Systemic Torture, the New Normal: Civilian Victims of “Enhanced Interrogation Techniques” in Afghan Detention Facilities

Abstract

In order to shed light on the Afghan torture program, this chapter explores the following themes. The first section of the chapter examines the torture techniques used by the Afghan security forces. The section shows how members of the Afghan security forces routinely ignored due process guarantees (e.g., the right of detainees to have access to a lawyer) in order to have free rein in torturing and mistreating detainees. The second section analyses how Afghan prosecutors and judges relied on confessions obtained through torture to convict individuals accused of committing conflict-related offenses. The last, third section of the chapter examines the practices used by the Afghan authorities to prevent attempts to bring to justice those responsible for torture.