provide oversight of our detention and interrogation policies.
- Clarity and accountability. Hold accountable all U.S. officials who authorize, implement, or fail in their duty to prevent the use of torture.
Learn about their effort at http://www.campaigntobantorture.org/.
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