Kerry stresses US opposition to use of torture

The United States is opposed to the use of torture in any form at any time by any government or non-state actor, US State Secretary John Kerry said.

He was responding to statements by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in which he vowed to subject terrorism suspects to torture and harsh interrogation techniques. He said waterboarding would be fine. 

In press statements on Wednesday marking the release of the 2015 US Reports on Human Rights Practices, he said "I want to say a word about the issue of torture. I want to remove even a scintilla of doubt or confusion that has been caused by statements that others have made in recent weeks and months."

"The United States is opposed to the use of torture in any form at any time by any government or non-state actor. America’s commitment to the humane treatment of persons in captivity began as far back as with General George Washington in the Revolutionary War. It has been reaffirmed countless times throughout our history and in a host of international commitments."

"We declared this opposition to torture yet again just last year in bipartisan legislation approved by the United States Congress. This is a standard that we insist that others meet, and therefore we must meet this standard ourselves," he said.

"I know personally that the fierce anger that arises in war when fellow countrymen are attacked, whether they are soldiers or civilians, can sometimes prompt fury, rage, revenge. But there is a sharp dividing line between societies that abandon all standards when times are tough and those that do their absolute best to maintain those standards. Because ultimately, upholding core values is what makes a nation strong," he underlined.

Source ; MENA