ACAT UK very much regrets the suggestion made by President Donald Trump that the USA would consider re-introducing ‘Waterboarding’ during the next few months.

Being realistic it is unlikely to happen because of the likely opposition from within the Senate and the Congress. It is reported that Republican Senator John McCain said yesterday that even if President Donald Trump were to sign an executive order allowing torture, US law is clear on the practice.

“The President can sign whatever executive orders he likes. But the law is the law. We are not bringing back torture in the United States of America,” the Arizona senator said in a statement. It also appears that President Trump’s Cabinet members, including his Defense Secretary James Mattis and the CIA Chief Mike Pompeo disagree with the President on this matter.

We greet this response with gratitude and relief although we cannot disregard the statements of the new President. This matter will be kept under constant review by ACAT worldwide.  

ACAT UK stands by the UN Declaration of Human Rights when it says in Article 5 –

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

We stand with Archbishop Romero of El Salvador when he said –

“Whoever tortures a human being, whoever abuses a human being, whoever outrages a human being abuses God’s image, and the Church takes as its own that cross, that martyrdom”

Read more about Action by Christians against Torture UK here