Turkey slams CIA torture in post-9/11 era, after Senate report

ANKARA

Turkey has condemned the torture committed by the CIA against terrorism suspects in the post-Sept. 11 era, following the recent release of a report issued by the U.S. Senate's Intelligence Committee.

“Torture and any other tyrannical, inhumane and humiliating acts cannot be approved under any circumstances. In addition to being a humane and legal responsibility, the protection of human rights is also very important for the fight against terrorism,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written statement Dec. 11.

It also stressed that holding those responsible to account before the law was "crucially important" for preventing future human rights violations.

The Senate’s committee on Dec. 9 revealed that CIA officers used brutal interrogation techniques on hundreds of terror suspects, including rectal rehydration, waterboarding, mock executions and a number of other inhumane acts.  

In addition to condemning the acts revealed in the report, Turkey also expressed its appreciation for the "transparency" that U.S. officials had shown in making the report public, despite the controversial content.

Work continues whether Turkish citizens tortured, too

In the meantime, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu underlined that the ministry was studying the 5,000-page report to find out whether Turkish citizens have also been the victims of such treatment. At a joint press conference with visiting Slovakian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak, Çavuşoğlu made this statement upon a question.

“When we look at the report, one can see unacceptable inhumane treatment and torture. Transparency is important, but that won’t legitimize the torture. I hope no such inhumane treatment will be repeated by our friend and ally America,” he said.

Lajcak, for his part, said the findings of the Senate report were nothing new and have been largely debated at the European Union Council in the past. “The report was partially publicized. This report should guarantee that the United States will keep away from such treatments of the past and will not repeat them,” he said. “The most important result of this report will be the closure of this sort of camp,” the minister added, referring to the infamous Guantanamo.