Leave No Marks: 'Enhanced' Interrogation Techniques and the Risk of Criminality

A Report by Human Rights First and Physicians for Human Rights

July 2007

The full report is available for download here.

Read Executive Summary

Recommendations

The report calls on the executive branch to:

• Prohibit the “enhanced” interrogation techniques, in order to protect U.S. officials and personnel from potential criminal liability and to ensure that all U.S. personnel adhere to U.S. law.

• Prohibit the use of any other method that, alone or in combination with other interrogation methods, presents a significant risk of causing serious or severe physical and/or mental pain or suffering.

• Instruct all U.S. interrogators in effective, legal, non-harmful methods of interrogation.

• Declassify and release all documents, from all relevant U.S. agencies, which contain information on U.S. interrogation policy and practice, including but not limited to the “enhanced” interrogation methods.

The report urges the U.S. Congress to:

• Clarify existing language in the MCA, which under a reasonable interpretation currently prohibits the use of the “enhanced” techniques, by explicitly listing the techniques, forbidding them, and making clear that they remain criminal.

• Establish a single standard for detainee treatment and interrogation practices to be followed by all U.S. personnel, including CIA personnel.