TORTURE IS NOT AN AMERICAN VALUE

Plainfield, Indiana.  (2/16/2008)

The Islamic Society of North America applauds the leadership of US Senators who voted this week to restrict the CIA to using interrogation techniques permitted in the Army field manual.  We are grateful in particular to Senators Feinstein, Hagel and Whitehouse who sponsored the legislation. This restriction makes it unlawful to use harsh and inhumane treatment of detainees such as waterboarding. 

We are deeply troubled by fact that many Senators voted against the ban.  We have no doubt that waterboarding is a form of torture.  Torture, like human trafficking, is unlawful and immoral no matter what the circumstances. 

The argument that transgressing the limits of universally accepted human rights norms is necessary in some cases cannot be accepted.  This same argument is used by extremists who have harmed and wish to harm the United States and we reject their arguments.  As Muslim Americans, we are deeply committed to the security of the United States and our fellow citizens, and have consistently rejected those who claim our religion as a justification for acts of terrorism and violence.  We are convinced that the security of the United States is not enhanced but is undermined when its reputation as a beacon of human rights is diminished.  Disillusionment in the commitment of the United States to human dignity results in the loss of valuable allies and supporters throughout the world. 

The Islamic Society of North America is committed to promoting universal human rights and the God-given dignity of all human beings.  We are grateful that Christians, Jews and many other people of faith and conscience have joined with us in the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (www.nrcat.org) to uphold these principles.  We have confidence in the essential goodness of the American people who have shown in great numbers their concern for this issue.

Islamic Society of North America
P O Box 38, Plainfield, IN 46168
317-839-8157

www.isna.net