US religious groups condemn torture

by David Masters

A diverse array of religious groups from across the USA have come together to denounce torture as immoral.

Almost 300 churches from a wide variety of denominations are displaying an anti-torture banner this month, donning slogans such as ‘torture is wrong’ and ‘torture is a moral issue’.

In addition to the churches, banners are being displayed outside 27 different synagogues, three mosques, and one Buddhist temple.

The campaign, organised by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT), has been planned to coincide with the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on 26th June.

NRCAT has members from over 190 different religious organisations.

It aims to end US sponsored torture and other cruel or degrading treatments towards any human being, and calls upon the American people to recognise that torture is a moral issue and that the practice should be abolished without exception.

The basis for this position is the religious belief in human dignity.

Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster from Rabbis for Human Rights, an NRCAT member organisation, says that torture denies the ‘divine spark’ that is present in every human being.

Linda Gustitis, president of NRCAT, says that it is ‘obligatory’ for religious groups and people of faith to speak out against torture.

For Gustitis, to remain silent on the issue of torture is to implicitly condone the practice.

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