Rabbis for Human Rights: 'Reject Gonzales -- Repudiate Torture'

[seemslikeadream]

1/27/2005 5:35:00 PM

To: Religion Reporter

Contact: Rabbi Brian Walt, 508-696-1880; Rabbi Gerry Serotta, 301-587-2273 ext. 105, both of Rabbis for Human Rights North America; Web: http://www.rhr-na.org

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Rabbis for Human Rights North America, an international rabbinic organization supported by several hundred rabbis from all Jewish denominations, called on members of the Senate Judiciary committee and all U.S. Senators to reject nomination of Alberto Gonzales as Attorney General and to "completely repudiate and prohibit torture for any purpose in any instance."

The rabbis express deep concern that "that America's longstanding moral commitment and policies are being altered to remove the prohibition against torture of detainees in United States' custody." They write, "While the pictures from Abu Ghraib are shocking, most disturbing is that the documents that have been made public demonstrate that the use of torture has been approved at the highest levels of the administration, that commanders in the field have permitted much of this behavior, that directives from the Department of Defense appear to advocate the use of torture, and that even today the position of the Administration is that the members of Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups are not covered by the provisions of the Geneva Convention."

Citing the fundamental Biblical tenet that all human beings are created in God's image the rabbis describe how "torture shatters and defiles God's image." Drawing on Jewish ethical teachings regarding interpersonal humiliation and relationship to one's enemy they explain how torture violates central Jewish values. "Torture 'works' by attempting to deprive a human being of will, spirit, and personal dignity. The humanity of the perpetrators is inevitably compromised by the use of torture."

Pointing to the experience of Israel, they highlight that even in that country, where terror against men, women and children has become part of daily life, the Israeli Supreme Court has clearly prohibited the use of torture.

Rabbis for Human Rights North America joined a coalition of religious and human rights groups that expressed deep concern to the Senate Judiciary Committee about the Gonzales nomination and asked the committee to conduct a thorough investigation. The evasive and unclear responses of Mr. Gonzales at the hearing and his refusal to repudiate the use of torture, led the rabbis to call for the rejection of his nomination. Rabbi Gerry Serotta, Chair of Rabbis for Human Rights said, "Unless Mr. Gonzales commits himself to appoint an independent special counsel to investigate the development and implementation of U.S. interrogation and torture policies and to fully release all torture-related documents, the Senate should reject his nomination."
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