A Jewish Statement Against Torture

Sign the Jewish Statement Against Torture petition.

A Jewish Statement Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment of Detainees Under United States Control

We, the undersigned American Jews, join our voices with Nobel laureate ElieWiesel and more than 600 North American rabbis in calling on the U.S.to abolish torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment ofdetainees held under United States control.

We are deeply concerned about the erosion of America's longstanding repudiation of torture. Because:

• Jewish tradition teaches that human beings are created in God’s image, and obliges us to protect human life and dignity;
• The humanity and dignity of both perpetrators and victims is inevitably shattered by the use of torture;
• The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that torture is “shocking,” “revolting” and “alien” to America’s cherished values and constitutional protections;
• Torture violates U.S. treaty and Convention obligations, and is punishable by criminal statute;
• The Israeli Supreme Court has categorically banned torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, even for detainees interrogated for suspected involvement in terror;
• The abolition of torture, like slavery, is the measure of a free and ethical society;

As Jews and Americans, we urge Congress and the President to prohibit:

• Exemptions for any arm of the U.S. government from the human rights standards of international law.
• The practice of extraordinary rendition, whereby suspects are apprehended and flown to countries that use torture as a means of interrogation.
• Any disconnection of “cruel, inhuman, and degrading” treatment from the ban against “torture” so as to permit inhumane interrogation.
• The existence of secret U.S. prisons around the world.
• Denial of Red Cross visits to detainees held by our government overseas.

We join with our rabbis to promote a full discussion of these issues inour religious communities, and we join with people of other faiths, andall concerned American citizens, to do all we can to end the practiceof torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment ofdetainees held by the United States.

Let America abolish torture now—without exceptions.

Sign the Jewish Statement Against Torture petition.