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The Doha Debates - Torture<br />
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The panelists supporting the motion argued that torture can be regulated by providing a legal mechanism that allows the use of cohesive interrogation as a means of extracting information from suspected criminals.The other side out rightly rejected the idea arguing that it there is no safe way to guarantee that such legal powers will not be misused by governments,whether they are democratic or not. <br />
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Speaking for the motion was Khawar Qureshi,a barrister serving as counsel to the British Crown. <br />
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Qureshi was counsel for the US government in a case concerning the extradition of three alleged Al Qaeda members before the House of Lords. <br />
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He was joined by Colonel Bob Stewart,the first British Commander under the United Nations Command in Bosnia and a former Chief of Policy at Nato Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe. <br />
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Those opposing the motion were Irene Khan,secretary general of the Amnesty International and Freshta Raper,an Iraqi Kurd from Halabja,who was a victim of torture in her own country. <br />
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Qreshi and Steward argued that cohesive interrogative techniques can sometimes help in getting valuable information from criminals involving in terrorist acts,that can in turn save the lives of hundreds of people. <br />
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"Inflicting pain on one person is justified if it can save the lives of many innocent people," said Qureshi.He argued that legalising such interrogation techniques would help in curbing the hypocritical ways followed by many governments to avoid legal action. <br />
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Citing the example of Guantanamo Bay,he noted that some governments are now subcontracting torture to other countries because it is banned in their own lands.<br />
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Steward supported his views citing his own experience where he saw captured terrorists escaping unhurt in the absence of legislation that permits cohesive interrogation. <br />
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Both Irene and Raper and a majority of the participants from the audience rejected these arguments saying that there is no mechanism available for the governments to ensure that inflicting pain on suspects would bring out the required information <br />
or the person who will be tortured is guilty of the crime.<br />
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More than that,torture will abet terrorism by creating hatred and the urge for revenge among the victims as well as their families,especially in cases where the victims are finally proved innocent.Torture will dehumanize not only the victims but those who perpetrate it. <br />
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“Many governments have tried to legalise methods of torture to extort information from suspects but failed to stop its misuse," noted Irene. She added that torture is not a necessity to collect information and there are several new and more effective methods for that. <br />
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Raper,drawing attention to the horrific and inhuman methods of torture and citing her own ordeal as a victim of torture made a passionate appeal to the audience to reject the proposition.<br />
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Broadcast:BBC World<br />
Date:Saturday June 2nd 2007<br />
Format:640x480,25 fps,DivX 6<br />
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