Groups Call On Eric Holder To Appoint A Special Prosecutor To Fully
Investigate The Use Of Torture
Convention Against Torture Requires Prosecution
Yesterday, the Disbar Torture Lawyer coalition, consisting of more
than 150 NGOs representing over a million members, sent a letter to
Attorney General Eric Holder calling on him to appoint a special
prosecutor, independent of the Justice Department, to fully
investigate the use of torture, and to prosecute all of those
officials and employees who advocated, ordered and committed acts of
torture against detainees held by the United States. The letter,
signed by coalition attorney Kevin Zeese, who is Director for Voters
for Peace, carefully analyzed the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"),
which was signed by President Reagan, to underscore that Mr. Holder
has no discretion to ignore its mandates. CAT is written in
mandatory language, and it requires the investigation of all acts or
torture and the prosecution of all those who conspired to and did
commit torture. A copy of the letter can be found on the
DisbarTortureLawyers.com website at
<<http://velvetrevolution.us/torture_lawyers/docs/Holder_Torture_Letter_Final.pdf>http://velvetrevolution.us/torture_lawyers/docs/Holder_Torture_Letter_Final.pdf>
CAT also specifically prohibits reliance on extraordinary
circumstances or the orders of superiors as justifications of
torture. Mr. Zeese noted that the media has reported that Mr. Holder
is reluctant to prosecute torturers because most of them were
"following orders" and that officials "were scared" so they
authorized torture to thwart another 9/11 type attack. "Every
history student knows from the Nuremberg trials that there is no 'I
was just following orders' defense allowed for war crimes, yet this
is the precise argument now being used to argue against the
prosecution for the war crime of torture. Mr. Holder took an oath to
uphold the law, and repeatedly promised to remain above politics and
restore the integrity of the DOJ. He can accomplish these by letting
a special prosecutor follow where the evidence leads without
restriction. If American torturers are not prosecuted here, foreign
State Party signers of CAT will feel obligated to issue indictments
against them and they will be prosecuted under the laws of those
countries." said Zeese.
The letter concludes: "You can restore our moral high ground and the
Department of Justice's reputation as an agency that follows the law
by appointing a special prosecutor, independent of the Department of
Justice, with the very clear mandate - investigate the facts and
apply the rule of law wherever it leads - as required by the
Convention Against Torture."
Source: Velvet Revolution
Washington, DC
Ilene Proctor PR
(310) 858-6643
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