Torture cannot be justified under any

circumstance
McGRATH, Bernadette . The Advertiser ; Adelaide, S. Aust. [Adelaide, S. Aust]. 11 Mar 2005: 18.

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ABSTRACT (ABSTRACT)
Those who torture, or condone torture, always claim that it is for some greater good or necessary end, whether
security, the national interest or even to save other lives. Who determines whether circumstances are justifiable?
Whose interests would be served? How far would we be prepared to go? If electrocution did not force an
"insurgent" to tell us where the ticking bomb or the hostage is hidden would we then be prepared to sanction his
rape and mutilation?

In a recent edition of The Nation magazine, Jonathan Schell writes: "The boundary between the humane treatment
of prisoners and torture is perhaps the clearest boundary in existence between civilisation and barbarism." Torture
is a chilling and systematic violation of human rights.

Torture is not wrong simply because it is ultimately futile. Torture is wrong because it is an assault on the sanctity
of life, a betrayal of trust which almost defies comprehension. It is wrong because, in the words of human rights
activist Ariel Dorfman, "it presupposes, it requires, it craves the abrogation of our capacity to imagine someone
else's suffering, to dehumanise him or her so much that their pain is not our pain".

FULL TEXT
THE debate as to whether the use of torture by the police or military is ever acceptable has generated some fine
examples of inductive reasoning.

Highly emotive scenarios worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster are used to argue that the torture of prisoners may in
some instances be necessary to save other lives.

The argument is seductive. Why is this?

Does it appeal to our fears and desire for revenge while at the same time salving our consciences?

Either way, the argument is based on the morally dubious and legally untenable premise that the end justifies the
means.

Australia has an absolute obligation to observe international law and the Geneva Convention under all
circumstances. This is in our own interests even if an opponent flouts these laws. If we allow exceptions to this,
the consequences go far beyond the immediate act with unpredictable repercussions into the future.

By torturing an enemy we effectively condone similar behaviour by others and relinquish any right to judge or
condemn their behaviour.

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The argument that torture can in some circumstances be justified begs the question of what constitutes justifiable
circumstances.

Those who torture, or condone torture, always claim that it is for some greater good or necessary end, whether
security, the national interest or even to save other lives. Who determines whether circumstances are justifiable?
Whose interests would be served? How far would we be prepared to go? If electrocution did not force an
"insurgent" to tell us where the ticking bomb or the hostage is hidden would we then be prepared to sanction his
rape and mutilation?

If that didn't work would we go on to sanction the arrest and torture of his children, and force him to listen to their
cries?

In a recent edition of The Nation magazine, Jonathan Schell writes: "The boundary between the humane treatment
of prisoners and torture is perhaps the clearest boundary in existence between civilisation and barbarism." Torture
is a chilling and systematic violation of human rights.

It involves inflicting unendurable pain and degradation on another, completely powerless, human being. It is done
in the name of an identified group or state for the purpose of gaining or maintaining political power over those who
threaten that power.

One only has to look at states where it is known that torture is practised to see that it is not an effective means of
creating more secure, just and humane societies. Nor is it an effective means of obtaining reliable information.
Those who want martyrdom are unlikely to reveal anything under duress.

Whereas others, even the completely innocent, may say or do anything when subjected to torture. The practice of
torture is always unacceptable, but particularly by those who claim to uphold democratic values and the due
process of law.

But torture is not wrong simply because it is ultimately futile. Torture is wrong because it is an assault on the
sanctity of life, a betrayal of trust which almost defies comprehension. It is wrong because, in the words of human
rights activist Ariel Dorfman, "it presupposes, it requires, it craves the abrogation of our capacity to imagine
someone else's suffering, to dehumanise him or her so much that their pain is not our pain".

Torture, or the sanctioning of torture, is something that degrades and diminishes us all. In the act of harming
another we injure our own humanity. We become hardened by our own fears and capacity for brutality.

We become in fact no better than those whose actions we despise.

* Bernadette McGrath is director of the Survivors of Torture and Trauma Assistance and Rehabilitation Service
(SA).

DETAILS

Subject: Torture

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 Lexile score: 1350 L

Publication title: The Advertiser; Adelaide, S. Aust.

Pages: 18

Number of pages: 0

Publication year: 2005

Publication date: Mar 11, 2005

Section: Opinion

Publisher: Nationwide News Pty Ltd

Place of publication: Adelaide, S. Aust.

Country of publication: Australia, Adelaide, S. Aust.

Publication subject: General Interest Periodicals--Australia

ISSN: 10394192

Source type: Newspaper

Language of publication: English

Document type: NEWSPAPER

ProQuest document ID: 355366124

Document URL: http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspape

rs/torture-cannot-be-justified-under-any/docview/355366124/se-2?accountid=8203

Copyright: Copyright News Limited Mar 11, 2005

Last updated: 2019-05-13

Database: ProQuest One Academic,eLibrary

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