Legitimizing Torture
The leadership of the House of Representatives is attempting to legalize the torture of suspected terrorists by adding an amendment to the “9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act of 2004”, and this isn’t getting the kind of attention it needs.
Please take a moment to contact your representative and raise your voice against this amendment, and support Rep. Edward Markey’s counter-amendment [PDF] which will revoke this atrocity.
Below is the message I sent to my rep.
Sections 3032 and 3033 of H.R. 10, the “9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act of 2004,” will legitimize the torture of detainees by allowing the United States to deport them to countries which allow and support torture. The sections specifically call for the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue new regulations to exclude from the protection of the U.N. Convention Against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, any suspected terrorist.All of this is buried in a bill to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, which called upon the U.S. to “offer an example of moral leadership in the world, committed to treat people humanely, abide by the rule of law, and be generous and caring to our neighbors.”
Representative Edward Markey will be offering an amendment to H.R. 10 which will strike the pro-torture provisions from the bill. As your constituent I implore you to support Rep. Markey’s amendment and take a strong stand against torture, a stand which will go a long way in lifting the United States above the terrorist groups it fights against.
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