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| ACTION: Contact Senate to encourage examination of torture policies |
In January 2005, PEN faxed a letter to members of U.S. Senate
in which PEN President Salman Rushdie expressed our deep concern over
the abusive practices we now know have been routine not only at the Abu
Ghraib prison in Iraq but also in U.S.-run detention centers around the
world and in the United States. PEN asked senators to take to renounce
these policies of torture and to commit to the rule of both U.S. and
international law by reaffirming U.S. support for the UN Convention
against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment.
As writers, readers, and Americans who are
troubled by and work to challenge the abuse and persecution of writers
in other countries, we depend on our ability to appeal to international
human rights standards in defense of our colleagues' rights. However,
the growing evidence of the U.S. government's policies on torture
directly threatens our ability to defend these basic human rights both
at home and abroad. It is important that we take this opportunity to
make our voices heard against such policies today.
We ask you to please take a moment to contact Senate by phone or e-mail to register your concern.
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