Which interrogation methods used at Central Intelligence Agency black sites were widely considered torture under international law?

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Following the September 11 attacks, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) utilized a program of "enhanced interrogation techniques" at secret detention facilities known as "black sites." These methods, which were widely considered to be torture under international law, included the following practices:123

  • Waterboarding: A method of controlled, simulated, or interrupted drowning.13
  • Stress positions: Shackling detainees in physically painful or taxing positions for extended periods.1
  • Wall slamming: Forcibly slamming detainees against walls.1
  • Sleep deprivation: Keeping detainees awake for prolonged periods.1

While the George W. Bush administration initially authorized these techniques based on secret legal opinions that argued they did not constitute torture, these practices faced intense criticism from human rights organizations and legal experts. International law, including the Geneva Conventions and the Convention against Torture, strictly prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment under all circumstances. The use of such methods is fundamentally inconsistent with the ethical principles of human rights and the rule of law.41352