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Interfaith group slams torture Rev. Paul Smith, Catholic chaplain for three Albany colleges, opened a Bible and began to read from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you." Behind him stood a silent figure with bound hands, clad in the orange jumpsuit worn by detainees at the Guantanamo Bay naval station in Cuba and the black hood seen in photos of prisoners at Abu Ghraib in Iraq. Father Smith was one of a half-dozen speakers of various faiths, plus a representative of the New York State Civil Liberties Union, who joined last week at a recent press conference to call for an end to U.S. torture of prisoners under any circumstances. The press conference, held Jan. 11 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Albany, coincided with the arrival five years ago of the first prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. The Interfaith Alliance of New York State sponsored the conference. "Torture is morally repugnant and contrary to the values upon which this nation was built," said Bernard Fleishman, president of the Interfaith Alliance. He pointed out that torture also violates treaties about the fair treatment of prisoners, is unreliable as a source of accurate information and can spur enemies to feel justified in torturing U.S. prisoners. Points of view Other speakers echoed the same sentiment: * Rev. Jim Reisner, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Albany, remarked that "it seems strange to be speaking against torture; it seems such an obvious wrong." He quoted Jonathan Schell's "The Nation," saying that torture "destroys the soul of the torturer [and] the body of the victim." * Rhani Abdel Rahman of the Islamic Center of the Capital District said that torture is "among the greatest offenses" against America's purported values and "undermine[s] freedoms we endeavor to protect." He added that "we call upon the government and all who are able to make a strong statement against torture in any form." * John Amidon, speaking for both the Interfaith Alliance and an area Veterans for Peace group, recalled his own visits to Iran, Syria and Colombia to discuss peace efforts, noting that "it is extremely difficult to be taken seriously when our government is kidnapping people, sending them overseas and having them tortured." (One instance is the case of Maher Arar, a Canadian citizen who was arrested in New York City in 2002 and sent to Syria, where he was held and allegedly tortured for months before being released without charge.) * Rabbi Aryeh Wineman of Temple Beth El in Troy said Jewish tradition teaches that human beings are made in God's image, which "obliges us to protect human life and dignity....Let America abolish torture now, without exceptions." * Father Smith recalled telling students at Albany Law School, the Albany College of Pharmacy and the Sage Colleges of Albany that if they wanted to "catch the tone" of any institution or group, they should "watch how the more powerful relate with the less powerful. There is a tendency for the more powerful to exploit and to use." He called for members of the U.S. military to be allowed conscientious objector status if they did not want to participate in torture, so they can continue "serving their country without...thriving on hate." Protesting During a question-and-answer session, Melanie Trimble of the state Civil Liberties Union pointed out flaws in the Military Commissions Act of 2006, specifically its suspension of the Geneva Convention's prohibition on torture. She added that, under the new law, even American citizens can be named as "enemy combatants," and detained indefinitely without being charged or brought to trial. The speakers urged Capital District residents to write their elected officials to protest torture and handed out signs reading, "Torture is Wrong," which they asked parishes and individuals to post. (To learn more, go to the website for the Interfaith Alliance, www.interfaithalliance.org.) *** STATEMENT ON TORTURE The National Religious Campaign Against Torture have issued a statement that "torture is a moral issue." It reads: "Torture violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions hold dear. It degrades everyone involved -- policy-makers, perpetrators and victims. It contradicts our nation's most cherished ideals. "Any policies that permit torture and inhumane treatment are shocking and morally intolerable. "Nothing less is at stake in the torture abuse crisis than the soul of our nation. What does it signify if torture is condemned in word but allowed in deed? "Let America abolish torture now -- without exceptions." (To add your name to those endorsing the statement, go to www.nrcat.org.) (1/18/07) |